The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-17
THE COMMERCIAL CONGRESS.

The Western States Commercial con-
gress, convened in Kansas City, promises |
10 attract more attention throughout the
country to its deliberations than did the
last national Congress at Washington.
Twenty-four states and territories are rep
resented in 1t, and since its purpose is to
discuss the agricultural, commercial and
general financial depression throughout the
states and territories represented, it will
not be wanting in interest TO the general
public. Dealing with agricultural depres-
sion and Its remedy-one of the chief
questions under consideration one
thing is remarkable. the unanimous
demand for more extensive markets for our
farm products. Governor FRANCIS, in his
speech of welcome to the delegates on be
half Of Missouri, said the west WANTED
free trade with Mexico and Canada and
South America and with all the countries
of the world" Even President HARRISON,
committed as he and his party are to pre-
tective policy, in the letter of regret he sent
to the congress, recognized the necessity
of enlarged markets for our farmers. THE
favoring land laws of the United States
said the President, shave very naturally
called attention TO the value, and indeed
the necessity of larger markets. The
President then expatiates at some length
on the value of home as against
foreign markets and concludes by
directing the attention OF the congress
to the advantages of reciprocity. II look
with great confidence" said he, "to the
development of reciprocal trade relations
with Central and South America, and the
removal of European restrictions on our
meat and cattle.''
Ex-Governor GEORGE w. CLICK, of Kan
as, on agricultural depression, said: The
greatest cause of this depression was in
sufficient markets; the remedy, a wide
field for the disposition of the farmers
supplies" BLAINE's reciprocity treaty
schemes and Secretary RUsK's efforts in
extending markets for live stock have par
tial remedies for the present depression.
Speaker ELDER, of the Kansas house of
representatives, said the depression was
due to imperfect operations of the law of
supply and demand, the formation of trusts
and too contracted markets. 1.-The farmers
want wider tield-they want reciprocity;
reciprocity is a good thing"
DIR. PARSONS, present at the congress to
represent the department of agriculture,
said that one of the causes of depression
was the loss of foreign markets to farmers,
because diseased cattle would not be
bought
HALL, president of the Missouri State
Farmers Alliance, held that partisan poll
tics was much TO blame for our present
financial depression. Other causes was a
high protective tariff, decreased volume OF
money and the raising of freight and pas
senger rates TO pay dividends on watered
stocks. The remedies he advocated were
| low tariff, an increase in the volume of
money, and the regulation Of railroads sc
they could pay dividends only on capital
actually invested.
A resolution by the Hon. w. ]. BRYAN,
of Nebraska, contained clause TO the
effect that no advantage was to be gained
by the people from the system of recipro
h city as at present prospered, but regarded
as essential to our welfare freer CONNER
ciaI intercourse with those nations which
buy the products of our farms; that coal
iron ore, wool, salt, lumber, binding Irvine
and cotton ties should be placed upon the
free list; that the tariff on the necessaries
lie SUOUlQ DC greatly ISUuCCui cuu Uud
luxuries be made to bear the heaviest bur
| dens.
Thus, throughout the spirit of that gath
ering Of men on the banks of the mighty
Missouri, in the interest of agriculture
commerce and the general financial condi
ton of the great west and south, is in IA
4 yor of enlarged markets for our farmers
products, to accomplish which they de
mand in some way or other a reduction o.
our war tariff. 1t matters not whether thi
is done under the name of tariff reform o.
reciprocity. The result will be PRACTICAL,
the same-the tariff will be reduced an
the markets of the world thrown open t
our farmers. The sentiment whicl
pervades this Congress is, i
q manner, great vindication O
the stand made by the Democrat
marty in the last presidential election. Tha
rarty was right then in its judgment @
what was needful for the prosperity of tn
country, and the fact that the Republican
have had to practically adopt its principle
under the specious guise Of reciprocity, is
concession to the correctness Of its positio
then and q cowardly attempt to steal DENT
cratic thunder. But whether the Demo
cratic party shall win in the next presider
tial fight or not, the country will get tart
Reduction. and consequent enlarged maj
lcets for American products and increase
prosperity, for which the country will
Indebted to the Democrats.