Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-04-25
THE PRESIDENT
To the Commercial Conrress.


( attend the meeting of the commercial con-
gress of the western agricultural and mining
states to assemble in Kansas City, April 14th
to 18th, for the purpose of considering meas
ures affecting the general agricultural and
business prosperity of the Mississippi valley
| states.
regret that it will not be possible for me
to accept this invitation. If I am not de-
tanned here by public business, shall prob
| ably start about that time for the Pacific
coast by the southern route, and if that pur-
pose should be thwarted it Will be by consid-
erations that will also prevent the acceptance
of your invitation.
public discussion of the conditions affect
ing agricultural and business prosperity can
not but be helpful if 1t is conducted on broad
lines and is hosptable to differences of opin-
ion.
The extraordinary development of the pro-
auctions of agriculture. which has taken
place In recent period in this country by
reason of the rapid enlargement of the area
of tillage, under the favoring land laws of
the United States very naturally has called
attention to the value and indeed the neces-
slty of larger markets.
TRANSPORTATION.
am one of those who believe that home
market is necessarily the best market for the
producer as t is the one that emarcipates him
from the eXactions of the transportation
companies. If the farmer could deliver his
surplus produce to the consumer out of his
farm wagon, his Independence and his profits
would be larger, and surely it seems to me
quite possible to attain largely increased
market for our staple farm products without
lnlurlng our home market by putting the
manufacturing trades to a competitor In
which foreign producers paying low rate OF
wages, could have the advantage.
policy that would reduce the number of
our people engaged in mechanical pursuits
or diminish their ability to purchase food
products by reducing wages, cannot be help
full to those now engaged IN agriculture. The
farmers insist that the prices of farm pro-
ducts have been too low-below the point of
fair living and fair profits. l think SO too;
but / venture to remind them that the plea
they make involves the concession that things
may be too cheap. A coat may be too cheap
rs well as corn. The farmer who claims
good living and profits for his work should
concede the same to every other man and
woman who tolls. l look with great conf
dence to the completion of further reciprocal
trade arrangements, especially with the Cen
trail and South American states, as furnish
ing new and large markets for meats, bread
stuffs and an important line of manufactured
products.
Persistent and earnest efforts are also be-
ing made and a considerable measure of sue
cess has already been attained to secure the
removal of restrictions which we have re-
garded as unjust upon the admission and use
of our meats and live cattle in some of the Eu-
ropean countries. Hook with confidence to
successful termination of the pending negoti-
atoms, but cannot but assume that when the
absolutely satisfactory character of the sani-
tary inspections now provided by our law is
made known to these foreign states they will
promptly relax their discriminating regula-
tons. No effort and none of the powers
vested in the executive will be left unused to
secure an end which is 30 desirable.
THE CURRENCY.
Your deliberations will probably also en-
brace the consideration of the question of
the volume and character of our currency.
1t will not be possible, and would not be
appropriate for me in this letter to enter
upon any elaborate discussion of these ques-
tons. One or two things l will say: and
first, believe that every person who thought
fully considers the question will agree with
me upon a proposition which is at the base
of all my consideration of the currency Ques-
ton, namely: that any dollar, paper or coin,
that is used by the United States, must be
made and kept in its commercial use as good
as any other dollar, SO long as any paper
money issued or authorized by the United
States government is accepted in CONNER
cial use as the equivalent of the best coined
dollar that we issue, and so long as every
coined dollar, whether of silver or gold, is
assured of an equal value in commercial use,
there need be no fear as to an excess of
money. The more such money the better.
But on the other hand when any issue of
paper or coined dollars is, in buying and
selling, rated at a less value than other paper
or coined dollars, we have passed the limit
of safe experiment in finance.
If we have dollars of differing value only
the poorest will circulate; the farmer and
the laborer who are not in hourly touch with
the ticker of the telegraph, require above all
other classes of our community, dollar of
full and stable value. Fluctuation and de-
precautions are always first with these
classes of our community. The banker and
the Spectator anticipate, discount and often
profit by such fluctuations. 1t is very easy
under the impulse of excitement or the stress
OF money stringency, to fall into the slough
of deprecated or irre3eemable currency.
1t is very painful and slow business to
get out when once in. l have always be-
heved, and do now more than ever believe IN
bi-metalism, and favor the fullest use of sill
yer In connection with our currency, that is
comparable with the maintenance of the
parity of the gold apd silver dollar in their
commercial uses. Nothing, in my judgment,
would so much retard the restoration of the
free use of silver by the commercial nations
of the world as legislation adopted by us
that would result in placing this country
upon basis of silver monometalism. The
legislation adopted by the first session of the
hfty-hrst congress, was assured by leading
advocates of free coinage, representatives of
the silver states, would promptly and perma-
nently bring silver to 81. % per ounce and keep
1t there. That anticipation has not been re-
allied. Our larger use of silver has appar-
emily, and for reasons not yet agreed upon,
diminished the demand for silver in China
and India.
am aware that what have said may be
assaulted in points where it Is easily defensl-
bic, but where have not attempted to pre-
sent the argument, have not before, except
in an official way, expressed myself on these
subjects; but feeling tho interests, dignity
and importance of the assemblage in whose
behalf you speak, 1 have ventured; without
bigotry of opinion, without any assumption
of infalhbillty, bnt as an American citizen,
having most earnest desire that every midi
vidual and every public act of my life shall
conduce to the glory of our country and
prosperity of all our people. to submit these
views for your consideration. Very respect
fully,
lSignedl BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Wreck Near vanport, Pa
PITTsBURG, Pa, April 16.-The west bound
Cleveland train was wrecked near VanDort