The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-15
A PROPER ANSWER TO A CUSTOM
AIRY FALLACY.

PROPER ANSWER TO A CUSTOM
AIRY FALLACY.
Editor Representative:
AS am a laborer and mingle with that
class of people more or less I find that far
too many of them attribute the high wages
and good times they enjoyed during Pres
ident Harrison's administration to the Nc
Kiney tariff law and the Republican ad-
ministration
l would like to show them through your
columns, that the Republican party or
the Mckinley tariff law had no more to do
with that temporary wave of prosperity
than the man in the moon.
In the latter part of 1888 nearly all the
money in this country had become con-
TESTED in the banks and the vaults of the
large money corporations of the East.
The Money power, the power that plac-
ed the exception clause on the greenbacks,
and the power that has dictated the policy
of the Republican parry ever Since,-SaW
that something must be done to restore
confidence in that hulk of iniquity, the Re-
publican party; they also wanted to ex>
change the money that was lying idle in
their vaults for interest-bearing bonds; so
they worked their emmissaries into every
city council in the United States; they adj
vocated the issuing of bonds to buy money
with to make city improvements.
If you want any proof of what I say all
you have to do is to look back to that
time and you will find that large quanti-
ties of bonds were issued simultaneously
by all the cities of any moment. I am
Informed by gentleman, who pretends to
know, that st. Paul issued and sold over
S., 600, 900 worth of bonds between 1888 and
1892; and Minneapolis a like amount
Saltwater, Duluth, Kansas City, Omaha
Denver, Tacoma, in fact, all of our West
ern cities, issued bonds and sold them to
Eastern and foreign capitalists. About
that time electricity came into general
use, as motive power, bonds were issued
and sold to get money to build electric
lines with. About that time the Great
Northern railroad was putting out her
feeders, likewise extending her mainline
to the Pacific coast. Bonds were issued
and sold to get money with. The North
ern Pacific also completed her line to Pu.
gets Sound. and that corporation issued
and sold bonds to obtain money.
While this large quantity Of money was
being expended in our cities and on our
railroads labor was fully employed; the la
borer had money to buy the farmers pro-
duce, and the grocers and merchants
goods and wares. Thus you see that ag>
riculture and all manufacturing industries
were stimulated. The farmer the manu-
facturer, the city, the street car lines, the
railroads, were all bidding for labor; this
competition forced labor up and not the
Mckinley law.
There is another very important matter
in connection with the above that 1 wish
to call your attention to. That wave of
prosperity which we ejoyed from 1889 to
the latter part of 1891, was like all the pros
perity we have enjoyed since the money
power was enthroned; it was enjoyed on
borrowed money; and now labor Is called
upon to pay the interest on the bonds, and
likewise a sinking fund to meet the bonds
when they become due.
But the poor, deluded laborer SAYS, 81
don't pay any interest because 1 don't pay
any taxes. Well, let's see If you pay any
interest Perhaps you rent house to live
in The landlord from whom you rent IL
obliged to raise your rent to meet the
raise In taxation, so If you pay your rent
you pay the taxes indirectly.
Do Won know thot tho ~-,ho 10 ~.soe