The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-09-14
THE FARaIER's WAGE.


himself, to struggle on accomplishing,
unaided, and tide over the ills that be-
fall by resorting to that false comforter
la mortgage.
He thus Yields the first link in the
chain that makes him captive.
In the census bulletin these facts are
found:
That the average American farm is
134 acres in extent.
That the average number of persons
dependent upon that farm for living
is six.
That that the average value of every
thing produced upon that farm is 1852.
That the per capita annual income to
each is S92
That the per capita daily income to
each is % cents.
From this magnificent income the ag-
riculturalist must clothe himself, feed
himself, buy machinery, pay taxes, in
surance, doctor bills, etc., and also real
ize interest on money invested or pay
rent.
Isn't this princely return for the
long days of toll spent in the field, in
the wood lot, in the feeding pen?
What is the cause of this pitiable in
come?
Some tell you it is overproduction.
That more has been produced than
can be consumed.
But is this true?
The United States produces less per
capita today than it did 10 years ago,
and yet prices have steadily fallen.
Take wheat, for instance. In 1885 the
average price was IS cents with seven
bushels per capita.
In 1898 the average price was 81 cents
with less than six bushels per capita.
Other staples have fallen in like ratio
with less per capita production.
The over production theory fails to
hold water.
Now what is the cause of deprecated
values of all farm productions?
The contraction of the volume of
money.
For 20 years lana and farm products
have steadily fallen in value.
For 20 years the volume of circulat-
ing medium has been steadily decreas-
ing.
The one has kept pace with the other.
There has been gigantic conspiracy
at work to encompass the ruin of the
industrial and agricultural classes aud
it has nearly succeeded.
This conspiracy tends toward the
feudal system of the old world that
gives the ownership of land to few
and makes tenants of the many.
A few centuries ago handful of de-
termined men set sail for the newly
discovered land of America Driven
from the shores of the old world by the
oppression, ignorance, bigotry and in
science Of the feudal lords, they carved
themselves homes from the mighty
forests of this continent, and erected
the affairs of liberty, and instilled the
seed of freedom into the minds of their
childred.
They battled for and secured their
independece from the old world after an
elgnC years war.
They named this the land of free.
One dark spot only remained-the
slavery of the black race.
This, too, was wiped away, but the re-
suit of that struggle gave an opportun-
ity to a certain class to amass millions
that now serve to enslave the freers of
slaves.
The people themselves have welded
the chains that make them serfs by
perpetuating in power party that has
always labored in the interests of this
amassed capital
The eyes of the people have been so
blinded by false issues, by party pre-
judice, by sectionalism, that they have
failed to see the real danger-currency
contraction.
The government, under Republican
control, first called in the money that
was good enough for the soldier, the |
sailor, the producer, but not good
enough for the banker-the greenback
and made ali money coin.
They then reduced the currency one
half and more by robbing silver of its
constitutional right as money.
Since then systematic. contraction of
the circulating medium has been going
steadily on, lthe last inisIuity being the
repeal of the Sherman law destroying
values. wages deprTvine the many. en-
riching the few.
The climax is nearly reached
Unless immediate and aggressive ac-
don is taken the next decade viii Wit /
aess the entire destruction Of the
middle classes. the loss of liberty, the /
oss Of homes. the Industrial and agri-
'ulturai classes passing under the rod |
+ triumphant capital, the resurrection
4 slavery.
TO tslrn back tbs tide Of destruction.
. again make tie rul productive. the