The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-10-20
HOME CONSUMPTION.

Tie
HOME CONSUMPTION.
The "change" inaugurated in 1892
has been felt IN other ways than the
depreciation CT wages and the re-
duction of the price of home products
that come into competition with for
eign ones. In speaking of this sub
iect the Inter Ocean says that, while
the free traders are tearing down the
protection defenses to let American
products out into the markets of the
world, as Mr.. Wilson puts 1t, the
treasury statistics show that they
have not only made it possible for the
English manufacturers to share oui
own market, but they have actually re-
duced that market. The great staples
of the American agricultural products
are wheat and corn. More than 80
per cent of these products are con-
sumed at home, but while the Demo
Gratis have been legislating for the 10
per cent which goes abroad they have
reduced the home consumption.
Tne per capita consumption of wheat
in this country, according to the
treasury statistics. was 5 81 bushels
in 1892, and So bushels in 1898.
Here is decrease of LOG bushels in
one year; multiply the per capita de-
crease by the population, 81, 800, 900,
aud we have II $50, 200 less bush els
of wheat consumed by our own people
in the first year after the change from
the Republican to a Democratic ad-
ministration.
The per capita consumption of corn
in 1892 was 3O33 bushels, and in
1898 23.G6 bushels. The decrease is
81 bushels per capita, or 45O. 225, 600
for the whole people. If we put a
value of 90 cents bushel on the
wheat, and 45 cents on the corn, we
have S35. .7775,000 worth of wheat
and $l02 60l, $50 worth of corn taken
from the home market Of Amer ican
farmers by the lowering of wages in
accordance with the Democratic policy
of cheapness.
The farmers Of America have lost
more than 1928, 100000 from their
home market by the attempt to
cheaper the manufactured products of
this country. The same effect has
been felt in the two great staples inn
ported into this country. The treasury
statistics show that the Ter capital
consumption of sugar was 63.5 pounds
in 1892 and 63 4 in 1898. The re-
duction was l pound pei. capita, or
6,75O.OO0 pounds valued at S337 500.
The per capita consumption of coffee
was 9.63 pounds in 1892 and 8 %
in 1898. The reduction was l.3S
pounds per capita, or SO, 10000 for
the American people, and this was
valued at $23,2.7. 800. Taking the
two great domestic staples aud the two
gre imported staples of America and
$263, ,9Ol, 250 worth of food product
was taken from our American con-
in one year after the free
traders secured control of the govern
ment. The statistics for 1894, when
will no doubt make as bad,
if not worse, showing when compared
with 1892 There has been less work
a greater reduction in wages, and nee
essarily more economy in living.
These treasury statistics furnished
by Democratic administration are
proof that the Democratic tariff policy
tends to cheaper the whole life Of the
people. Followed to its legitimate
conclusion it means the European
standard OF living for wage-earners,
and there are SO many men in this
country who know what the European
standard of living IS that there is no
occasion to discuss it.
Mr.. Wilson told his London ad-
nirers that the Democrats were
breaking down the protective defenses
in America to let them into this mar
ket. He did not tell them that in
loing that the Democrats were not
'nly taking the market from our own
PRODUCERS, but were also decreasing
he market itself.