Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-04

hancement OF the value OF silver has un-
questionably had much to do with the
recent advance in the price of cereals.
The same cause has advanced the price
of wheat in Russia and India, and in
the same degree reduced their power
of competition. English gold was for
merly exchanged for cheap silver, and
wheat purchased with the cheaper
metal was sold in Great Britain for
gold"
Great Scottl Here was republican
who said that the price of silver had
influence on the price of wheat. Uncle
Jerry had evidently never heard of the
COW 's-tail-richness-o of milk reasoning or
he would certainly never have been SO
rash as to say that silver had anything
to do with the price of wheat, cotton or
any other product of the farm. It is
fair to presume that Uncle Jerry was
one of those ''free silver cranks" we
hear SO much about, but it did not take
dynimite TO get an idea into his head.
Circumstances in every country in
the world on a silver basis thoroughly
and completely contradict the gold
standard argument that silver has moth
ing to do with the price of wheat! For
example, Russian farmer has mort
gage on his farm upon which he pays
an annual interest of 7 per cent,
amounting to S1oo, and another SIoo
for taxes, making in all $500 of fixed an
nual charges. The American farmer
has like mortgage and is compelled to
pay the same amount of taxes. His
fixed annual charges are also Szoo.
The Russian farmer takes 200 bushels
of wheat to Liverpool and sells it for
ooc per bushel, for which he receives
in English money SIzo. This he con-
verts into Russian money which gives
him S24o with which to pay his fixed
charges of $500, leaving him $40 on the
transaction. The American farmer
takes his wheat to Liverpool and sells
it for SI2o in English money, which is
only SI2o in United States money.
He pays his taxes of S1oo and has only
$40 to apply on the interest of his mort
gage. To pay his $500 of fixed charges
and still have $40 left the Russian farm
er gives only 200 bushels of wheat. To
pay his fixed charges of $500 and have
the same surplus of $40 the American
farmer must give 400 bushels of wheat,
double the amount of his Russian CON-
petitor. This fully illustrates the ad
vantages which farmers in silver stan
dard countries have over producers on
our gold standard basis here in this
country, which amounts to a premium
of about 1oe per cent. Farmer, can
anything be palmer than this? The
gold. standard advocates says the pres
ent policy is better for the producer,
because he sells his product for dollar
that is equal to any other dollar. That
is true, for there is no two dollars of
unequal value except when the govern
ment wants to furnish gold for those
who wish to raid the treasury, and then
IL odyS tuC SiitCA dOlidl ID uOl SOOQ
enough for the holder of greenbacks and
treasury notes, though gold standard
men out here in Kansas say it is redeem
able in gold.
Toprove that silver is more stable
metal than gold it need only be stated
that the amount of bullion in silver
dollar will buy as much wheat or cotton
as it would at any time in the past twen-
ty years. 1t takes twice as much of
these commodities to buy gold dollar
as it did twenty years ago, yet we are
told that gold never changes. Measur-
ed by itself of course the gold dollar has
never appreciated, but measured by
every other commodity it has kept stead
lily advancing in value since 1873. On
the other hand, silver and all commodi-
ties have kept right together Tor nearly
SOY since 1873. Will anyone doubt this2
Will some gold standard advocate prove
the contrary? Mr.. Stewards says that
the last year under the republican rule
was best for the farmer, when he got
62 40 cents per bushel for wheat. The