New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-10
rgr OrEEpRoprcTloy NONSENSE.

Are there too many things; More yards ~
cloth than people want Ia wear. more pairs "r
shoes than they need for use. more ludv"s "f
br,ad and pounds OF meat than they want !"
eat; Really TO ask the question l. 10 answer
II Tn. economist or editor who ultcrs such an
assertion should be- compelled 10 live III some
Of the tenement house districts and 10 liv" ~
the neople There. do live There are millions who
have not enough bread and meat for their n"rdS
nor enough shoes or clothing. or cotton or wool
Ion goods What do these theorists mean:
More things than people can afford To buy:
That is question Of price. The poor woman IN
Rivington-st who gets only one loaf for > cents
would be very glad 10 get for the same money
two loaves for herself and her children. aud
could II bakers were more nearly honest. The
workingman who pays 20 cents pound for
meat which costs his butcher less than 10 cents
would gladly buy two pounds at The same price.
The butcher and the baker must live: Yes. but
not necessarily so many Of them. and half aS
many doing twice the business, AT only quar-
fer as much prof, per pound, would live just
as we'll II their profits were only quarter
as much. the people who buy most kinds Of
things could buy twice as much with the same
wages
Then the trouble is in retail profits and prices
Partly, but a long story lies behind. Tile peo-
Die do no, require as much in one year rs IN
another The man who buys three suits or
clothes this wear may need only one next year.
and II he gets carpets for his whole house. he
nav not need more carpets for two or three
wears II the millions took turns systcnat cally.
so that Just The right proportion did their buying
one year. and others the next, the account might
balance But they do just the other way. When
all are hopeful. all spend freely al the same
time. Thus part of the force required 10 supply
needs in good years will inevitably be- idle in
wears Of lean buying, and the fact that they are
idle. and have less To spend, also makes less
buying.
What causes these spells of good and bad :
Crops in part, all over the world. Far more
largely the speculative spirit, which often rises
when crops fall. But these natural variations
are AT times made Of no account by others which
are not natural, but depend upon regulation OF
finances or trade between different countries.
If Germany and other European countries fix
their laws so that they buy less meat or grain
from us. that will leave our farmers less Ia
spend The European restriction may itself bo
the consequence Of a stupid bunder In our laws
obligations but also because they had brain
less partisan prejudice against the reciprocity
plan Of a former Administration. Thus we sow
partisan prejudice and ignorance, and In due
time the crop il smaller buying Of American
goods by American farmers. Or We SOW sense
less theories Of Free Trade. and they spron in
| a tariff which closes hundreds of American mills
| in order that people may have chance 10 gel
| cheaper foreign goods. and the frnitage Is II de-
| crease Of buying al around because the people
| have not as much as before 10 spend.
| The worst times this country has seen ion
| fifty years came with the decision Of The pcopl,
| for Il change Of National policy In 1852. They
| came just when business, reviving wonderfully
| In 1891 and 1892. had reached the highest point
| ever attained, yet seemed certain To 90 mrcl
| higher Because things looked SO bright every
| body had made ready to do big business. and
| the shrinkage involved prosiraton for many
! What the country voted for IT Is getting. Bul
| II is the siupdest kind Of foolishness to pretend
| that the world has somehow arrived at producing
| more wheat and more cotton and more cloth
! than 1t can use. Double the production. with