Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-08
PEFFER'S REMEDY.
The Kansas Statesman Talks to
illinois Farmers.
TWO CURES FOR NATIONAL ILLS

Billion Dollars More Currency To BE
by the Government-His Opinions of
Free silver, Free Trade, and Reciproc-
fty-Neither Nor All of Them Sufficient
for the Exigency
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, Aug. S-The Hi
nois capital is having as soiourner
within its borders w. A. PETER, who was
blown by the political cyclone of last fall
from the state of Kansas into the United
State senate. He came here in response
to an invitation to deliver an address at
an encampment of reformers that has
been in progress for week, and for an
hour and three-quarters yesterday after
noon, with the mercury marking 9s in the
shade, he urged his views on an audien ce
of about POO people He began by referr-
ing TO the deplorable condition of the
country
Terrible State of A fairs.
Taxes were high. values of farm land
had deprecated, wages of workingmen
were low, debts were multiplying, half
the farms in the country were mortgaged
and the money in circulation was totally
inadequate for the transaction of business.
As remedy for the troubles one of the
great political parties of the country pro-
posed high tariff taxes and reciprocity. 1t
was nonsense, he said, to talk about re-
hevlng the farm by the imposition of a
tariff on imports of agricultural products
and live stock, for the American farmers
produced of these far more than enough
to supply the home demand.
Reciprocity and Free Silver No Remedy
reciprocity with the South American
states would not meet the emergency, as
these states were largely engaged in agri-
culture and did not need the products of
the farms of their northern neighbors. If
reciprocity were good thing il should be
extended to those countries that need the
agricultural products and the live stock
of the United States The other great
political party proposed as a remedy for
existing ills a low tariff and free coinage
of silver. This would not meet the case.
Even Free Trade Not Effective.
1t had been intimated that the high
tariff cost the country S626 900, 600 an
nually, but the government required
s5OO,O 0G0 annually, and the excess was
only Sl25, GOO 900, and if the tariff was
done away with $500 010, 900 would have
to be raised annually by direct taxation.
Free coinage was a step in the right direc-
ton, and he was heartily in favor of it,
but that was not enough
A Billion More Money Needed.
The currency of the country needed in
fation- The country ought to have. say,
81, O0O, 900, 900 more money provided by the
government either by coming or setting
printing presses i'll motion For the pur-
pose of distributing this among the people
he would establish govern ment loan bu-
reau at Washington with branches scat
tered throughout the states at as many
points as necessary.
Would Danish Debt from the Land.
All needy, debt-ridden persons should
come, and by executing notes secured by
mortgages on real estate or imperishable
personal property receive enough money
to satisfy their wants for a rate of interest
not to exceed per cent. per annum. This
idea the speaker elaborated at great
length. He was certain that if his simple
scheme was put into force debt would
soon be banished from the land, and all
the people become prosperous and happy.