The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-09-30
Pertinent
Question
what L. Prosperity ?
}g8g ~ =

been called to the following editorial in
q recent issue of the Republic:
1T must be gall and NORWOOD to the
pops to have to admit the presence OF that
prosperity of which they earnestly and
emphatically deneu the very eX steuce.
It's knife IN the vitals Of their PARTISAN
ship TO have good times thrust upon them
-tases the sound out OF their thunder,
as it WERE"
The republican party claims it has pro-
duced prosperity by the policies OF pro-
lection and the single gold standard.
over Elk millions of American voters
maintain the negative side Of this propo-
slton. 1t is the veriest nonsense to say
that it would be gall and NORWOOD for
perity. Every father Of IA family anu
every citizen would welcome the return Of
real prosperity, without regard to party.
And this leads one to ask, "What is
prosperity" There are various degrees
of prosperity. The sugar trust, accord
ing to stsunch republican journal, the
San Francisco Argonaut. realized profit
OF ninety millions in the appreciation OF
their certificates by ;he sugar clause ot
the DiDgley bill. 1t goes without saying
that Rockefeller and the rest Of the trust
are in good circumstances financially.
BY the same token the - 900 mIliouaires
who own one-half of all the wealth OF all
the people are in the euj Jyment OF pos
perity. But what OF the other half OF the
population, which statistics show in the
last two decades have been reduced to
the tenant class? Has prosperity struck
Mckinley's native state Of Ohio, where
the records disclose over fifty millions OF
real property f2reclosed for debt since the
beginning Of the present year? How
about the prosperity that has been meted
out to the miners of the great republican
states of the middle west by the coal
barons? The governor of Indiana re
Gently commissioned learned jurlst to
represent him personally on tour OF
observation among the laboring classes
of that state. lie reported a condition OF
degradation, despair and starvation too
pitiable to relate.
The famine in India and the shortage
OF cereal supplies in Europe has indeed
sent breadstuifs Exiting up into the
Clouds" according to the classic imag-
nation Of the Republic editor; but wheat,
even under these extraordinary circum-
stances, has not risen to the normal value
it sustained under bimetallism. Compe-
tent judges assert that if it were not for
the msfortunes of other lands wheat
would now be selling for thirty-tiye cents
bushel. Who can tell what another
year may bring forth? The editor Of the
Republic should not prophesy unless he
knows.
The rise in sugar OF two cents pound
and the increase OF fifteen cents sack
for flour is a tax upon the poor mans
breakfast table, which he might be con
tent to pay were there a corresponding
rise in his wages, with the prospect OF
steady employment. The Republic re-
CARDS it of sufficient importance to make
editorial mention, following the above ex-
cerpt, of the "level head Of a working
man who, failing to get employment else
where, found work to do for the past
three months in Yakima, which he prop
erly termed the best county in the north
west. Why thus dignity the short and
simple annals Of the poor by editorial
comment In the midst If general pros.
perity? The fact is that Yakima, Ia
vored by indulgent nature above any
other section on the coast, Is doing fairly
well, considering these gold STANDARD
times. But will the editor seriously con
tend that Yakima is enjoying its foil
measure OF prosperity? With hay 900
a ton in the stack; hops rating at ten to
twelve cents pound, and luscious iruil
rottening on the ground because OF a dis
eliminating traffic tariff, - Or 50 a ton in
excess Of the freight rate toy water from
California to the Sound, our natural home
market, local good times may be said to
be more honored in the breach than il
the observance. Ask our scores Of CIt-
zens who have eXpatriated themselves 10
burrow like moles in the icy caverDs OF
British Alaska for the hidden gold to
better the condition Of their cherished de-
pendents why they have fled from The
golden glories Of Yakima. Inquire Of
our mechanics how much building there