The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-05
A VOICE FROM TEXAS.
One Cause of Hard Times Ex-
planned by a Stu


The following letter was written for THK
CALL by twenty-onester, who originally
intended to cast his first vote for Bryan
and Sewall. The letter is the result of his
sober, second thought:
DALLAS, Tex, August %, 1896.
think at last see the financial question
from the right standpoint, not that of any par
ticular person, but justice. As you under
stand, it will be useless for me TO explain TO
any extent, but l assure you we do not want
any deprecated currency or reputation OF
debts. We do not want to take an express
wagon with us to carry about few thousand
dollars, or cast dishonor upon ourselves by
not returning money as good we borrowed,
therefore, shall work till election for Nc
Kinley and also cast my ballot for him.
There are great many people crying "hard
times" but as long as the world stands, even
in the most prosperous times, there Will be
the same cry when in reality there is no 10
what you might call depression OF bust
ness" but il is not as bad as some calamity
howlers try to make US believe. One OF the
first causes 1 assign to this is that the people
OF the United States have overreached them
selves.
Having unbounded resources comparatively
undeveloped, they borrowed too much capital
in proportion to the working population. The
products from the above resources became too
enormous for our home consum ptio on the
home markets FELL we sought markets else
where, but IN great many instances they
could-being older and more densely popu-
lated countries, in which development had
reached its highest pitch, where competition
in trade had become closer ana labor had be-
come very low-produce like articles as cheap
or cheaper than we. Hence drop in our wage
scalel The working people were compelled TO
buy less and become more economical They
were not used to this because it came so sud-
denly. Hence their cry hard times and the
depression in business"
The interest became due on this borrowed
capital Many had TO sacrifice their products
below cost and finally "went to the wall, "
throwing more laborers out of work altogether,
causing further cries and more depression.
And to make affairs still worse, Cleveland 8
first administration gave US too much tree
trade, causing the limited number of fac
tories we had to close down, throwing more
laborers out, more cries and more depression.
During Harrison's administration we began
to recover very slowly, but very well consider
ing our condition under tair tariff legislation.
The interest on borrowed foreign capital being
enormous when Cleveland commend ed his sec
ond term, a bond issue was forced to get gold
to pay it. This caused another howl from the
people! More distrust OF foreign capital A
withdrawal of great deal of this capital
Less employment, more cries, more depression
and more distrust
The silver miners having produced too
much have taken advantage of these cries
and the Ignorance OF the masses; have pro-
claimed that the only panacea for these ills is
free coinage of silver; have hired orators,
bought newspapers, hired editors and in every
way have been spreading their silver wave
until most people have accepted IL the
every thing without thought and gone
ahead.
Now our wise and honest statesmen are bat
ting against this wave and it is beginning 10
recede, and it will probably drown its origina-
tors.
Excuse the length and omissions of this arti-
Gle. Give us Mckinley a tariff favorable TO
our industries and foreign commerce and
sound money.
I want tariff like the above so it will pro
duce plenty OF revenue for expenses. II il
should be an advantage TO trade, etc. pile up
balance in the treasury. 1t can be EN- pl Dyed
in strengthening our Notifications, opening W
the harbors and rivers and building Govern
ment roads, etc. The main thing to make q
nation prosperous is to keep the masses al
work. "Idleness is the DEVILS workshop "
This applies to nations as well as individuals.