The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-01-18
The Business Men Now.

Hard times have continued to
reach outward and upward until
now it is the business mems turn to
feel its deadening influence. The
common laborer felt it first, and is
now starving amid the abundance
his toll has produced. The me-
chanic came next. and is now work
ing at odd jobs, economizing at
every point, straining his credit
and wondering when conditions
will change. The farmer followed
next in order. He lived up his
surplus, gave up all attempts at
improvements, discharged his hired
help, and together with his family
undertook to run the farm. 1t was
fiat failure. Prices fell faster than
he could economiZe, and the in,
creased mortgage or sheriff's deed
tells the balance of the story.
When the farmer felt the chill
hand of hard times the business
men of all classes became aware
that something was wrong some
where. but wee too busy to search
out either its character or cause.
This condition of affairs has now
become so intensified that even this
class are asking where relief is to
come from. The wholesale mer
chant and broker cannot sell their
stocks since the retailer is unable
to find paying customers. All the
makeshifts of extensions, certified
checks, and short time notes have
failed, and the whole fabric of bus
mess now rests upon the probability
or possibility of cash payments.
The banks are filled with paper,
merchants, both wholesale and re.
tail, are loaded down with notes
and accounts, while their custom
erS on account of low prices are
neither enabled to pay their debts
or purchase more. Beside being
filled with notes the banks are
filled with money, and here the
condition stands. Idle men are
facing idle money. Starving peo-
pie amid well-fi granaries and
ragged men, women and children
within sight of crowded warehouses.
Is it not time for the business men
of the country to study the situa-
ton ? is it not necessary in order
to avert general bankruptcy! The
money of the country is growing
less every day, and the products of
labor are becoming hourly cheaper.
There is no real value at the pres
ent time in anything save gold.
The business of the country is suf-
fering from the effects of a shrink
ing volume of currency which if
continued for the space of six
months longer will bring ruin to
every business in the land. From
the tramps to the wholesale mer-
chant the cry goes up for more
money. The people al demand it.
No petition has been presented to
Congress for a contraction of the
currency, and yet that body of men
has deliberately and in the name of
law contracted this medium of eX-
change so useful and necessary to
the present limit of intolerance. 1t
may be that the business men will
awaken to their true condition, but
the chances are they will continue
to hope for better things until it is
too late. They seemed joined to
their idols in one or the other of
the old parties, and when disaster
does oyer;ake them they place the
blame upon their own lack of abil-
ity instead of charging it TO unfair
conditions brought about by unjust
legislation. 1t is the business men
now that must suffer, and in that
distress let us hops ihRy will get
wisdom. Nat. Waterman.
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