The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-01
WHEAT AND CURRENCY
TWO QUESTIONS DISCUSSED BY EN-
GLISH PEOPLE LAST WEEK.
One the Chief Contentious of Silver
ties Knocked Out-Famines in
India and Ireland.
Copyright, 1896. by the Associated Press)

Copyright, 1896. by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, Oct. 31.-The wheat and curren-
cy questions are still attracting great atten-
ton here. The Spectator this week pub
fishes an interesting article the rise in
wheat and its beari on protection and
bimetallism, in the course of which it says:
THE rise in the price of bread is likely
soon to lead TO unrest in the labor market.
The present activity in trade gives labor
organizations a favorable opportunity for
pressing demands for higher wages, but it
remains to be seen how far the recent i'm
provement in trade can be maintained If
a material rise in wages is insisted on.
There are endless possibilities of friction
if the price of bread becomes a serious
question. We can only hope that the poll
ticlans who are so coquetting with the va
rious forms of protection will learn to d.
gest the lessons that will be expounded by
events IL the price of bread is materially
affected during the coming winter. How
should We fare now If the establishment of
imperial zollverein forced to look to
home production and the Canadian surplus
to fill our own mouths and for the needs of
India? From financial point of view, the
rise in cereals shows a strong case for
further large movements of gold t. the
United States, while regarding politics
whatever the result, shipments of gold
from here are still probable in the one
case, because the panic and scramble for
gold will make Americans sell goods faster
and pay premium for the metal, and in the
other because a revival of Industrial &C
tivity and a return of confidence will at
tract British bullion. Lastly, the rise in
wheat and the accompanying weakness of
economic theory. Not only Bryan, but the
English bimetalists also, are deprived of
one of their most effective arguments"
Indian advices show now that whether
rain falls or not there must be keen dis
tress in the Northwest provinces and in
Dude, and the Indian government must be
prepared to succor the population by at
least forty millions of relief operations,
conducted according to the so-called fam
inc code. Orders have already been given
to these officials to prepare for an immedi-
ate enforcement of famine measures.
While a famine is threatened in India
through the drought, the west of Ireland is
declared to be face to face with famine:
failure of the crops, especially potatoes
Through September and during the begin
ming of October there was an almost in
cessant downpour of rain. There have
bee great floods in the northwest of the
island. Many of them must feel the pangs
of famine before Christmas. The situation
is compared TO that of 1879 when a disas-
trous harvest led to a revival of political
disorders in Ireland. However. the Chief
Secretary for Ireland, Mr.. Gerald Balfour
during his recent tour of affected districts
secured information which, he says will
enable him TO cope with the distress which
he is now ready to meet.
The biggest boom in shipping since 1883
is now reported. Freight rates have every-
where risen abnormally and old vessels are
changing hands at large prices. shin
building firm received orders for fourteen
steamers, aggregating 10000 tons. The sea-
men, however. seemed determined to seize
upon the opportunity to demand an in
crease in wages. Mr.. w II. Wilson, NJ. p.
the 10 per cent. increase which they pre-
viously asked. They now intend to force
wages up as far as they can. The seamen
are being asked to ballot immedia tely on
the subject of internal strike, and we be-
ieve the owners Will Immediately concede
an increase of wages rather than miss q
single voyage during the present boom.