The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-10-23
MILLS AND MINIS.
The Way to Open the Mills to Labor Is t.
Open the MINIS to Silver.

The Way to Open the Mills to Labor Is to
Open the MINIS to Silver.
The McKinleyites are moving heaven
and earth to revivify the moribund
tariff issue, and are ringing the changes
upon Mr.. MeKinley's epigram that sit
is far better to open the mills of Amer
lea to American wotlzmen than the
minis Of America to the silver of the
world" Aud they try to make the
American laborer believe that a higher
protective tariff will set all the idle
men to work aud give employment to
all who wish to labor And yet, under
the operation of the Mckinley tariff
act there were more strikes and lock-
outs and labor disturbances than ever
before in the same length,of time.
There is a better way. One-half of
the labor" of the nation is dependent
upon agriculture for livelihood, and
it is to the agricultural population that
the manufacturers of this country must
look for market for the greater por-
ton of their wares When the farmer
has no surplus income and agriculture
llanguishes, all other Industries suffer
in sympathy and labsr in the manu-
featuring centers is thrown out of
work, or works only short time. If
all the idle men in the manufacturing
centers could be put to work in the
factories, the goods produced must re-
main unsold unless the price of agri-
cultural products are raised, so that
the increased income of the one-half
of the population dependent upon agri-
culture renders them able to purchase
the manufactured goods thus produced.
These prices can be raised and this in
come can be increased by the estab-
lishment of bimetallic monetary sys-
tenn and the free coinage of silver at
sixteen to one and in no other way,
The free coinage of silver will at once
increase the price of wheat and cotton,
etc, very considerably, at least go per
cent
But while not denying this general
proposition that the prices Of farm
iproducts would rise under the opera
ton of bimetallic system and free
coinage Of silver, the Hannaites ad-
vance a counter proposition which is
succinctly expressed by ex-President
Harrison, thusly:
1.-THE silver men make a strong APP
peal to the farmer. They say it will
put up prices, Well, in a sense, yes
Nominally, yes; really, no If wheat
goes mp from 50 cents to S1.20 the price
has been increased. you will say; but i
the price of everything else has gone
up in the same proportion bushel of
wheat won't buy for the farmer any
more sugar or coffee or farming nipple
ments or anything else that he has to
purchase. If that dollar won't buy
for the farmer any more or be a better
dollar than the one we have now
where is the good to anybody of intro
duciRg these fictitious prices?"
This contention is fallacy and will
not bear the light of investigation. Let
Us see: Authentic official statistics very
eonclusively prove that 10 most of cur
best agricultural states the leading
staple cereals, cotton and many other
agricultural products are produced at
a loss, or, at the best, without profit
That is to say that they have to be sold
at prices which do not repay the cost
of production, or at the best, barely
so.
Most of the farmers Of the United
States, even those whose farms are not
mOrtga ed, receive no interest what
ever upon their capital invested, but
simply are reimbursed Tor the cost of
production of their products and, BY
dint Of the exercise OF the most rigid
ecoGomy, bordering on parsimony, are
able to buy few groceries, and such
other food as they cannot raise on their
farms, and a scanty supply OF clothing
Of the cheapest quality. They all, Of
course, must pay their state, county
and school taxes, while those who have
mortgage interest to Pay,can pay it only
by pitifal sels-lenial and practically
doing without whatever cannot be pro-
dueed upon the farm.
Now note this fact: Under free coin.
age what are called "fxed charges, I"
sneh "a interest aud taxes. and for the
most part. rent, would not raise; ct
least they have not been lowered dur
ing all these years Of depression and
constant lowering Of prices In any
event interest and principal Of debts
would not baraised in monetary terms.
while where a share Of the crop is paid
as rent the rent would BE- about the
same proportiopats amount Of the crop
as Row. AZ We are new paying the
same salaries to state and comfy OF
6eiais that we paid 90 years sg0s It IS
likely that taxes vouid not materially
scTease n 7aai9aRt