Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-03-21
-FOUR THINGS NECESSARY.

quire into the causes of the prevailing
depression has prepared report il
which it says; 1T is unnecessary fol
the committee to enter into or dwell
upon the fact that agriculture is de
pressed in every branchs Of this mos
important industry, that the values
of lands and farms, unless surround
ed by exceptionally rare conditions
have deprecated ste5dl.y as the pur.
shasing power Of the dollar has In
creased But while the values of the
property owned by the American far
mer decreased in thirty years from
nearly one-half Of the total wealth in
1860 to less than one. fourth in 1890
of which 30 per cent. is now under
mortgage, taxes have been steadily
increased and debts now require four
times the labor to be paid that was
then required, The purchasing pow
er of the dollar to secure the farmers
land and his produce has increased
four fold while the power to pay
his taxes and his debts have remain
ed at standstill.
In 1878 wheat sold from $l55 to
50 Is a bushel (according to Spofford's
almanac); in New York in 1894 1t sold
at 80 cents.
Discussing the causes Of the de-
preston the committee says; "Class
legislation of the worst character en-
cumbers the statue books and has
been carried on to the detrment of
agriculture and its d. pendent indus
tries for thirty years, eliminating in
the crime of the age, the demonetiza-
ton of silver in 1878.
"The demonstration Of silver was
bold stroke IN the interest Of capital
that has reduced the value of every
product in the world. This is con-
clusively proven by the fact that just
as silver has deprecated, in like pro-
portion have all other values fallen In
the scale. Silver bullion today has
the capacity to purchase as much
wheat, cotton, pork and corn, and
land, and every other commodity as
it ever had, therefore the deprec;a-
ton uf the white metal simply means
the depreciation of every article I'M:
der the sun with one signal exception
the gold Of Shylock.
The tariff system Of taxation is not
only unequal, but as for the past
thirty years administered in this
country, is most unjust to the CON-
sumer, and has built up the trusts,
combines and gigantic corporations
that have not only amassed immense
wealth at the expense of the people,
but who have assumed to control and
direct legislation so as to perpetuate
their power and satisfy their greed
The tariff bears with undue weight
upon the producer of agricultural
staples, rs it forces him not only to
buy in the dearest market, but to sell
in open competition with the worlds
lowest prices.
Agricultural depression is still fur
Their augmented by the sale of flu.
lures on their stock exchanges.
The sale of futures on our stock ex-
changes, where the grain gamblers
grow rich by farming the telegraph
wires and selling wind, while the hon
est and industrious toilers on the
prairies reap the whirlwind. Food
authorizations add millions annually
to the farmers losses and compel him
to meet in competition the thief.
To these might be added other
causes but the principle ones to which
agricultural depression and stagna-
ton in trade is due have been cited
The remedy lies ia remedial legisla-
ton, and until that is secured relief
will not come permanently.
To secure relief we suggest;
First-That silver should be rem
onetized at the ratio of Is to l.
Second--That SO long as the pre-
sent unjust and unequal system of
protection continues that agriculture
should receive its just proportion
and if this cannot he secured by
protective tariff, that a bounty on ex
ported agricultural staples should b
allowed similar to that on fish in 1913
and for WHICH John o. Calhoun
| voted.
, Thlrd-That gambling in future
:. should he praVented by law