The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-28

1t is difficult to decide which of these
two presidential candidates gives out
the more weariseme twaddle, Mckinley
or Bryan. IL what they say, the ideas
they emit, were capable Of being
weighed, the one would about balance
would require more than the
lightest weights to counterbalance
it. AS one reads the absurdi-
ties of Bryan on money, he is
In transformation and falsity Of prem
Use and logic; but when he reads in
turn the speeches OF Mckinley, where
he plays on his one-string harp, pro-
lection. doubt rises as to whether,
after all, he does not surpass Bryan
From reading either there comes
feeling of intense cllagrin that politics
in this country has fallen to so low an
estate that either can possibly be a
president Of the United States.
Mr.. Mckinley talked Friday to some
farmers and others about wool and
woolens. He dwelt on the predictions
made by Mr.. Springer, in charge Of
the Wilson bill after Mr.. Wilson'S col
lapse, that free wool would clothe the
ragged, and $4,000 more operatives in
wooden mills would find work clothing
them. Each Of these predictions, he
said, has proved false, while wool
prices have fallen and farmers are
this man, no consideration what
ever is given to other concurrent
causes that affected articles still stiffly
protected, as we'll as wool and wool
ems. There is no mention of the panic
of 1898, the worldwide depression
preceding and following it. and no one
would gather from what he said that
the financial legislation of his party
had any share in the causes that
blighted all industry. Like his oppo-
nent, he Is a man OF but one idea,
looking at everything through the lit
tie crevice Of his mental cell. Restore
me and my policy and will scatter
plenty DER smiling land"
1t is true that imports of wool were
greatly increased by removing the tax,
and it is also true that the manufac-
turers of Weolens were able to have
retained an unequal share of protec-
ton in the bill miscalled Democratic
But it is not true that the price Of wool
has fallen in any degree comparable
so its fall when stiff1y protected, nor
is it true that the clip of this country
has diminished commensurate with the
imports. Wool in 1892 was worth less
than half what it was in 1872, and in
the four years Of Mckinley protection
it fell from 81 to q cents a pound
for medium grades. Taking the es-
timated wool clip, as given in the treas
ury reports. by Truitt and North, on
the basis Of secured wool and emitting
the pulled WOOL" the clip Of 1895 is
but 100000 pounds less than it was in
1889. while that OF 1894 exceeded 1t.
Ohio Xxx medium fell in price from
B0-S2 cents in January, 1892, to 1919
cents in 1894, during all Of which time
McKinley's protection shielded 1t. 1t
was quoted at 1920 In February, 1895,
after the tax was removed
But that part of Mr.. Springer's pre-
Election relative to the cheapening of
clothing has been abundantly fulfilled.
There never was time when the peo-
pie OF this country were cheaper
clothed than now or better. Wooden
and worsted cloths, imported, that
cost, duty paid. s1.7S q pound in 1892,
cost less than ST In 1896. Flannels for
underwear that cost s1.S7 a pound In
1892, cost 9e cents Ia 1895. Wooden and
worsted shawls fell from a cost of
s2.22 a pound In 1892 to s1.32 in 1895.
Knit goods that cost $3.50 a pound to
import in 1892 cost 80 cents in 1895.
The effect of this reduction was felt
by the domestic makers. and their