The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-09-26
AND WAGE FARMERS.
A Minnesota Man Draws a Few
Startling Comparisons.
He Hits From the Shoulder and
Nails Gold Bug at Every
Stroke.

vigorous, though not in NIL respects
classic language, commend the follow
ing crushing answer to the gold stand
ard fallacies, which is from the pen OF
Editor Brann, of tho Independents:
II am not much OF free silver
fanatic but ] do dislike to zee the people
imposed upon by n set of editorial and
oratorical frauds who brazenly
juggle figures, Hundreds OF papars.,
'sputters and spouters are striving to
create the impression that gold makes
for high and silver for low wages; yet
the biggest fool engaged in this
dlsreptuble skullduggery knows fail
well-if he knows anything-that he is
perpetrating brazen falsehood. II
Cicero wondered that the Roman
aruspices could look in each others
faces without laughing. what would he
have thought of gold-bug editors and
orators who, after laboriously comparing
the wage rate in England and the
United States with that Of China and
Japan. solemnly advise the American
workingmen that If he doesn't want to
toll for dime day-'in deprecated
currency'-and live on rice and rats, he
shonld give the glad hand to the cross
OF goldT There isn't an editor on earth
with sufficient sense to dodge plate
matter in welding pair of shears who
doesn't know that all such talk is
veriest tommyrot. There isn't an orator
who employs it but does so for the
express purpose OF deceiying ignorant
people. here brand every man who
indulges in such argument as fool Of
the first water or deliberate fraud.
Certainly wages are higher in England
and the United States than in China and
Japan, aud OF right ought to be, for the
productive power of the energetic
Caucasian, with Its improved machinery,
is ten-fold greater than thai OF the
puttering Mongolian with antedeluyian
devices. Every man versed in even the
primary principals of economics knows
that the unit OF value in vogue in a
country has no more to do with its
wage rate than with the number Of
Wlggletails IN its rainwater. We don't
have togo to Ricardo or Mill or
Montesquieu for this information it is
only necessary to turn to the latest
published consular reports, which any
man may obtain of his representative in
congress free of cost. II the gold makes
for high and the silver standard for low
wages, how comes it that gas-ntters
receive $l4.50 a week in Columbia and
$1S in Venezuela, both silver standard
countries, and but s4.OS in Germany and
$3.4O in Italy, both on gold basis?
How comes it that cigar makers receive
$3.50 and tiGsmiths sl4 in SILVER
standard Venezuela, and $3.50 and So
respectfully in gold standard Spain?
How comes it that distilers receive $12
per week in Mexico and but $3.50 in
Denmark? How comes it that cabinet
makers receive $40 in Ecuador and but
S4.25 in Germany, blacksmiths $l2.S3 in
Venezuela and but $3.50 in Italy,
telegraph operators Sl1,5O in Mexico and
but $5.S0i in Denmark, engravers $l9.75
in Peru and but So IN Spain? If the
gold standard makes uniformly for high
wages. why is there such tremen dous
difference in wage rates of gold stand.
ard countries? Tho average weekly
wages of bricklayers IN the United
States is $2l.1S; in Spain $3.50. in
Canada Sl8 and in Italy s4,20, vet all
are on a gold basis. Hod carriers
average s1o.3S in the United States ant
but Sl.70 in Italy; plumbers $3.50 il
Canada and 1926 In Spain, SIG in th,
United States and $3.50 in England
s13.35 in New South Wales and s4.55 il
Germany-all gold standard countries
Coopers get S1.SO in China and $40 il
Ecuador; masons $2.1S in Japan, ant
$1,000 in Mexico; butchers, S2.6S IL
Persia and $3.50 in Peru; cigar maker
$40 in China, and $3.50 in Venezuel
all silver standard countries. Yet th
goldhugs ask the workingmen t
belieyo that upon the unit Of valu
depends the scale Of wages! 1t is
wondei that when q man makes tina
kind Of a talk to intelligent people Ii
escapes being h0oted orhanged!