Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-10-11

Hard Times the subject Discussed AZ
lts Opening Meeting.

After several months Of vacation the
West Michigan Partners club resumed
as regular meeting yesterday afternoon
ia It's headquarters IN the court house.
Eesidrs President Pearsall and Secre-
tary Slayton there were present the
Rev W W. Johnston. W. L. Adams, q.
;. Linderman, William Nanburen. the
Hon. r l. Briggs and DIR. Bosworth-
After the minutes of the last meeting
had been read the subject Of corn was
informally discussed. From the reports
submitted in the discussion il was ap.
parent that the crop - unusually light
this year owing 10 the July and August
drouth. The subject CT Hard Times"
was advertised as the subject to be dis
cussed at this meeting and a. an intro
duction Secretary Siaytop read brief
extracts from several journals pub
lished in different sections OF the United
States with reference To the present con.
dition OF trade aud finances. After these
excerpts had been read the situation
was discussed at length. The Rev.
W. w Johnston remarked that
the times are not hard ln his
opinion the worlds fair Is the
cause u the scarcity Of money 10 other
sections 81 the country because II acts
as drain 90 the surrounding territory.
Many persons. instead u paving their
debts. take their money 10 Chicago.
q. s. Linderman agreed with Mr..
Johnston 20 a certain extent anu added
that confidence had been destroyed
among business men and manufacturers
and the saloons are absorbing much Of
the laboring mems money.
W r. Adams said the two staples OF
the country. wheat and coal. have depre-
eiated to such an extent that agriculture
il depressed This Is the result Of the
work Of tariff commission. The reduc-
ton 81 the tariff has caused loss OF
e.OoooOC0 10 the wool growers Of the
United States. Among the disturbing
influences are the purchasing clause OF
the sherman law and the threatened
abolition OF our present banking system.
The adrltevation n food Is also a great
detriment TO the interests ~ agriculture
and the grange will take some action on
that matter the coming winter. Agri-
culture must be better paid before we
$50 better times.
The Hon. f. l.. Briggs said before the
panic was noticed hers New York bank
ers said trouble would result from the
silver law a. Britishers would demand
the money on their securities lie did
not think that ~ the curse of the hard
times. He said there Is not money
enough in the country. The attempt 10
work gradually toward gold basis has
reduced the value Of currency and II this
continues farmers will be hewers Of
wood and drawers OK water within ten
years Another thing we are paving
I the national debt two rapidly. Under
/ the present condition IL would require
I twice a. much farm produce TO pay the
+ national debt a. IL would when 10 wac
I contracted This debt must be- paid
from the products of the farm and the
/ price q them must advance or II can
never be paid One Of two things - the
cause - tie present hard times. Either
! We are producing too much or there u
I not uorsy enough % buy produce.
Nr. vanBuren thought too much
/ money is tisd up in manufactures
/ There IL an over production Of manu-
factured products and they have become
a drug. Their money was tied up when
+ the wheels ceased 20 run. Dir. Linder
nan said the only cheap agricultural
product - wheat Oats. corn. hay. bnt
Ter. meats etc are high and plentiful
and tho farmer has little reason 10 CON
plain.