Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1884-09-12
MICHIGAN LETTER.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich, Sept. 2, 'S4.

respondent has utterly forsaken til,
cause of your paper and has strayee
into less inviting paths; but | assure
you that such is not the case. The
dog days in the East seem to knock
all energy completely out of a fellow
Even the stump speaker, who is ever
so ready to espouse the cause of the
dear people" has to keep cool and
bask in the shade. Now, however,
the days Of autumn draw nigh and
with them return energy ambition.
Following in the wake of the return
ing politician and speaker from the
famous trout streams and cool and
shady mountains, comes your cores
pondent, who will strive to contribute
his mite to the columns Of your valu-
able paper
The most absorbing topic in this
region is the hard times and to this
subject we will give our first atten-
ton. Many are the failures incident
to the lightness Of the money market
and many are the complaints heard
OH all sides. Our mills and factories
are either running on half time, or
are compelled to shut down, trusting
to a better feeling in the market and
a speedy resumption of business in
the near future. Some of the lead
ing factories have reduced the wages
OF their employees and more are con-
templating similar reduction. 1t is
not here alone that this panicy feel
ing is felt, but all over the country il
one can Judge from reports. The
produce of the farmer brings little or
no return. Wheat is worth but IS to
20 cents per bushel. All other pro-
auctions bring like price. This is
particularly hard on the farmers, for
as general thing they are the hard
est working people we have in this i.
country and get the smallest return i,
for thcir labor. The income of the
farmer does not come in like that of
the capitalist, in large, healthy divi-
dends, but in a steady stream. There
is always something upon which his
income has to be expended, and as
result he accumulates little or moth
ng. He is therefore in much hard
,r condition to endure such time as I
his than any other class of our peo- j
,le. The workingman, or day labor q
II, has his capital in his ability to do :
j days labor, and is often able to lay
" a little sum for a rainy day. You
AVE no idea how discouraged our |
arming people have become, but III
here appears to be nothing better to ra
10 than to let things take their way
nd trust for better times. Many %
IDEAS are advanced as to the cause of q,
his state of affairs, but none seem so m
lausabe as that put forth by the tar ~
1t reformers. They say that these
ard times are occasioned by the
normous taxes the people have to ca
'ay and the bad repute our COM M N,
nerce is getting abroad on account
I our high protective tariff. Certain {
J this tariff is not just. 1t discrimi- NJ
ates in favor of one class as against wi
IL the others. 1t protects the manu-
lcturer and enables him to lay up an -
immense fortune, but it increases thet
rices of all articles called ssthe nee.
ssaries of life," which the laborinm
asses need to have, while the prices
all their products are forced down
the lowest notch, Ii this is Justice,
ad II tunes are prosperous as Mr.. hin
lalne says in his letter of aceep-
nee they are, | have nothing more |
hut II