Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1904 — Political COMMENT [ARTICLE]

Political COMMENT

i Money Talks. “Money talks” against a return of emoeraey to the presidency. The makg of it in hard, musical gold and sil;r is a sound- to be considered tkrougbit the land when the choice of the voter to be between good and bad times, ow many know that even in Mr. levehind’s administration there was a eepiug paralysis in the government —ints, and the talk' of coins as they dropped from the dies lessened to a whisper? That is a forgotten incident, but it is a lesson for the voter of to-day, a croon of disaster iu the past that may be repeated in the present. When Mr. Cleveland completed his presidency, beginning 1893, the gold and silver coinage of the country for his four years amounted to $290,003,055. Then Mt. McKinley took his place, business began to hum in the good old style, and the mints “got busy.” In four years (1897 to 1900, both inclusive), there was coined of gold and silver $468,509,455, an increase of $178,505,830 over the mint production of Mt. Cleveland’s term. If that did not indicate a return of good times —a demand and use for hard cash in business —then proofs arc useless. Take another listen to the money talk; coined money needs the metal. How much gold and silver was dug out of the earth during the Democratic (1893 to 1897) administration? The director of the mint made it $464,849,000. Then came the Republicans again, and there were mined during Mr. McKinley’s four years (1896 to 1900, inclusive) gold and silver to the value of $557,410,000. exceeding hy $92,561,000 the output of the preceding four years. That looks like an index of immediate prosperity that could

be rightfully attributable only to the Republicans’ return to power, thereby restoring public confidence and giving an impetus to mining; and mining is an industry of immense importance to many thousands of our citizens of foreign birth. If mining is greater under a Republican than under a Democratic administration, then self-interest should lead them to vote only for a Republican for President. In 3800, Cleveland’s closing year as President, the population of the United States had increased to 71,390,1)00. The stock of gold and silver at that time in the country was placed by the Commissioner pf the Mint at $4,965,610,936. This was close to $lB per head for the population. When McKinley's first four years were ended (1897 to 1900, inclusive) the population was over 5.000,000 greater, and the total coin and bullion of the country was up to $6,113,030,388 —a jumping up of $1,148,319,42, and an increase of the per capita average to within a few cents of $22. If government statistics are good for anything they show in this matter that the Republicans brought out and up the value and amount of mofhey. To this showing of the good results to the country in general of government by the Republicans is added the influence of such government as to the circulation of money of all kinds in the United States. W’jicn the Cleveland administration began, in 1803, there was money in circulation amounting to sl,506,701,245, equivalent to $23.87 per capita for the people; when it went out, in 1896, the country was trying to do business with $1,506,631,026 (a loss of $90,000,000) and a reduction of the per capita to $21.10. No wonder the country’s business men “got white around the gills’’ when the Democratic management of national finances gave them ruin for a dividend. ° It was left for the Republicans to lift the nation out of the Democratic pit. Iu 1897 Mr. McKinley’s administration had $1,646,028,246 in circulation, or $22.57 per capita. Every year afterwards showed an increase, and a great one. until in 1900 the people had for their use $2,062,425,496, or $26.50 per capita for a population of over 76,000,000. In 1903 (to June 30) there was available $2,876,323,210, or $29.39 per capita. That’s the way “money talks” when it comes to a showing of what good the Republican party and what damage the Democratic party has done for the people’# money. The latter party cannot get away from figures* which show that the longer it was in power the Whs the money and the metallic wealth of the country. Another experiment with it forecasts a worse financial collapse than we buve ever had. Republican Leaders. While President Roosevelt should be given full credit for the success of his administration, the leaders of his party should not be forgotten. In discussing this point the Kansas City Journal says: “Not for many years has an administration seeking indorsement of the people encountered such little purposeful opposition. Through causes many of which art* of non-partisan origin, the Republican party stands in a firmer position of strength and popularity than ever before. j

“The President and the most prominent Republicans in the cabinet. Congress and the departments are men with exceptionally clean records. They are broad-gauged statesmen, educated and experienced. They have high ideals as to wbat the public service should be, and they are imbued with a lofty and intelligent patriotism which makes them thoroughly to understand the power of the United States and to dare to use it when the occasion justifies. “These men encouraged and assisted during the more important crises by certain Democrats who rose superior to party ambitions have been directing the policies of the government for the past few yearv In action they haTe worked with admirable harmony. The change of leadership, caused by the assassin’s bullet at Buffalo, caused no change in the policy they had adopted. The course been frankly direct and persistently onward without any baitings through mistakes of judgment, uncertainty of purpose, jealousies or bickerings over ways and means. They have all (lone well and, except for the pre-eminence of the President’s position, you could not tell which of them was the greatest. “There are more big men and at the same time less personal factions and ambitions in the Republican party to-day than has been the case for many years.” The Rock of Protection. The foreign commerce of the United States in the fiscal year 1902 was larger than in any year of its history except 1901—both of them Republican years. Compared with 1901 there was a reduction in 1902 of $106,045,590 in exports, and an increase of $80,148,783 in exports. The redaction in exports was chiefly due to the shortage in the corn

crop of 1901, the reduction in the price of cotton, and an unusual home demand for iron ai.d steel/©anufaetures. The shortage in//ne corn crop of 1901, due to/ drought,/reduced the corn exportetlona in 190f' 151,181,413 bushels below those of 1901, and caused a reduction of $06,342,310 in the value of corn exportations. The exports of cotton fell off $23,021,624 in 1902 over 1901, and those of Iron and steel fell off $18,766,758, owing to the home demand. But these unfavorable items, due to causes easily understood, were more than compensated by increased exports in other items and by largely increased imports of raw materials for manufacturing. 34ie latter item amounted to $415,151,974. This is largely in excess of similar importations in any preceding year in our history, and shows that even a failure of the corn crop cannot affect prosperity that is founded on the solid rock of Republican protection. ,Facing Three Ways. The npister trimmer before Judge Parker —to give the latter the classification awarded him by that eminent Democrat, Mr. Bryan’s running mate, Thomas Watson of Georgia—was President Jaijjes Buchanan. He was so judicial la his executive character that he got -the name of “James-Faclng-Both-Ways.” We have improved on his achivaments in thest days. Democracy and its candidates face three ways now. Example, on the tariff. The St. Louis platform says: “We denounce protection as robbery.” Judge Parker accepts that as bis creed an<J says it Is partly robbery. “Some of the schedules are wrong.” He will fix those —slowly. Senator Davis, his running mate, says: “Incidental protection is all right” Think iff that —incidental larceny, according to the party creed, all right! But it Is the most candid statement of the three.—Buffalo News. A Business Appeal. “Unfurl the Flag.’” is the admirable title of a Republican campaign leaflet prepared and Issued by three merchants and business men of national distinction, Messrs. William F. King, Seth M. Mllllken and Charles H.Webb. Says the leaflet, among other things: “If you favor sound currency, protection to American industries, national Integrity, and national greatness, make your sentiments known and aid the cause of unfurling the flag in behalf of a continuance of our present national policy.” Tho Issues of the campaign could not be more briefly or more effectively stated. The appeal is one which will find a tremendous affirmative response. Parker va. Circaa Man. A* has been frequently remarked of ‘bite, the difference between Parker and a circus proprietor is that the circus man has a show.