Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, August 5, 1899, Page 3

. money, 2 SIGNS OF THE TIMES. AS SEEN BY JOURNAL AGRICULTURE. pe ata ain OF There Is No Prosperity for the Masses The Result in 1896 Merely Strength- ered the | Strong That They Might Further Oppress the Weak. ‘rom the Mississippi Valley Demo- and Journal of Agriculture: A prominent man of Odessa, Mo., writ- ing under date of June 20, asks us to e've our opinion of “the signs of the whether they are good or evil.” we confess, is a difficult task. By © we are inclined to be optimistic. ke to look on the bright side of Ss, and to feel that the world is ng and getting better, and » are really in the midst of pros- But it requires a good deal of elieve all this in the face of putable facts as they exist. There unquestionably a good deal of pros- r n the land, but it is confined to favored classes. In some in- in the protected factories and es, Wages have been increased; n no instance have we heard that were restored to the old average. institutions could very well af- to increase wages on the eve of a gn, for political effect, and tances lead us to believe that e true explanation of this fea- € or there are just as many men employment now as ever be- the general average of wages creased. Such prosperity as has not yet reached the f the people. One of the bad s is found in the fact that there nereased demand for property, I reumscribed and specially ocalities, Farms and country operty are almost unsalable, and real in the cities, in spite of all the of the daily papers, is a “drug e market.” The. papers are sim- ling in the real estate grave- »ping to drive the spooks away. 1 take the average of real values ty now—and St. Louis is bet- han the other large cities—and re.them with those of ’91 to the nning of '94, you will find that they at least 40 per cent less than they and you can’t sell real es- at the reduced prices. Yet can borrow money, if you have gilt-edged security, at 3, 4 and 5 per cent. A 5 per cent loan will attract money lenders like ants to a lump of The banks and safety deposit are literally glutted with idle i bankers point to this fact era times: > then tate even you as a verification of their claim that we have an “abundance of money.” of it is abundant as they see it, f they would get out among the would soon discover that people th have anything more than to last them for pocket change sh the day or week, and millions have not even that much. Onur ruin- ancial tem has drained the y from the people and con- in the banks and safety de- 1lts, and produced property ion. What we need is a cur- will circulate among the and the whole history of civ- proves that nothing serves se so well as silver and pa- Gold is not a circulating cur- and its nature is such that it t be made to fill this important Gold is the money of the rich, the money of the poor; and for y years past all our legislation has it 1 year our trade balances brought an age of nearly $8 per capita in gold into the United States, but its ben- efits did not reach the people. Those were already overrich became A few hundred very rich peo- dded many millions to their and now have “vast stores” of y, but the masses of the people are as poor as ever. The farmer’s side of the question has been very strongly stated by one of our able country ex- changes. During the first week of March, 1897, the week of McKinley’s inauguration, when the coming pros- perity was heralded abroad, a farmer of Boone county, in this state, brought twelve head of hogs to his local mar- ket and sold them for $104.10. With part of this money he bought the fol- lowing bill of goods: Three kegs of nails at $1.75 each. Two hundred pounds fencing wire at $1.90 per hundred. One csok stove for $30. One hundred feet screening, 85 cents. plow, $10. ellaneous $1162. Patent medicines and drugs, $10.50. One hundred and eighty pounds , $10. nis left him something over $20 to his doctor’s bills and square ac- with the editor. The first week month the same farmer brought thirteen hogs to his local market and and sold them for $105. Then, at the suggestion of the editor, he visited the same stores that he had purchased his goods from in 1897, and obtained pres- ent prices for the same articles, with the following results: One Mise: hardware and tin- ware su pay Three kegs nails, $3.50 each; in- crease, $5.25. Two hundred pounds wire, $3.10; in- crease, $2.40, The same cook stove, $38; in- crease, $8. The same screening, $1.50; increase, 65 cents, The same plow, $12.50; increase, $2.50. Duplicate bill of hardware and tin- ware, $16.40; increase, $4.78. The same bil] of drugs, $17; increase, en on the side of the users of gold. | One hundred and eighty pounds of sugar, $11.25; increase, $1.25, Total increase, $31.33. The farmer received less for his hogs than he did in 1897, and would have been required to pay $31.58 more for his small bill of necessaries for his family and farm, It can readily be seen, therefore, that the farmer, as usual, “got left” in the mighty wave of prosperity that has come to us. The editor carried the comparison a little further, with the following results: “The farmer might have followed the prosperity story further for his own instruction and profit. Here is a St. Louis market report for the week McKinley was inaugurated, in 1897, and this week’s report, giving the top prices on WHAT THE FARMER STILL SELLS: March, June, 1897. 1899. $4.95 $5.08 3.90 3.85 < 9356 -17% COIR i ccce aio psig ier oe 05% Thus cattle alone have advanced, and that rise a small one. Hogs have held their own. Wheat is off 15 cents and cotton is down nearly 2. cents. Then suppose he starts an investiga- tion as to the THINGS THE FARMER BUYS: March, June, 1897, 1899. Nails, per keg .......$1.75 $3.50 Wire, per cwt.. .... 1.90 3.10 Per Cent Advance. Stoves .. oe 22 Plows .. 25 All hardware ... - 25@40 Tinware ..... ee 7 40 All drugs, patent medicines . 33 1-3 Lumber .10@25 Sugar .. 10 Dry goods . sige » 2@20 Doctor bills no less. Insurance no less. Taxes higher than ever—having to pay war stamp taxes. A farmer can get a little more for his cattle, but the material in a house that would have cost him $1,000 in March, 1897, would cost him now $1,300. He cannot get a farthing more for his pork, but it costs him $7.50 more to build a half mile of wire fence. His wheat will not sell for as much by 15 or 20 cents, but the plow he puts it in with costs him a fcurth more. The editer concludes his remarks by saying that McKinley’s prosperity fable is like “a pyramid set on its apex—it is top-heavy and bound to topple.” These are some of the “signs of the times.” Retirement of Greenbacks. Not satisfied with burying the money question every week, Republicans are preparing to retire greenbacks, if- crease the privileges of national banks and reduce the tax on bank circulation. The substitution of bonds for green- backs will increase the taxes upon the people, already overburdened, while the reduction on tax on circulation will re- lieve the banks already enjoying great special advantages. is not a néw one, and yei it has grown in interest and importance because the | trusts have grown in number. <Attor- ney-General Griggs is reported as say- ing: “If anything be done to control the trusts, it"must be done by the states.” No one who has examined this subject will believe that state legislation is sufficient. The federal government must deal with the trust as soon as its pernicious influence ex- tends beyond the limits of the state in which it is organized. The president, through his attorney-general, can en- force the law now in existence. If that law is not sufficient he can recommend laws which are sufficient. If the con- stitution will not permit the extin- guishment of trusts he can recommend an amendment to the constitution con- conferring power upon the federal .gov- ernment to destroy the monoply princi- ple im industry. The Republican party, through its administration, could ex- tinguish its trusts if it desired to do so. It is powerless to deal with the ques- tion because it mortgaged itself to the trusts to obtain the money necessary to earry the last election.—William J. Bryan. Better Way Than Fighting. The soldier makes trouble for the present as well as for the future gen- erations. Of course, this faet must not deprive the hero in uniform of the honor due him for the great battles which he has fought for the rights of man; of the laurels falling to him for patriotic work in camp and field. The time has come in the progress of the world when a better means ean be adopted for the adjustment of interna- | tional differences, says the Dallas News. The soldier himself recognizes this encouraging fact. The people of all civilized nations are coming to un- derstand it this way. Some of the war lords do not, but they will be brought around before time flies very much farther. The question for the next century is not the question of power to kill, but of power to save. The pol- icy of the coming time will not be war, but peace, The Official Badge. Are you wearing the “Official Demo- cratic Badge’? It is emblematical of the free silver doctrine and the symbol of Demoeratic faith. This badge is patented and manufactured for the benefit of the National Democratic Ways and Means Committee. All prom- inent Democrats are wearing it, ang it is expected that every Democrat in the country will be provided with one be- fore the next national convention. Can be procured only through The Badge Committee}. Unity building, Chicago, The trust question | Appreciation of Money Unit. ' Professor Fisher of Yale College, in a long and labored paper, has under- taken to show that the coil of falling prices is compensated by a reduction in interest, While it is not denied that a! reduction in interest affords some measurs of compensation, many things, as taxes and fixed charges generally, are not affected by a reduction of in- terest. Moreover, the professor fails entirely to establish any direct com- pensating connection between a rise of money and a reduction of interest. The average rate of increase in the value of money since 1873 has been more than 4 per cent per annum. With debts amounting to thousands of millions, if there were no interest at all, twice the quantity of commodities must now be set off to balance the money obliga- tions of twenty years ago that other- wise would have been required. What- ever the rate of interest may be re- duced to, the rate of appreciation must be added to it, to find the true increase in the power of an appreciating money. How long can civilization stand against a force so tremendous, work- ing perpetually against the right for the wrong? How long can society, as now organized, continue when the es- sential elements of equality and justice are thus destroyed? How long can in- stitutions based upon the foundation of equal rights for all endure? Surely the root of all financial evil is the contin- ual appreciation of the money unit. Nor can there be any other remedy than the removal of the cause of the evil. Stop the appreciation of money! Its deadly effect can be overcome by no countervailing measures. Noth- ing else will check the drift of wealth to few hands, and with wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, neither a high state of civilization nor a prosperous condition of industry is possible. Of what avail, in the Miuale Ages, with all the wealth in the hands of one million freemen, with twenty- four millions of slaves, would an in- dustrial system have been that would have multiplied products for the mil- lion who owned the wealth? They could not sell to slaves. So now, of what avail to invent mechanical appli- ances and set more machinery in mo- tion to produce more for the five mil- lions who are already oversupplied, after the other seventy-five millions have become so impoverished that they can not buy? Markets are made by people who can buy. Prosperity will never come to our people by lifting a few near the top higher up. It must come from the bottom up, not from the top down. The power to buy must be increased by raising prices of what the millions have to sell, whether that be labor or the products of labor. The farmer, the producer and consumer generally must be taken into the deal before prosperity will come to stay. A high state of industry, or a high state of civilization, can exist only where wealth is widely distributed. The root of the disease which threatens to sap the modern industrial world is the con- tinua] appreciation of the money unit. The most vital question, therefore, be- fore the civilized world, and especially for this country, is how to stop the ap- preciation of money and restore con- ditions under which equity can again prevail in the dealings of men, This can be done in one way, and one way enly, and that is by providing for money supply adequate to _maintain practically stable relations between money and the things which money buys. Declarations Justified. The declarations of 1896 have been justified by events. The organization and existence of trusts is made possi- ble by the demonetization of silver; the less money there is the easier it is to concentrate it; the more money there is, the more difficult it is to con- centrate it. I know that the protective tariff system was an aid to the organ- ization and existence of trusts, but the main and primary foundation of the trust is the gold standard. I see now men who a few years ago were declar- ing all over this country that the pro- tective tariff system was a blessing, now declaring that the trust is the child of that system. They take this position because they are willing to give any reason rather than the true reason for the existence of the trusts. They would rather abandon the pro- tective tariff system than to abandon the gold standard. The gold standard | 4s dearer to the concentrated wealth of the country than is the protective tariff system. The reason of that is that the gold standard is more to the interests and benefit of concentrated wealth than is even the protective tariff sys- tem, and that which is most to the in- terests of everything else in the coun- try. Those who own and control the organized wealth of the United States will surrender anything before the gold standard, and that fact alone should demonstrate to you and to me, and to men like us, that the gold standard is the one thing of all others that we do not want, and will not have.—Judge Tarvin. Twaddle for Political Effect. The twaddle about the Filipinos be- ing encouraged by. anti-expansion ex- pressions in the United States is all for political effect. If the Filipinos are as ignorant and worthless as they have been represented, they can know noth- ing of American affairs, says the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Besides, there is the strict press censorship for the sup- pression of all facts unfavorable to the administration. Diamonds in Pretoria, The area of the Pretoria diamona fields continues to be increased by dis- coveries in almost every direction, and the yield from the extensive wash is reported as highly encouraging, the | pothing, and yet tenants can not be returns from some of the mines for the first three months of the year running as high as 6,000 carats. _ t BLE OF THE TALENTS How the Plntoerats Twist Bible Lan- Suage to Their Purposes. “If, you make yourself rich today, you Must make others poor. If you would live in a mansion, you must compel others to live in hovels. The next time you go into the home of a man Of wealth, go to the window and draw aside a half dozen lambrequins and lace curtains and let in some of God’s sunshine. And- when you do it, remember that every useless luxury enjoyed by the rich means the denial of some comfort to another man,. The time may come when we may all en- joy luxuries, but today, the luxury of one man means the refusal of com- forts to another.”—Prof. Herron. For saying this, a patent truth, the Republican of Cedar Rapids, denounces Prof. Herron, and as a clincher in de- fending wealth against marhood, says: “The parable of the talents has not been dropped out of the Bible of hu- man belief except by a few teachers of Grinnell and by a few politicians who want the votes of the so-called poor.” I wonder if the editor of the Repub- lican ever read that 25th chapter of Matthew with care? If he had he would scarcely have used it, for the man who upbraided his servants because he- had not put his money to usury (that is the word used) said of himself: “Thou knowest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed.” His just servant, who refused to take usury, knew his master, and said to him: “I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strewed.” In other words, the parable of the talents says, as plairly as can be said, that only a hard man and a thief desires to gather up more than they have laid down. And this is the character that the editor holds up as a model to be followed!! A Re- publican editor reads his Bible so little that it is a dangerous thing for him to quote. That parable bas been worked very hard to defend usury or increase, yet it plainly denounces it, by making the character say of him- self that he is hard and dishonest. You will notice in the first part of the parable the words “the kingdom of heaven is” are in italic letters. That is the way compilers put those words not in the original but what they sup- posed was necessary to make the sense what it should be. In this they made heaven as an unjust man, as a hard man, as a man reaping where he had not sown, aS a man gathering where he had not strewed, as an usurer! A. perfectly absurd interpolation. Emerson, in his work on compensa- tion, says, “As long as all that is said is against me, I feel a certain assur- ance of success.” Prof. Herron there- fore is meeting wiii unbounded suc- cess. J. A. WAYLAND, BLIGHTED BY A TRUST. The Indiana Wire Fence company of Crawfordsville has been absorbed by the Ameri¢an Steel and Wire company and its buildings now stand deserted. The fence factory was Crawfordsville chief industry. The products became known all over the country, and the demand increased so that the factory was enlarged almost weekly. There were regularly employed about seven- ty-five men, sometimes more than that number, nearly all of whom had fami- lies. The pay rolls for labor alone amounted to nearly $52,000 a _ year, about every dollar of which was spent in Crawfordsville. But the steel trust began to note the Crawfordsville plant. An agent was sent to the company with a proposition to buy, but the offer was declined. The agent talked bluntly. “Take a little time to consider and I will come back and see you,” he said, significantly, as he departed. The members of the com- pany did take time to consider. They found that every factory, every jobber, every dealer from whom they would have to secure material with which to carry on business, was controlled by the steel trust. They could not get a pound of iron except the steel trust was willing they should have it, and at prices that would prevent a profit to themselves. “Suppose,” said the Indiana Wire Fence company to the steel trust, “that we decline to sell you our plant.” “In that event,” replied the steel trust, ‘“‘we will send our agents into your territory.” The meaning of that was plain. The trust would cut prices so low that the Crawfordsville concern would be forced out of business, or would have to operate at a loss. There was noth- ing to be done. The sale must be made and Jan. 23, 1899, the plant passed to the control of the steel trust. Then the blow fell upon Crawfords- ville. The men were thrown out of em- ployment. Most of them had gone into building and loan associations, had borrowed money, and were building themselves homes. They could not meet their payments, their homes were taken away from them, and they left the city. Clerks and salesmen lost their positions because business fell off. In fact before long every braneh of business felt this blow. A few of the men are still here, but they are idle except as they can get a few days’ work at odd jobs. The county auditor told me that, while he had not yet seen the appraise- ment of property for this year, he un- derstocd that real estate in the vicin- ity of the wire factory had depreciated 40 per cent since the industry closed down. A number of small merchants in that locality have been compelled to go out of business, rents are almost secured for the houses.—Correspond- ence Indianapolis News. © eee anemone a PATENTS, List of Patents Issued Last Week to Northwestern Inventors. Thomas P. Flynn, St. Cloud, Minn., cartridge loading machine; Patrick Henretty, Belgrade, Minn., water wheel; Cunningham N. McLaughlin, Winoua, Minn., honey box machine; Charles P. Goetzinger, Duluth, Minn., reil joint; George W. Sheets, Bixby, S. D., key ring; Foley Bros. & Kelly Mercantile Company, St. Paul, Minn., trade mark. 5 Merwin, Lothrop & Johnson , Patent At- torneys, 910 Pioneer Press. Bldg., St. Paul Evidently. “T think the man who works at that place across the street is the most faithful and conscientious workman I ever saw. He never takes a holiday, | and always labors away until it’s tco dark to see any longer.” “Faithful workman? Great He’s the proprietor of the shop!” Scott! Ladies Can Wear Shoes One size smaller after using Allen’s Foot Ease, a powder for the feet. It makes tight or new shoes easy. Cures swol- len, hot, sweating, aching feet, ingrow- ing nails, corns and bunions. At all druggists and shoe stores. ets. Trial! package FREE by mail. Adde.s Allen S. Olmsted, Le Roy, N. Practical Reasons. She—What a tall fellow your new roorm mate is, isn’t he? f He—Yes;I made up my mind this time that I would get somebody who wouldn’t be forever asking me to lend him my dress suit.—Somerville Jourral, Chicago Great Western Increase. The earnings of the Chicago Great Western Ry, “Maple Leaf Route,” for the third week of July, 1899, show an increase of $184 Total increase since beginning of fiscal year (July 1st) to date, $79,769.34. | ‘Two men tr, man is a pretty good e silent majority. ing to entertain one wo- mple of a Be Beantiful! A clear, clean complexion is the foundation Sathartic make All drug- of all beauty. Cascarets Candy and keep the skin soft and velvety. gists, 10c, 25c, 50c. Advice is about the only thing you‘ can offer some people that they won’t take. FITS Permsnently Cured. Nofits ornervousness after first day’s use of Dr. Kline’s Great Nerve Restorer. Send for FREE $2.00 trial bottle and treatise. Dr. R. H. KLINE, Ltd., 931 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. Any man may make a‘mistake, but none but a fool will continue in it— Cicero, Piso’s Cure for Consumption has been a family medicine with us since 1865.—J. R. Madison, 2409 42d Ave., Chicago, Ill. A diamond of the first water is one that has never been in “soak.” Hall's Catarrh Cure Isa constitutional cure. Price, 75c. The cyclone can.raise anything on a farm except the mortgage. Mrs. Winstow’s soothing Syrup. For children teething, softens the gums, reduces in- flammation. allays pain, cures wind colic. 25¢,a bottle. Fools never rush in where theatrical agents fear to travel. Mrs. Col. Richardson SAVED BY MRS. PINKHAM, [LETTER TO MRS. PINKHAM NO. 72,896] “You have saved my life, snatched me from the brink of the grave almost, and I wish to thank you. Abouteigh- teen months ago I was a total wreck, physically. Ihad been troubled with leucorrheea for some time, but had given hardly any attention to the trouble. | “At last inflammation of the womb and ovaries resulted and then I suf- fered agonies, had to give up my pro- fession (musician and piano player), was confined to my bed aud life became a terrible cross. My husband sum- | moned the best physicians, but their benefit was but temporary at best. I believe I should have contracted the | morphine habit under their care, if my common sense had not intervened. “One day my husband noticed the ad- vertisement of your remedies and im- mediately bought me a full trial. Soon the pain in my ovaries was gone. Iam now well, strong and robust, walk, ride a wheel, and feel like a girl in her gy Does Your ead Ache ? Are your nerves weak? Can’t you sleep well? Pain in your back? Lack energy? Appetite poor? Digestion bad? Boils or pimples? These are sure signs of Poisoning. From what poisons? © From poisons that are al- ways found in constipated bowels. If the contents of the bowels are not removed from the body each day, as nature intended, these poisonous substances are sure to be absorbed into the blood, al- ways causing suffering and frequently causing severe disease. There is a common sense cure. AVER’S PILLS They daily insure an easy and natural movement of the bowels. You will find thatthe use of Ayer’s Sorsaparta with the pills will hasten recovery. It cleanses the blood from all impurities and is a great tonic to the nerves. Write the Doctor. Our Medical Department has one of the most eminent physicians in the oe States. ib lam eI just how you are suffering. Pll reeeled | the, best medical advice yut cos: 85, DR. J. 6. AYER, Lowell, Mass, CANDY CATHARTIC STOCK RAISERS Will find it greatly to their advantage, if before purchasing a farm, they will look at the country along the line of the Saint Paul & Duluth Railroad. DAIRY FARMERS Who desire the best Clover and Timothy land, in a district which can boast of a fine climate, good pure water, rich soil, fine meadows, and near to the markets of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Superior should apply :mmediately by leter or in person to WM. P. TROWBRIDGE, Asst. Land Commissioner, St. Paul & Duluth R. R. Box U—903 Globe Bidg., St. Paul, Minn, A Natural Black is Produced by Buckingham’s Dyewsiter. 50 cts, of druggists or R.P.Hall & Co., Nashua, N.H.. INVENTORS Send to-day for our handsomely engraved 38th anniversary work on patents. FREE. IN, FENWICK & LAWRENCE, Washington, D. C. MASO: Patent Lawyers. _ JOHN W.MORRIS, NSIO N Washington, aes if ims. Ieee eae eens teens. I would not be without Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound; it is like water of life to me. I am very gratefully and sincerely your well- wisher, and I heartily recommend your remedies. I hope some poor creature may be helpéd to health by reading my story.”—Mas. Con. E. P. RICHARDSON, RuHINELANDER, WIB. wamicted witht Thompson’s Eye Wa’ When Answering Advertisements Hindlp Mention This Paper. NWNU —No. 31.— 1899, pil terre, within easy reach of the (river. field to shock oF gle ath ‘thamaad Fe ‘Biagere aude Pale of 2 tad catnwet a : i oweh bows