Graham guardian., 1895-06-15
MONEY AND PRICES.

standard are in great ecstasy over
the advance in the price of bread
stuffs, and think they can make the
people believe that the low prices
which have prevailed were not
caused in any measure by the dis
franchisement of silver says the
Enquirer. Why, they ask, has
wheat advanced when gold is the
only money of redemption? Every
man of common intelligence knows
that the price of commodities de-
pends upon the abundance or scar
city of the commodity, as well as
upon the abundance or scarcity of
money. From the reports made
by the Agricultural Department at
Washington we learn:
/. There is general decrease of
the area devoted to wheat through
out the entire wheat-ralsing
countries on account of the low
prices of the cereal and the winter
killing of the crop.
2. Foreign reports show that
throughout Western Europe the
season is very backward.
8. The wheat crop in France will
be heavily reduced.
4. The reports from Germany are
very unfavorable.
5. Russian reports are uniformly
unfavorable. This fully accounts
for the advance in price, and this
is to considerable extent specula-
tive.
1t cannot be disputed that the
same effect would be produced by
the abundance or scarcity of snow.
The goldbugs will avail them
selves of every possible passing
event to impress this upon the peo-
pie and thus make capital for their
cause. They show not only that
the price of wheat has advanced
but that there is substantial in
crease in the wages of operatives
in manufacturing industries. They
would have the working classes be-
lieve that these favorable con-
ditions are the product of the agi-
tation for so-called sound money.
The war upon silver has resulted
in the depreciation of real estate
and all other products Of labor as
well as upon the wages of labor.
Factories were closed and business
has been stagnant. The stocks of
merchandise which have glutted
the warehouses have been worked
off and so reduced that the demand
for them has set in motion the idle
machinery.
Labor is as much commodity
as iron or coal or cotton or bread.
stuff or furniture. If there is an in
creased demand for labor, without
an increased supply wages mustad-
vance. If there is a smaller sup
ply of wheat or cotton than is re.
quired to satisfy the wants of the
people prices will advance. If the
volume of primary money, the
money of redemption, is reduced
one half the natural result would
be the shrinking of wages and the
reduction of consumption. The
plain truth which thepeople should
understand is that there are numer
Gus factors in the wage problem
We assert that no country ever had
too much gold and silver for the
prosperity of those who create
wealth. Those who would appro
pirate the wealth created by Others
to their own use and thus increase
their accumulations are interested
in increasing the purchasing power
of gold.
1t is an effort born of desperation
to attempt to convert men to gold
monometallism. Production and
consumption are both reduced by
diminishing the supply OF primary
money. If we would inaugural,
a business boom of large proper
tions, which would rekindle every
furnace fire, set every idle hand
and idle factory to work, fill every
cabin and cottage with an abundan
supply Of food, clothing and fur
niture, cause thanksgivings and tn,
voice of contentment to be heart
in every dwelling, we must repea
every law unfriendly to silver ant
restore its constitutional function