The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-11-28
J.. a. h.
- :. E,marks spon Qu' stions OF
Fiaerse

> =. E,mhrss spon Qu' stisns OF
Finance
| "setiled" in Leayeuworth county in
1868. The southern part Of the county
where ''set my stakes" had then rather
Injury" appearance. 1t was the Della
ware Diminished Reserve, and the Della
wares had left but few months before.
The greater part Of the county, unlike many
portions of the great West, az that time
was basking in the sunlight OF civilization.
Civilization had even then done much for
the county. A bonded debt of seven or
eight thousand dollars had then been con-
tracted, thing which would not have hap
peued, had the country remained in IL
primevai condition, and let civilization
alone. Ia The year, lS6S, wheat marketed
readily at $500 per bushel; corn at 80
cents; hay at from IS to $40 per ton hogs
at $500 per cwt; all other things that
farmers produced, sold at corresponding
rates.
i have not the official records at hand,
but for the purpose of approximate estima-
ton, will put the debt which had been
sHuui'' "Pon 'ie 'oun''' up " iooo, d
ssO0,COo. The means 10 pay this indebt-
edness, which stIil rests upon the people,
only in the greater volume by reason OF
accruing interest, and extravaganza in the
matter OF court house building, and other
things, can only be raised by taxation. The
means 10 pay taxes IN the case oil great
majority OF the tax payers, can only be OBJ
tanned by labor LABOR ON the farm, In the
Workshop, IN the storehouse.
With labor, not gold, as paying basis,
let Us see how the sS"o,Uoo Indebtedness oi
ten years ago, compares with the same vol
umn OF debt to-day. At - per bushel the
debt could have been discharged IN 1865
by 100000 bushels OF wheat. AT 60 cents
per bushel, the debt IN ie0S, could have
been paid with l,555,553 bushels OF corn.
With wheat al 90 cents per Dushel the aver
age present price, 1t would require ,353,
353 bushels to pay that amount oil Indebi-
edness in wheat this year. With corn at
20 cents it would require 100000 bushels
OF that grain TO pay the debt now. -Four
hundred thousand Is to DO ,333 as one to
four. Thirteen hundred thousand is to
100000 as one to three. As many days
labor are required TO produce q given
amount OF wheat and corn to-day as were
required TO produce the same amount IN
1868. 1t would therefore require four times
as many days labor III the wheat
field, and over three times az manv 10 the
corntield, TO pay our bonded indeb edness
this year "a would have been required in
1865. And the same rule oil comparative
measurement applies IN cases4sf individual
Indebtedness. The man who morts aged
his farm in those flush years, as they are
called, Tor 500 or gave hind notes TO that
amount, might then have paid, and so
avoided the encumbrance, with oDe-fourth
OF the labor that would now be
required TO pay the same amount, II still
unpaid, to say nothing OF interest, If any
has accrued. That many, perhaps the ma
jority who contracted debts in those days,
still owe the same debts, materially enIarg-
ed IN some cases by interest aocrelIons, is
tact lamentable to those particularly con-
cerned. There Is no doubt about the coun-
ty debt a. all events by reduction OF prices
and depreciationo oil LABOR, our deo:s have
thus practically and actually been increas-
ed three and lour ioid. Inns estimate Is
made more particularly with reference TO
farmers; though l doubt not, II will an
swer without abatement, TO the debtor class
In all the other industrial vacations, As well
as to class oil capitalists who have been
80 unfortunate az 10 mold property subject
to the continual s.Flnkage which has been
going on these several years past, but en-
cumbered with interest bearing debts which
have not shrunken but rather increased
three ana ioui loi9' Inc most oil them
have ceased 10 hoid; nor does that alto
gether describe their present condition. A
large portion OF them are utterly broken up
and pennies Why Is this? And how is
this? The value OF commodities and labor
Is regulated by the co-relations oil supply
and demand. Have those co-rela-
nons been altered since 1868 by legitimate
influences to an extent sufflciently TO ac-
count Tor the terrible depression and shrink
age oil the present time! undertake TO
say they have not Are the masses OF the
people better led, better clothed, better
housed, better provided with the essentials
to moral well being, IMAM they were ten
years ago! No. Are they not rather far
worse on IN those things! les. Is the
present state OF Things then que TO sllrfelt
oil supply, or nomlnally diminished de-
mand? 10 what then shall We look for
the cause OF these hard times, but the es
tablished means OF satisfying the mutual
claims oil supply and demand, namely ::
Our monetary system. The fanit Il demon
strably there.
During my late canvass OF this Repre-
sentative District, attempted TO give the
people, in general way, my rationale OF
The situation. 10 the same purpose the ed
itor and proprietor oil this paper spoke in
very excellent and PRACTICAL way, one even
ing 70 the people OF longanoxie. The fact
is, all the legislation at Washington Tor the
last ten years, has been In the interest OF
Of the creditor class, as opposed TO the
class VINO owe. McCal!och,s dragon fish
nnanciai Poiicy mas been mercllessly de-
Souring me smaii hshes. Inc Key note OF
urant administration was, give the Shy
locks not simply their pound OF flesh, but
let II be weighed on scales OF gold.' Moth
ing less ana LEI al oo]ectors who wonld
partake oil the ofhcial patronage, beware.
nnanciai aneylsm mas ruled In Congress
mat y the DEBTOR classes nave no rights which
he creditor classes ana The usury -grabbers
are pound 70 respect and according TO the
general average increase oil wealth, 10 per
cent, per cent, ana even per cent Is
lsury IN these United States.
Is IL not Tune thst tue tables were turned,
IND something done ior the debtor class ?
10 those VINO owe no debts, l grant that
ne situation Is not so bad. II the fewer
dollars received ior labor to-day, will pur-
:hase as much as The greater number Of