The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-12


lS9o. ................. ................''''' 4.oa
7.95
This shows (7.95 divided by p that our
average per capita consumption OF wheat
N 1894 and 1896 years was a tribe under
four bushels. This was SO per cent. below
the per capita home consumption in 1890
when times were good.
Surely anv intelligent farmer ought to
be able TO understand what that very low
consumption of wheat by our people
meant In 1894 and 1895. lie realized its
force in the low price of wheat. Our peo-
pie were out of employment under the
Wilson bill and unable to buy and con-
sumo as much ss they did in 1890
With a consumption in 1894 of only
about 30 per cent. OF what II was in 1880,
the value OF our home market and labor
fully employed in relation to the price
cannot be overlooked. The value of "tho
markets OF the world" Supplied largely by
Argentina ana Russia with cheap wheat,
arc as nothing compared with our own
market. In 1890 wheat was worth 9S
cents, IN 1898 only 70 cents and in 1894
only 81 cents, the decline In price being
in about the same ratio with the fall In
home consumption per capits. This
presentation OF facts ought to be con-
vinc,ng.
with cheap wheat abroad 1t is always
OF prime importance that we maintain by
legislation, among our own people, tho
highest consuming power,ano to do this,
labor must oe employed. Men must earn
money In order 10 be able to buy fiber-
ally. The wheels of industry in every
direction must be kept In motion and
they cannot be under a tariff that shuts
our work shops and invites goods from
abroad.
But let Us put the same considerations
in a slightly different way. In 1890 we
exported only q little over % DER cent.
OF our wheat crop, which surplus must
always come into competition with
foreign wheat, the price thereof being
fixed abroad.
As has been shown wheat In 1890 was
9S cents; times were good and we were
sple to consume sst, ,000, 900 bushels. In
1894 times were out OF joint and We ex-
ported Al per cent. OF our wheat because
our people were able 10 buy and consume
only 23i ,00o, 900 bushels, showing a loss
of power among our people. who were
out OF employment, to consume l5O, 000,-
600 bushels compared with 1890, and that
additional amount was forced abroad
into cheap labor markets known as "the
markets OF the world" This naturally
forced prices down.
What the farmer wants is as heavy and
as we can give, in order 10 stimulate the
employment OF our people and their con-
sumptive power. Above all things else,
that tends to fix and maintain prices.
President Clegeland's election and the
threat OF free Jaue, which IT carried with
1t. stopped the wheels OF industry, threw
thousands out of employment, thus re-
ducing their ability TO buy and consume.
This Is the relstion then between tar
in Inv and the prices OF agricultural pro-
ducts and IT is a factor or issue which
cannot be eliminated from the present
campaign.
Take corn fs anotter illustration. The
price OF that cereal In New York in 1890
was is cents; in 1898 II was 25, and In
1895 II was only ~ cents. The crop OF
1890 was the heaviest the country ever
produced, 2,li2,o0l, OOO bushels. and we
were able to consume 2,oO9 OO0, 900, show.
ing All enormous consumptve power at
home. In 1874, when we produced l,62O,-
600, 900 bushels, we were able to consume
only 1,b5o,ooo, coo bushels, showing
surplus Of 636, OO0, 900 bushels, and loss
IN power to consume equal to l39, 600. 900
bushels compared with 1890. II our corn
crop OF 1894 had reached that OF 1890.
our snrrlus in 1885, would have been $50.
oOo,OO bushels. As we export an average
ci only 2 TO , per cent. Of our corn. its
price - regulated. by home consump.
tiou and "surplus" OF over 5OO,-
100000, or 20 bnsh' Is per cspi,s. naturally
affects The price Of the ,niire crop. These
facts are too Plain to be ni'undsrstood.