The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1896-05-15
WHY IsOIES EAVOIsS Ia.

question has Deen advocating Tree silver
on the ground that the price of labor
has become SO high that the only saliva
tion tor the employers OF the land IS to
be found IN The free ana unlimited coin
age OF silver, which, according to tue
sane authority, would reduce the price
of labor about fifty per cent, while the
Iaborer would receive the same number
of dollars in silver that lie is now rCceiv-
ing in gold for a given piece OF work
We hardly expected to find an American
silverite taking the same ground as that
assumed by the English gentleman. but
we have found him nevertheless. Horace
Boes. of iowa, who has bad an itching
Tor the presidency and who assumes to
letter regarding the silver question
Boies is great letter writer. 1t IS not
certain that his political doom may not
be traced all along the route by ther EN-
nants of letters he has written. But
Mr. Boies. in his latest contribution. tells
the farmers Of Iowa that the price Of
labor is altogether too high. Referring
to the wages of farm hands in iowa, Mr..
Boies says in part
$40 pay this help tor each days work,
at present rate Of wages and price Of the
products Of the farm, requires. on ar
average. the state over the sale of two
and e-quarter bushels OF heat"
Perhaps Mr. Boies iorgets that the
Iowa farmer as a rule quit raising wheat
wears ago. But he proceed, TO say that
while It requires two and a quarter
bushels of wheat it would require seven
bushels of corn, eight bushels OF oats.
five bushels OF barley, and 50 forth and
50 on Mr.. Boes concludes the para
graph dissmissing this phase OF the ques-
ton with the declaration that
No man who has the least practical
knowledge will claim that wages on the
farm are fairly adjusted to present prices
OF its products
Brother Boles concludes that be knows
OF but two ways through which wages
can be adjusted upon an equitable basis.
We quote his words:
"We know butone Of two ways through
which the change can come, lo-wit: the
lessenng OF the purchasing power of tie
currency with which wages are paid, or
the reduction of wages lf measured
by the present standard Of value until
they are reasonably adjusted to the
prices for which products will sell
This is the first statement we have
seen from silver man regarding the
necessity OF the reduction of the price of
labor 10 America. The greater number
81 free-silver advocates boldly proclaim
that the prlce of labor will not be re-
duced by the adoption of the free coina re
system. No one else, SO lar as we have
observed, has had temerity to declare IN
favor of the free and unlimited coinage
OF silver on the ground that the price OF
labor must be reduced and that through
free coinage the reduction can best be
made. MIR. Boies and his English friend
can join hands across the Atlantic and
'pool' their issues on the silver question.
They agree to dot. We really believe
that ii the other free e-silver men Of the
country would be as uulspoken with re-
gard to the matter as is Mr.. Boles, if they
would frankly admit :hat wages would
be reduced under free silver as measured
III the purchasing power Of the money
received by the laborer, instead Of stout
~ maintaining by implication, at least.
that the silver dollar and the gold dollar
would join hands and walk SIDE by side
they would appeal with greater force 10
the farming and the business interests of
the country, although they might lose
cast with those who work solely for
stipulated wages. The position assum-
ed by the Iowa gentleman and his Eng
lsh co-laborer is logical, to say the least.
Commenting upon the Boes letter the
democratic Des MONIES Leader saws in
part.
1T is the argument Of Mr.. Boies that
~ the division Ct the products Of indus
try the employe has been getting TOO
much and the employer too little. This
IS contrary 10 the view OF most people.
~ho have disposed 10 think, in the