Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-16
a REJoINDER 70 c. WooDDAvIs

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Fools rush in where angels fear to
tread In laying myself open to the
criticism of Mr.. c. Wood Davis / may
be verifying this proverb. Mr.. Davis
seems determined to write down every
theory that does not recognize over pro-
duction as the Alpha and Omega of in
dusTrial depression. In fact he will not
tolerate theory. He is satisfied alone
with mathematical demonstration. Yet
in spite Of his figures | imagine that the
many correspondents of the EAGLE
whom he has assailed do not feel them
selves to be entirely demolished.
In all that has been said in the EAGLE
on the industrial question Mr. Davis fails
to find anything of merit. 1 would not
initiate his example. On the contrary |
must commend his very sensible obser-
vations on the money question. and l
shall admit further that in his first ar
ticle he came near convincing me ''that
we are suffering from a state of agrI-
cultural congestion. chronic in form,
but this is not admitting that the pres
ent depression is wholly and purely ag
rlcuItural.
Upon this matter is the point wherein
Mr.. Davis argument is at fault He
quotes figures proving that the price of
corn is controlled by the laws of supply
and demand. and in his anxiety to reap
further results from his research in
statistics he assumes that these figures
prove that over production is the crying
evil OF the dav. We ind from his
figures that in 1872 and 1874 corn and
all farm products were worth far more
than they are now. yet there was great
deal more distress on account of
hard times then than there is now.
So from 1914 to 1879 the
price Of farm products gradually
declined while the times gradually I'M
proved. Again, we find from these same
figures that in 1873 there was less than
four-tifths of the amount Of land IN cul-
tivation per capita than there was IN
1889 and only about four-tifths the
amount Of corn and wheat per capita
that there is now, while the financial dis
tress of the present time Is Incompatible
TO that Of 1875. Verify, Dir. Davis must
have forgotten the purpose for which he
was using his figures. II these figures
indicate anything as 70 the effect OF over
it would seem that over-pro-
duction is a benefit.
As Nr. Davis sometimes misses the
mark in his use of figures, he Is equally
unfortunate IN constituting the views of
others. The first two paragraphs OF has /
article Of March +, VIII illustrate:
ia ii recent issue of the EAGLE Mr.. II. l.. 4
Shannon questions some OF the conclusions 4
stated in NY recent article and ] infer that I
he thinks permanent relief from state Of +.
industrial depression can come only from .
such a social upheava. aS Will bring about .
2 redi~tri button of the products Of labor,
and coumenJ- Mr. Henry Georges thuJ
ries 10 our consideration. ! have given .
much attention 70 the theories OF He1ry
George and thiuk them visionary in the
extreme and II IN operation mere. WOui4 I.
aaE- s.4e anne etICt a. Ia Southwestern 81
IBERIA where the government owns all the
and and the Improvement and the rate Of
pro -yess Ls expressed by one word VII
We Certainly shall not tFy Mr.. George .
theory in the United States 1or some time
and should we re-d.stri0ute property t6e
result would be but repetition - what
-OCh place after the Te-Iistri buttons made .
under tue 4 grarIan laws Of Rome. / was
there found necessary, after brIet intervals
10 uaas new divide and human Nature
:
mango. we s5ould also had the property
gain Erayitatiu- into few hands IN spite
Jf statutes seeking 10 p1OaiU.t u.
Now let Ir. DAVIS exulaIu how he m
'ers that / think permanent relief can
come only from q redistribution Of THE
products Of Isbor. / sand nothing about
J, redistribution Of the products Of labor.
aud Ii fact, u not IN terms, did ia SUP
stance oppose that idea
II Mr. Davis has ira fact gwen much
attention 10 the theCTlez 81 Henry
george, It Is strange that ne should sag
hat such theories. u Iu operation here.
would have tie same effect Is ia soafi3-
western Siberia. Is here does Mr DAVIS
-ef bis information that Dir. George
theories are II operation n -outn western
Siberia. Cr that they 2rg - any way
similar 70 the agraTlan Laws q k3mr. I
hluk gh4t the attention shat Es has
given to the theories of Eer-y ffeoTE=
las been ~ reading after writers Ike
himself. who either know notEinZ 81
hose theories Or else are no. candid
.uuugh 10 state them fairy.
%ow. ar. DAVIS. 8et Lae re4Uezt shat
when vcG undertake % state any % gue
propositions % Henry George sou llss
- ovrn language. I am certain that be
al expires E4s urDpoestIgrg fa.lv as we.l
IS Won ran Tor blm. 80 that sou @lIl lose
solhiBE b. Substituting Eis language II
ls place of vpEgT eu-n classic dsc55Sa
For tbs benefit q tbsse readers =7o
.rlu5re sUeir knrsE }s3es C flsr .He
az fro1n rr23laz @fseF suea writers -
4F lhzy.-. Z p.ls state Gaag s. sz1-s Bas
gllel1Qlate a redistribution u ils .