Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-30
SILVER THE PANACEA
For All the Farmers Troubles, Ac-
cording to General Warner.
LAST DAY OF THE GRANGE PICNIC
Lecturer Girard Brown Rakes Up Some
Legislative History.
THE SUPREME ISSUE OF THE HOUR

nPEcIAL rELEeRAM 10 TEE prsP ATcH.i
WILLIAMS GROVE, August 29.-This
was the last day of the grangers' picnic and
about 5000 people witnessed its end. Many
of these were farmers who took advantage of
the comparatively small crowd to examine
the machinery with view to purchases.
General A. J. Warner, of Ohio, who is on his
way to deliver an address at Gettysburg on
the occasion of the dedication of q monu-
ment to the memory of the regiment he COM
manded, made speech on the silver ques-
ton to an appreciative. if not large
audience.
After speaking of the importance Of ac-
curate and fixed units of measure Of weights,
time and force, he said the most important
of all measures, that of values, had received
relatively very little attention and its bear
ing on business was generally very i'm
perfectly understood. The importance of
the stability of money was not so great be-
fore the creation of long time debts but
now, with the existence of such debts, the
effect of the increase of the value of money
was far reaching. 1t not only affected the
price of agricultural products, but increased
the quantity that must be taken for the pay
ment of such debts and taxes.
A GREAT CRIME.
The demonstration of silver, in 1873, he
denounced as great crime, and as having
been productive of many financial ills. Oc-
curing at this time. when the national debt
was largest. the reduction of the quantity of
money added from SO to so per cent to all the
debts of the country. and reduced the price
of the average of all products. including
land, from 25 to SO per cent This was the
result purely Of change in the measure
of values, not in the goods. II this state of
things were allowed to 60 on, population in
creasing without corresponding increase
in money, prices would necessarily 90 lower
and lower, and money rise higher and
higher.
General Warner warmly commended Sem
ator Cameron for his speech in the Senate,
in which he said that the fall in prices OF
products of land was due to the demoneti-
zation of silver and for voting for free coin
age. Under the inspiration of the new
silver bill that metal had risen from 95 to
100, and with it, as silver men predicted, all
products, especially agricultural, had in
creased, wheat and cotton especially. These
products in foreign markets came into COM
petition with the cotton and wheat of Egypt
and India, which were paid for in silver.
As oliver bullion increased in value these
products rose in price in this country.
WHEAT AND SILVER.
A rise Of 20 cents in a bushel Of wheat
was the result of a rise in silver bullion
alone. Nothing, he said, could be accepted
as a final settlement of the silver question.
but its restoration to its old place as money
metal on plane of absolute equality with
gold. and that the question was not whether
there would be too muck gold and silver to
do the worlds business and maintain a
money of stable value, but what the world
would soon be compelled to. do to re-enforce
the metals with some other money to pre-
vent the rise of money and fall of prices in
the future, as the world had experienced
many times in the past. Money was most
stable and equitable that approached near
est to supply proportionate to the increase of
population.
In introducing Girard @. Brown, lecturer
of the State Grange, Mr.. Rhone remarked
that he would touch on some of the state
ments made yesterday relative to the dispo-
sition of the grangers' tax bill. In starting
out Senator Brown said that as the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans had their day at the
picnic, it was his purpose that the grangers
should have theirs. Ten years ago, be said,
the attention OF the Legislature was called
to bill contemplating reform in taxation
calculated to relieve the farmers. This
measure met with no favor at the hands of
the State financial authorities, and secured
no legislative consideration. At another
session bill was submitted which was sup
posed to be exempt from the constitutional
objections urged against the first measure.
is hnri iad in fha
SOME LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
In 1887 a bill of great interest to the
farmers passed both Houses, but reconsid-
Grafton resulted in it being shelved. A his
tory of the lost granger tax measure was
then given. In stating that the bill was
considered by the Judiciary Committee,
Senator Delamater ha smade a mistake as
the Finance Committee (of which Senator
MeFarlane was Chairman), had charge of
it. Corporations, through their representa-
tiyes, resolutely opposed the bill. The op-
position was backed by power and money,
and every art and artifce were employed to
compass its defeat in committee. But no
argument was used which had force enough
to deter any man from voting for it
The session being near its end, he made q |
motion to discharge the Finance Committee
and get the bill before the Senate, which |
was defeated. Senator Brown then spoke |
OF the general revenue act oil 1871, and told |
his audience that owners of real estate sus-
tained serious loss by its failure to become a |
law, as large portion of the tax of cor
porate and personal property would have |
gone to the counties under its provisions |
and thus Iessened local taxation. The pres
ent revenue law, which had similar pro-
visions as to the distribution of State rev.
enues, was not passed IN the interest of real
estate so much as for the purpose of putting |
the State Treasury in good condition.
w. Penn Lloyd said the farmers griev- |
ances was the supreme issue of the hour in |
and it should be his single |
purpose to secure public servants who would |
honestly and efficiently represent |
his interests in the next Legislature and
State Government.