The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-10-23
ASIDE from the finance issue there

seems to rs, strike at home, at the
welfare and prosperity OF the State
during the next four years, at least, in
case of populist governor and legisla-
ture. There is well-grounded fear in
the minds of all who have anything to
invest, that the leaders of the populist
party are men with wild and impracti-
cal ideas, who have grudge against
anything that savors of prosperity, and
confidence is lacking. Most of the
party are honest, well-meaning men
who see the need for reforms in many
directions and are themselves disguised
to find that their leaders and methods
are the same and often worse than
other parties. How can they expect
the people to have confidence in them.
Ones business must be conducted on
business principles or it fails; how
much more essential to apply the best
and safest principles to- county, state
and national affairs, which affects the
general prosperity of the whole people.
Washington is new state requiring
capital for development, and with the
states affairs in practical hands, we
can get money if any state can regard
less of who is president.
A GOOD evidence that there is no
real scarcity of money, even in this
state, is that, if it is loaned at all, it
can be obtained at lower rate OF in
terest than several years ago. The
ordinary rate of interest now is to 10
per cent, and at one time some people
were able to exact from one to two per
J cent per month. The trouble now is
| that nobody wants TO borrow money ;
that is, that few can see asplace for
| profitable investment or business, con-
sequently they are resting People
with good security can borrow plenty
of money at low rates of interest
Wall street does not affect us locally;
there is gold coin enough lying idle
in and about Shelton to throw every
thing in motion, and we presume it
is the same in most other places. The
gold has not all gone to Europe, but
it is evident that vast quantity unac-
counted for is laid away in "old socks"
for safety, and awaiting a return of
confdence' nor will it come to the
surface until confidence" comes.
THE last proposition on the foot of
your ballots this year, is the proposed
amendment to the state constitution,
regarding the qualifications of voters.
The full text of the amendment will
be found in the advertising columns.
| While rather strict, we believe such a
change in the laws governing the
elective franchise will have a good
effect. 1t should be borne in mind
that this proposition, if carried, will
not affect the privileges of any who
are now legal voters, but only those
who are not now qualified or those
who may come to this state after. 1t
seems to us that the amendment is a
good one and ought to receive the sup
port of the voters. Don't forget to
mark a cross after the proposition you
favor.
The result OF sober second thought
and reasoning is being shown by the
many accessions to the republican
ranks in Mason County. In the
spring more than three-fourths of the
people of the county were talking fol-
Mckinley and protection, and there
was no ideaof respectable sized oppo-
sition, now that the people have had
time to thoroughly investigate the
proposition SO suddenly thrust forth
as the great campaign issue, the
dangers and difficulties are apparent
and most of the people realize that We
are in no pasitlon to try any more ex-
periments. With Mckinley we have
every thing to gain and nothing tc
lose. Deliver us from another fou,
! years like these.
). The republican party has always
been in favor of bi-metalllsm; it has
arranged all the past internationa
conferences and maintained the sound.
ness and parity of ali our money
There is practically no change in its
national platform this year, and it is
pledged to do its best to carry out in
ternational bi-metallism, which every
believer ia sound money admits to BE-
essential IN maintaining the parity o.
gold and silver. Sound money mer
want both metals, while the populis,
wants neither. but demands e.fia,
money" Bryan's platform mean,
/, silversmono-metallism in which the
silver has fat qualities which makes i,
no better than fat paper.
FLOUR is going up with a jump, %
cents sack in the last two weeks
! Wheat has gone up at the same rate
and the Eastern Washington farmers
VIII make their fortunes this year