Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1900 — Page 7

DEMOCRATS KICK AT FARMERS’ PROSPERITY.

Farm Products Advance More than the Goods that Farmers Have to Buy at the Stores. EVIDENT CAUSE OF MOBTGAGE CANCELING Since McKinley Has Been at the Helm Farm Products Have Advanced 45 Per Cent, While Articles Bought by Farmers Increased Only 19 Per Cent.

The Democratic fault-finders base their efforts to create discontent among the fanners in 1900 upon a different plane from that of 1896. Then their complaint was that the prices of farm products /were too low Now they complain that the farmers are too prosperous .and the prices of their products are too high. Mr. Bryan was nominated in Chicago on July 10, 1896, and again at Kansas City on July 5, 1900. Let us take the quotations of the first week in July, 1896, and July, 1900, the respective dates are brought as nearly as practicable to the dates of his respective nominations. Nobody will question the fairness of selecting wheat, corn, oats, lard, pork, beef, cotton, wool, hay and butter as ten representative articles of farm production, nor will anybody question the fairness of selecting sugar, tea, coffee, rice, petroleum, leather, cotton cloth, tin plate, sisal (from which binder twine is made) and Bessemer pig iron .(the basis of all agricultural requirements in iron and steel) as ten representative articles of farm consumption. The tables which follow show the prices of the ten articles of farm production and of an equal number of articles of farm consumption at tl(e dates named and tlje percentage of increase in each article, also the average increase, at the date of Mr. Bryan’s second nomination as compared with the prices at the date of his first nomination:

The prices of Ten Principal Articles of Harm Production in New York Market at dates of Mr. Bryan’s first and second nominations! shewing; the per cent, of increase in 1900 over 1896: Articles of Farm July 2, Jnly 5, Percent, of Production. 1896 1900. Increase. Wheat, per bnshel .65 1-2 .88 35 Corn, per bushel .33 1-2 .49 5-8 48 Oats, per bushel .21 1-4 .28 1-2 34 1 ard, per lb. .0425 .0715 06 Mesa Pork, per bbi $ 8.75 814 OO 60 Beef, family, per lb B.s<> 12.00 41 •Cotton, per >b .06 13-16 .10 I*l6 86 Wool, Ohio XX, per lb .17 - 28 1-2 68 tHay, per ten .-. 14.02 iR-ff 11 tßntter, per lb ....; .131 .18 37 Average increase 45.8 per cent. •At New Orleans. tExport prices. The prices of Ten Principal Articles of Farm Consumption in New York Market at dates of Mr. Bryan’s first and second nominations, showing; the per cent of increase or decrease: Articles of Farm Ju’v 3. Jn»y 5, Per cent, of inconsumption. 1896. 1900. crease or decrease Rice, per lb .04 1-2 .05 11 Bisal, per lb .03 1-14 -06 3-4 b 4 Bessemer Pi* Iron, per ton... $12.25 *l® B' l 35 Petrslenm, per gal., in bbls... .0690 , -0785 14 Tin P1ate..."..."..... 0347 1-2 .0483 40 Coffee, per ib -013 1-4 .09 1 8 -®1 Leather, Oal', per ib 28 -8® 25 Sugar, per lb ..;.....;... rr •o*s° 02 tCotton Cloth, unbleached, yd. .054 .057 06 Average increase 1® P* r cent. •Import pricei does not include war tax. tExport price.

It will be seen by an examination of the tables that in every article of farm producton named there has been an increase in price ranging (with a single exception) from 35 per cent to 68 per cent, or an average increase in the entire series of articles of 45.8 per cent. In the list of the articles of farm consumption there is a reduction in price in two of the articles named, while the increase in the other articles ranges much lower than that of the farm products, the average increase for the entire series of articles of farm consumption being 19 per cent. Thus we see that in ten representative articles of farm consumption, the average increase haß been 19 per cent, while in the ten equally representative articles of farm production, the increase has been 45.8 per cent. Now to take the single item of farm production upon which the fault-finders base their arguments and by which they measure all articles of farm consumption, namely, wheat. How do you suppose it happened that they have selected this particular article “wheat,” by which to measure everything else? There is corn; its acreage in the United States in 1899 was practically double that of wheat, its production four times as many

(Compiled from official reports of the bureau of statistics.) Quantity which * _ Price on one bushel of ARTICLES. wheat will buy July 10, July 5, July 10, July 5, 1896. 1900. 1896. • 1900. Cents. Cents, Pounds.. Pounds Wheat, per bushel .64)4 88 Coffee, per pound 13 Leather (oak!, per ponnd ~..30 36 21-10 2 4-10 Rice, per pound 4% 5 18Vi 17^ Petroleum, refined, per gallon 7 8-10 9 3-10 d 8 2-10 914 Sugar, granulated, p»? pound 4% 5 7-10 14 4-10 18 4-10 Salt, per 100 pounds 9 8-10 a 118-10 690 77g Cotton cloths, nacolored, per yard 6 4-108 8 7-10 cl 19-10 Cl 6 4-10 Starch, per pound 2b 21-10 321-10 419-10 Ont nails 1 8-10 b 2 4-10 38 7-10 86 6-10 Mackerel 8 6-10 a 4 9-10 12 6-10 17 8-10 a Average import price during June. c Yards, b Average export price daring June. d Gallons.

bushels and its actual value, aa estimated by the Department of Agriculture, nearly double that of wheat. Why did they not adopt corn aa a standard of measurement? Again, there ia the item of provisions, of which we are the world’s greatest producer. Why not measure by t)»at? Then there is wool, in the production of which the farmer is greatly interested

and which has been widely discus Bed in the study of national econoihic questions of late years. Why not measure by this? A glance at the table which shows the relative prices of articles in 1896 and 1900 will answer this question.- It happens that the percentage of increase in the price of wheat is less than that of any other article of farm production, since wheat is more directly affected by the production in other parts of the world where crops have been generally good during the last two eeasons. Wheat has only advanced 36 per cent from 1896 to 1900. while corn advanced 48 per cent, mess pork 60 per cent, lard 68 per cent and wool 68 per cent. Now it is easy to see why the Democrats “happened” to select this particular item “wheat” by which to measure everything else, simply because it shows a smaller increase in price than almost any other article in the list. Yet they are gravely marching through the agricultural regions of this country stating to the farmer that “a bushel of wheat in 1900 will buy less of the articles which you consume than a bushel of wheat would buy of those same articles in 1896.” Let'His accept the challenge. Mr. Bryan’s first nomination occurred on July 10, 1896, and his second nomination on July 5, 1900. The records of the bureau of statistics show that the highest price of “No. 2 red winter wheat,” a standard grade by which all others may

be measured, was, on July 9, 1896, in the New York market, per bushel, and on July 5, 1900, was 88c peT bushel. Now let us follow the same general plan adopted in the other comparisons and by selecting ten principal articles of farm consumption, obtain their relative prices in the New York market in 1896 and 1900, at the dates nearest Mr. Bryan’s nomination, and thus find out what quantity of each bushel of wheat, at the prices named at these two dates, would have bought. The articles of farm consumption selected for this comparison are equally representative with those of farm production above named, namely, sugar, coffee, petroleum, rice, salt, leather, cotton cloths, starch, mackerel and eut nails. The authority for the prices is the same as that already utilized—the bureau of statistics. In every case the quantity of these representative articles of fttrm consumption which a bushel of wheat would* buy In 1900 is greater than a bushel pf wheat could have bought in 1896. Purchasing power of one bushel of wheat at the date of Mr. Bryan’s first and second nominations, respectively, in ten different articles of ordinary farm consumption, basing the price of each article upon that quoted in the New York market at the respective dates:

These statements are all official and maj be verified from the public records of the bureau of statistics available in any standard library. The figures and prices in every case are given, and every man can determine whether the assertions of the Democratic fault-finders and “prophets of evil” in 1900 are any more reliable than .they were in 1896.

HIGHER PRICES FOR THE FARMERS.

Hearat’s Chicago American (Democratic) of Sept. 20, gives the following table, which shows how prices of farm products advance under McKinley prosperity: A Week Ago. To-d»y. Flour, per barrel..... $ 4.40 $ 4-70 Cornmeal, per ton 23.00 24.00 Choose, per pound -10% .tt^S Breakfast Bacon, per pound 11 .11^ Smoked Side Moat, per pound 09 .09>4 Lard, per pound 08 ,08 X Peas... Advance of 10 per cent. - ’ T " ' ’ V'" - - , ai - .. •_ -- ■ -

Proof of the Pudding In the Eating Thereof.

THESE ASSERTIONS WERE , MADE FOUR YEARS AGO BY MR. BRYAN. WHO NOW ASKS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO INTRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT TO HIS DIRECTION FOR FOUR YEARS.

“It Sort o' Looks as If I’d Have to Expand.”

;" ; 7 If we are defeated In this campaign, there is nothin* before the people bat soar years more of hard times and greater agitation. Ho you think we have drained the cap of sorrow to its dregs? No, my friends, yoa cannot set a limit to the present hard time*. Business men complain that business conditions are bad. I warn them that these conditions cannot be improved by following up the policies of the Republican party. The Republican party produces a policy that makes hard times. All those who love hard times ought to vote for the Republican ticket, and all those who are tired of hard times have got to vote the Democratic ticket, if they would expect any relief. These are hard times There will be harder times if the gold standard continues. If you ask how the gold standard affects the farmer, we tell yon that the gold standard lowers the price of products of him who sells without lowering his tuxes or debts. If yon ask how the gold standard affects the laboring men. we reply that It destroys the opportunity for labor, multiplies the number of idle men. and fills onr streets with those anxions for work, who cannot find the opportunity. The gold standard. by increasing Idleness, brings poverty to those who ought to have enough and to spare. ihe gold standard means a dearer dollar and falling prices, and fulling prises- menu bard times. If we have a gold standard, prieee are as certain to fall as a stone which Is thrown into the air. An American dollar will bay two Mexican dollars and also about two bushels of wheat at the same time. There was ■ time when an Amarlcan dollar would bay only one Mexican dollar, and then an American dollar would bay only one bnshel of wheat. If the time ever comm when an American dollar will boy three Mexican dollars, then It will buy three bushels of wheat Yon know that with the slightest prospect of foreign war we would suspend go,d payments, and go either to s silver or to a paper basis st ones. C.j in til yen have bimetallism mlUhands will stand on the corner and wonder when the .gold standard will bring them good times.

INSTEAD. WE HAVE HAD FOUR YEARS OF UNPRECEDENTED PROSPERITY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO DREGS IN THE GUP. GOLD STANDARD. GOOD TIMES AND ALL THAT MR. BRYAN PROMISED THAT WE SHOULD ROT HAVE. WE HAVE ENJOYED.

"BRYANISM IN WEST, CROKERISM IN EAST.”

Reasons Why James H. Eckels Will Vote lor McKinley.

Cleveland’s Comptroller of tbe Currency Urges All to Unite and Give Bryan* ism Its Deathblow as a Disturbing Factor.

The political outlook in the West is,- I believe, generally satisfactory to those who are opposed to Mr. Bryan and the things for which be stands is public life. In the extreme West his most ardent friends are ready to concede that he has lost much ground since the campaign of 1896, and unless he can recoup himself in tbe Middle West and East, his defeat will become a matter of certainty. The Pacific Btates, the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Kansas will all be found to be against him,

with a strong probability of Nebraska — unless State pride is extremely strong—joining them. It is hoped to make up this loss by carrying Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Any one who knows Illinois politics realizes that it is naturally a Republican State, and has gone Democratic only once in forty years, and that when the business elements were favorable to the Democratic candidates. ,

The same is to be suid of Ohio, with the added statement that it has never given its electoral vote to a Democratic candidate for the Presidency since the war. Indiana is the only close State, and those who know it best believe that the Democrats will not win there. In both Illinois and Indiana, exceptionally strong men have been named as Democratic candidates for Governor, and to an extent they will aid Mr. Bryan, but not enough to overcome the sentiment held everywhere against him by conservative and thoughtful people. All this apparent prospect of success over Mr. Bryan ought not to cause a lessening of the struggle against him. It will not do in this contest to simply prevent his having a majority in the Electoral College by giving President McKinley barely enough to win. DECISIVE DEFEAT FOR BRYAN. What ought to be accomplished is the decisive defeat of Br.vunism as a disturbing factor in the politics of this country. The country cannot afford with each recurring four years to l»e upset from one end to the other by the danger of a man of such vagaries as be entertains obtaining control of the nation's affairs. The plea that is put forth by some men of ability that he can be rendered harmless before election by the enactment of new laws is hardly statesmanship. Why place a man in the Presidency whom you must virtually put under bonds to keep the peace?

Mr. Bryan has mo grievously wronged the Democratic party that no Democrat who really wishes to, see the party get back into public confidence ought to aid mid als*t him at this time. He would destroy the country's currency system if he could by substituting the silver standard. Why five bitn indorsement in that determination? He would abrogate the right of private contract, overturn the traditions. practices. aD<l high position of the Supreme Court, and make impossible the quick and effective maintenance of public order in times of excitement and stress. Why make it possible for him to even undertake so much that is revolutionary, even though he fail in it all? No Time for Experiments.

I hardly think the thoughtful judgment of any citizen will say thut the possibility that Mr. Bryan tuny do better in the Philippines thun President McKinley is doing justifies an experiment fraught with so much danger to the stability of things at home. The question may he very properly raised whether a man who is wrong on every important problem which affects the • itizens of the United States at home can adjust and administer

the affairs of tbe Philippine people prop"erly. I do not myself believe he can. Mr. Bryan’s plea for the salvation this country by the destruction of what heterms “imperialism,” a* exemplified in tbe administration of our affair* in tho Philippines, loses its force when it is remembered what be pledges himself to carry out at home, in matters which go to the personal and property interests of every citizen of the republic, no matter*. __! how small such interests may be. If would be the height of folly in this campaign to forget the very important effect which Mr. Bryan’s election would have upon the business interests of the country. In the minds of those who carry on the affairs which make up our business world he is associated with uncertainty and doubt. It will not do to say that these interests are selfish and ought to receive a lesson, for the greates sufferer* will be those who are most dependent upon the largest daily activity in business. No one wonld suffer so much as thelaborer, for he must have steady work, day in and day out. He has no reservo capital from which to draw, and the curtailment of business operations mean* the curtailment of employment of labor, with attendant distress and idleness. Dangerous to Labor Interests.

I look upon Mr. Bryan as the most dangerous man to tbe labor interests today in public life. In the first instance he is a demagogue, possessed of a certain quality of oratory which appeals always to prejudice. Tn the second, he is well grounded in no branch of political economy and unsound in all. He would be more unpopular with laboring men, if elected, than, it » claimed, he is popular with them now, because his success would paralyze business for a long time at least, during which time the laborer of neces-. sity would be without employment. Then, too, the laborer would soon discover how utterly futile Mr. Bryan’s efforts would be to make better his condition by making war upon his employers.. The laborer certainly cannot be benefited by a policy which is directed wholly toward the unsettling of values, the reduction of the purchasing power of bis wage and the enactment into law of views which, tested by experience and history, are wholly unsound. I believe President McKinley ought tobe re-elected as largely as possible by Democratic votes. Under the present domination of Mr. Bryan a ConservativeDemocrat can find no place of influencein the party. Those who now return to it after rejecting Bryanism four years ago will find themselves without voice in the administration. Theey go back to accept Mr. Bryan’s views. He does not accept theirs. They indorse him —he does not indorse them; and, once elected, they are not in a position, after changing front, to protest against his radicalism. By voting for him they do, in fact, indorse him, despite a mental reservation that they do not approve of his public utterances and Populistic views. They disarm themselves of a right to criticise and drawdown upon their heads more blame for Mr. Bryan’s unsound views as a disturbing factor than does Mr. Bryan himself. For by their act in voting for Mr. Bryan they have made it possible for him to do the harm which they must know would follow the carrying out of the principle* for which he stands.

Bryan’s Partjr Populistic. The Democratic party cannot be botlk Democratic and Populistic. Under Mr. Bryan it is Populistic. It is so ont of power. It would be more so in power. The best example of what he would dowith the party if in power is shown ilk his own State, where even the kind of Democrats they have in Nebraska areonly allotted one or two minor offices, while the Populists are given all of importance. When Mr. Bryan is eliminated Democrats can readily assume a position of respect and influence in the Democratic: party, and until he is they ought to fight against him. They can aid the party best i by rescuing it from Populism by defeating Populistic candidates at the poll*, not by electing their candidates with the vain hope that they can either reform them, render them harmless, or prove them to be pretentious boasters, publicly standing for things which they never intended to carry out. As far as I am concerned, I am going; to maintain my Democracy by voting and speaking against Mr. Bryan and those who have debauched the party and placed it in the attitude of a defender of alt the isms that disturb the country. I do not believe in Bryanism in the West or Crokerism in the East. If a continuation of Bryanism and Crokerism constitute Democracy, sound political wisdom and honest administrative ability, I do not wish to be of it. But Ido not believe it does, and, therefore, I have faith in there beta* enoqgb Democrats who are Democrat* from principle to defeat Mr. Bryan so emphatically as to make impossible the things we have witnessed during the past years in allege:] Democratic conventions. I really would like to know what a thoughtful Democrat thinks of reforms wrought in domestic ami foreign affairs j through the combined wisdom and expo- V| rience of William J. Bryan and Richard f Croker. JAMES H. ECKELS. Comptroller of the Currency under Cleveland.

Victory and Valor.

[Air. Marching Through:iltcrgxaA Keep the fruits of victory stainless evermore. Keep our banners flying on Manila’s distant shore; Keep our noble Presides! within the White House door. j Bringing pros|>erify and glory! j CHOU I'M. Hurrah! Hurrah! In honor we are bound. Hurrah! Hurrah! Our money all ie sound: Honest golden dollars ringing all the world around. Bringing prosperity and glory! 1 jjwH Cherish deeds of valor wreathed ia memories sublime. 4 .. Cherish grand achievements wrought ia» % Oriental clime; Cherish honest duty calliug; now’s the | golden time. Bringing prosperity and glory! j CHORUS.

On Foreign Trade.

We must know just what other people A waut before we can supply their wants. ,cl We must understand exactly how to* reach them with least expense it we would enter into the most advantageous , business relation* with them.—Williams» **,|i McKinley. 9«.wi .

C. P. R.