The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-04-15
MIR. BAKERS SPEECH
Mr.. William Baker, Congressman From
the Sixth District Of Kansas Makes
q Speech in the House.
He Makes Ia Strong Argument in Favor
of the Reconciliation Of the
White Metal.

On the bill III. r. 4426) for the free coin
age Of gold and silver, for the issue Of coin
notes, and for other purposes.
Mr.. Baker said:
"Mr, Speaker: There is period in
the history of every legislative body
when it becomes their duty to raise
themselves above party consideration
and to stand upon the broad platform
of patriotism.
Ills such a period upon us nowP
1.-THE question now before us for con-
sideration is one, as l understand 1t,
that must and will effect the interests,
directly or indirectly, of all classes of
citizens. Such being the case, il be-
comes our duty to inquire in what way
will it effect them. Will it be for their
bettermentP
"As representative from an ag-
ricultural and stock-rasing section
of the west, 1 shall treat this question
first from the standpoint of an agricul-
turist.
''The basic principle upon which all
wealth is founded is agriculture; and
as no effect can exist in nature without
an adequate cause to produce it, we
shall inquire first what effect the free
coinage of silver will have upon the
agriculturists of this country. Win it
bring to them prosperity; and if so, in
what way will their prosperity effect
other branches of industry Can n
nation as whole be prosperous unless
the agriculturists thereof are prosper
UusP
"As the giant oak springs from n
healthy germ planted in rich soil,
nourished by sunshine and moisture,
so must the agriculturist have the ele-
ments which are essential to give in
spiration to thought, to quicken the
pulse of inquiry. and to give vigor to
mind and body, that he may be en-
abled to perfectly fulfil his mission.
"rhs hypothesis we believe to be
true, viz: that prosperity is; essential
to mans happiness, and that unless
the agriculturist is prosperous he will
be neither contented or happy. This
lends us to this inquiry: What changes
have been wrought in his condition by
legislation in the last twenty-five
yearsP
twenty-five years ago farmers
owned their homes. In fact, they were
then the most independent class of
people in this country. A ready mar
kct was found for all their products,
and each man was proud to say IL am
u farmer" But how is it nowP The
farmer Of today is in many cases
tenant at the will of landlord. Does
the farm cease to yield its natural in
creaseP Does the farmer spend less
hours in labor today than thenP We
believe the fault is with our Legislation
rather than our farmers. From 1860
to 1870 the average price of wheat in
New York was $1.99 per bushel. Corn
was SO cents per bushel; other farm
products in like proportion. From
1870 to 1880 farm products had de-
clined. wheat from $1.99 to $1.3S, corn
from SO cents to So cents, other farm
products in like proportion. From
1880 to 1887 wheat had declined from
$1.38 to $1.07, corn from 63 to 46
cents, other farm products in like pro-
portion.
THE man who bought n farm in
1865, paying $4,000 dollars for the
same, today finds his farm worth from
four to five thousand. What has be-
come of 81, 900 that he invested in his
farmP Has he destroyed it, or has
some one else got itP If$1 represents
a days labor, and if the farmer has
lost by the shrinkage of his property
$1,000, has he not lost 5000 days
labor?
John Stewart Mill, in principles
of Political Economy, page 1903, says:
II the whole money in circulation was
doubled. prices would double. II II was
only increased e.fourth, prices would rise
one.fourth.
1.-THE very same effect would be pro-
duced on prices If we suppose the
goods (the uses for money! diminished
instead of the money increased; and
the contrary effects if the goods were
increased or the money diminished.
So that the value of money, all other
things remaining the same, varies in.
versely as its quantity. every increase