The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-20
GOOD TIMES IN MEXICO.
Failures There are Practically IN
known Under Silver.

known Under Silver.
Kansas City, Aug. 2O.-"Mexico is
prosperous"
Mexico has free silver"
Those We're the words strenuously
emphasized by L. w. Shouse, whose
business connection with the republic
of Mexico are such as to give him
thorough acquaintance with the ffnan-
cial system Of that country, and who
upholds the splendid progress the sis
ter republic has made under a free Sill
yer basis as the best argument in favor
of the cause in the United States
Mr. Shouse is at present visiting his
brother-in-law, Mr.. J. c. James of the
firm of T. M James & Sons, wholesale
and retail glassware dealers. Mr.
Shouse is partial owner of a big cot
fee and sugar plantation in southern
Mexico. He is an old resident of Kan
sas City, but has been in his present
occupation in Mexico since 1892 He
was formerly connected with the Ma
tional Bank of Kansas City. Though
originally a little skepticaI on the sub
ject, Mr.. Shouse, since his sojourn in
the free silver country, has become an
ardent advocate of the white metal
There is no argument so convinc-
Ing said Mr.. Shouse, ''as an example
and in Mexico we have an example that
will convince any man acquainted with
the conditions of the country of the
superior advantages of silver over gold,
TO use the common political terms. In
the United States business is stagnant
IalIufeS are reported from everywhere
men are out of employment, and wage
e&rners are meagerly rewarded. Con-
d1t1ons quite the reverse are those in
Mexico Foreign capital is hurrying
into Mexico for investments in mining
and agricultural enterprises of all de-
Scr1ptIons. There have been no bust
ness FAILURES OF any consequence in the
entire republic. Although the money
of that country has deprecated in val
lie the Mexican dollar being bought and
SOLD according to the price of silver
bullion in the markets of the world, the
country has experienced no panic and
no financial depression such as the
United States has known. The work
ing classes, as well as all others, seem
well cOntented, and such a thing as a
clanOr of hard times is unknown The
ordinary necessities and commodities
OF life cost about the same in Mexican
money in Mexico as they do in our
country in United States money. For
instance, a Pullman sleeper berth from
Kansas City to St Louis costs 81 here.
Two dollars in Mexican money in Mex
leo will purchase the same convenience
for an equal distance, and Mr.. Pullman
has to bear the expense of the ex-
change
Mr.. Shouse was here interrupted with
tons as they actually exist in Mexico,
but how do you explain that this pros
perity is due to free silver?''
There is no other source to which it
can be accredited" was the ready re-
Spouse, as the gentleman Strengthened
up in his chair and began a convincing
chain Of arguments. Free silver is of
advantage to Mexico from the fact that
it causes the establishment of factories
and mills and stimulates the produc-
ton OF all articles formerly imported.
Cotton cloth bought in England or the
United States is paid for in gold. In
addition comes Rhe high protective
tariff, which makes it exceedingly ex-
pensive to the consumer But if the
cloth is manufactured there it can be
sold much cheaper to the consumer and
manufacturer. The profit to the mer-
chant is greater than it would be on
the same articles imported.
In Vera Cruz had a conversation
with a manager OF the great firm of
SOmmer, Hermann & Co, of Ham
burg, Vera Cruz and Mexico City. The
gentleman said that the United States
must do one of two things. It must
either go to a free silver basis or it
ing wheat. He gave as his reason for
this assertion that as long as this coun-
try is on a gold standard it is unable to
compete with the Argentine Republic
and other South American countries
that are rapidly forging to the front as
wheat producers. These countries be-
ing on a silver basis can afford to I'M
opean markets, from the fact that the
cost Of producing there is paid in sill
yer, while in the United States it is
paid in gold.''