The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-08-14
CONDITIONS IN MEXICO.

CONDITIONS IN MEXICO.
In a recent issue of the Kansas City
Star, an interview was given with Senior
Manuel Silva, a hacienda owner of the
state of Michoacan, Mexico. An at
tempt is made by the Star to COntrOVert
every circumstance into an argument
against silver, but with poor success.
It must be remembered that when
citing Mexico, the gold heretics point
to a country that is monometsllic, and
a comparison, favorable as it always is,
to the silver side of the argument, is
still unfair because, what is called the
silver eranks in this country, demand
the free and unlimited coinage of both
gold and silver. Mexico is an illus
tratiOn that a country can get along
and fare well without a grain of gold
in its monetary system. The United
States and all other gold standard
countries illustrate that with gold as
the sole money, primarily, no matter
how much silver is used as a credit OF
auxiliary money, ruin to all branches
of producing classes is heineVitable
result.
The interview states in the beginning
that Senior Silva is a large wheat raiser,
producing this season 10000 bushels,
all of which is sold in Mexico for home
consumption. Mexico consumes near
ly all of its products, owing to the in
creasing market it is building up at
home by the establishment of manu-
factories by home and foreign capital.
Senior Silva stated that when he left
the City of Mexico wheat was worth
ten Mexican dollars a cargo. The cargo
is $50 pounds or 1888 bushels. The
quotation on Mexican dollars at the
time was $3.50 cents, American money, OF
gold standard money. This would
make wheat there worth 91.8 cents
gold. and in Mexican money s1.83.6
cents, The highest price for wheat in
Kansas City at that time was 81 cents,
34.8 cents less than the gold price the
Mexican wheat raiser was getting and
s1.26.6 cents less than the real price
being paid in the City of Mexico.
The interview then goes on to the
wages subject and imparts the infor-
nation that the hacienda owners pay
their laborers but 26 cents per day. It
must here be remembered that the
lower class of labor in Mexico, and to
which the allusion is made, is in a Con-
dition of peonage, or slavery; and, also,
that the peon is virtually an indulent
and ignorant low caste Indian. No
American farmer would, or could af-
ford to, pay him the same wages. The
peonage system is a blot gpon Mexican
civilization, but time and advancement
will eventually do away With it, as was
with slavery in the United States.
The interview continues: Mexico
continually pays more to the outside
world than she exports, yet there is
plenty Of money in Mexico. Clerks in
the City of Mexico, similar to clerks
here who get $50 to slO0 in gold, re-
ceive about the same wages in silver.
The expenses, such as the cost to a
stranger for hotel bills, ETC., are no
higher there in Mexican silver than
here in American gold" Here an in
terpolation occurs ia which it is stated
that clothing, imported of course,
brings nearly double the price in Mexi-
can coin that it could be purchased for
in the United States in gold. This is
true, but it would also be true if said of
American money buying a European
importation. Senior Silva continuing
says: II can't notice the difference IN
the money until after crossing the line
or buying foreign goods. Then our
money is cut in two. The situation in
Mexico is that the silver dollar is, by
Law, 100 cents, and passes there for 100
cents, but it ends at the border" So
does every other nations moaey end at
the border.
American gold or silver coin goes
ont Of the country permanently at bull
lion value. A gold eagle that may he
but half weight will circulate in the
United States at It's face value, bu;
when weighed 10 the sesls of the for
eigaeR it is taken for bet S. So sith
Tong sliEeF coin; whsp il leaves ne