davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
The campaiuu OF Calamity.

To read the daily wailings OF the organs
Of free silver and free trade will con-
vince any farm minded person that those
noisy journals have started In to fight the
calamity campaign of 1896 all over again.
They are preaching the old perniclous dog
mas Of discomfort, disorder and disaster
with all the reckless rhetoric OF the dem
agOgue aud the anarchist. Processing
friendship for the cause Of labor, they are
wickedly striving 10 arouse the working
man against his employer; pretending to
favor the restoration of prosperity, they
are deliberately trying to stitie the grow
ing spirit OF confidence In business en-
terprise; and. while ostentatiously mourn-
ing over the depression Of industry, their
whole influence is being excrted 20 make
u permanent and hopeless.
Such are the real purposes of the new
campaign Of calamity. In furthcrance
Of them It's organs publish daily columns
Of dispatches 10 show that trade and In
dustry are steadily going from bad 10
worse, and that the condition of labor
is becoming more and more desperate.
To these prophets of evil the report that
a factory has closed its doors. that fur
mace has banked It's fires. or that a min
has curtailed It's working force Is a mes
sage Of joy. A story Of business failure
or abandoned enterprise is delight;
tales of idlenesE and want are hailed
with glad acclaim, and every line that
tells Of paralysis Ia trade. loss in capt
tai aud earnings or despair among those
who toll IL eagerly welcomed aad osten-
tatiously displayed as a fulhllment Of
gloomy prophecies.
Back of this eager quest for evil tid-
ings Is stealthful purpose TO provoke
antagonisms between labor and capital,
and thus undermine the foundation of
the rising structure OF business pros
perity. Good times mean death 20 the
agitation for free trade and free silver
The calamity organs know IL. and this
knowledge is the inspiration Of their
desperate attempt 10 postpone the day
of returning confidence aud prosperous
business.
The Intelligent masses Of American
wage carriers fully understand the stu
alton. Their condition is far from what
Il ought to be in employment and pay,
but on the other hand II is much less
distressing thar the mouthy oracles of
chaos would have Il appear. The conduct
Of the great body Of workingmen under
the harsh conditions which now prevail
has been admirable in its patience, hope
fulness and self-restraint. The attempt
of demagogues and chariatans 70 incite
disorder and strife in the ranks Of labor
Will receive It's sharpest rebuks from the
vorkin gnen thenlSelTss.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Tariff Prospects Are Helping.

The progress made by the Senate with
the tariff bill has given some impetus
to general business and has created a
more hopeful feeling in all departments
of trade. The matter is not entirely SEN
timental or at all partisan. The doubt
and instability which have plainly sur
rounded every commercial avenue and
which always exist while tariff uncer-
tainty lasts will in all probability soon
be removed. For the first time since
1887 the business of the country will be
in free and untrammeled position and
the favorable effect on credit and individ-
ual action canot be too highly estimated.
The manufacturer and the distributor
will be able to see clearly into the future
and the money lender and the money Dor
rover will be able to act Understandings.
The prospect has already caused some
activity in the iron aud steel trades, and
has given definite assurance in other di-
rections. The great majority of the
American people hope for and have con-
tidence in substantial results. The gen
ersl situation is ripe for the change.
Money is abundant at low rates. Price
is on n level which practically guaran-
tees judiciOus operations.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
A Currency Commission Urged.

A currency commission which shall
frame plan for the general revision Of
the currency system of the United States
seems likely to be the next step of the new
administration, after the passage of the
tariff bill, which will probably take place
before the end of the month. 1t is I'M
derstood in Washington that the Presi-
dent will, as soon as the tariff bill passes
the Senate, send a special message to Con-
gress urging the creation of a commission
which shall devise a plan for the general
revision of the currency system of the
country in time for consideration by Con-
gress when it meets in its regular session
five months hence.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Disappointment for Porocrats.

Disappointment follows disappoint-
ment among the Popocratic leaders. Not
only are they disappointed in the fact
that the Republicans have presented a
solid front on the tariff question aud fail
ed ia quarrel among themselves upon cur
rency. or any other question, but they are
even more distressed to find their own par
ty falling to pieces on the question of pro-
lection as well as silver, since their vote
against the protective features of the tar
i'll bill is growing weaker daily. while
their arguments In behalf of free silver
are being disproyen by every weeks de-
velopments since the election.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Mos. Encouraelnx for Years.

In broad way last week was one OF
the most encouraging In business circles
that this country has experienced for sew
eral years. The general outburst OF con-
fidence In financial circles was reflected
In the course Of the stock markets. which
were bullish from start 10 finish. The
r4assuring utterances of the President
and the leading members Of his cabinet
produced very favorable impression;
but beyond that II was seen that number
of encouraging factors were In evidence
II was perceived that the price OF iron
had gone up; that railroad earnings we're
increasing that money was In ample sup
ply for all legitimate purposes; that the
gold exports had dwindled 10 mere moth
ing and that the prospects of speedy en-
actment Of the tariff bill were daily grow
ing brighter This induced a buoyant
tone In the prices Of all-Minneapolis
Tribune (Rep).
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16

net, signed two days before his retirement
was the "Morrill" tariff act, thorough!
protective measure, whose passage wa
made possible at that time because of thu
fact that large number Of the Southern
Democratic members Of the Thirty sixth
Congress had withdrawn, leaving Con
gress in the control of the Republican
party, which thus placed tariff act upon
the statute books two days before the in
auguration Of Lincoln.
President Lincoln, who was inaugural
ed March 4, 1861, signed his first general
tariff act on Aug. 8 of that year, and this
was followed by the passage In July, 1862,
and June 3, 1864, of other tariff measures,
to which his signature was attached.
| Grant, who became President March 4,
1869, signed on July II, 1870, his first
general act relating to revenues, by which
the internal revenue taxes we're reduced,
this being followed by another reduction
on June O. 1872.
President Hayes. who was inaugurated
March 4, 1877. signed 10 general tariff
legislation, the House being Democratic
In the first Congress under his administra-
ton and both branches Democratic in
the latter half Of his term.
The Garfield~Arthur administration,
which began March 4, 1881, did not wit
ness the enactment Of any general tariff
Legislation until March 3, 1888, two full
years after the Inauguration.
Cleveland's FIRST term was not marked
by the completion Of any general tariff
legislation, the Mills bill, which passed
me Democratic House in 1888, failing in
inc Senate, which was so closely divided
politically that IL was found impossible
TO pass through II a measure satisfactory
TO the administration, the substitute
which was adopted by the Senate being
rejected by the House, where the Demo
cratic divisions on the tariff question, now
so strongly marked, was then beginning
to make itself apparent
benjamin Harrison's term began March
=, 1889, and the first general tariff act
passed under his administration was sign
ed Oct. 1, 1890, eighteen months after his
Cleyeland's second term, which began
March a, 1893, with his own party in con-
troll In both branches of Congress, did not
witness the completion of it's tariff meas
ure until Aug. %, 1894, nearly eighteen
months after he took the oath of office.
A study of the above history of the tar
III from the beginning of the Government !
down to the present time will indicate to
those who have been inclined to criticlse
what they assume to be the slow action of
Congress that instead of its action being
tardy, it has been unusually
prompt, and especially so in view of the
TACT that the party in control of the adj
ninistration controls only one branch Of
congress, condition under which it has
seldom been possible TO pass a tariff meas
ire, even in a much greater length of time
han has been or is likely to be occupied
n the present instance.
GEORGE MELVILLE.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Export Bounty on Farm Products.

The proposition for bounty on staple
agricultural exports is not a new subject
1t is a departure from the protective pol
lev. Ii has been considered for some
years by the farmers, especially by the
members of the National Grange, where
it has been fully discussed but not yet
indorsed by majority of that body. Some
of the propositions seem to be favorable,
but it is doubtful whether the giving of
bounty on agricultural products would be
beneficial to the farmer. There might be
some temporary benefits, but if it stimu-
lated production the effect would be dis
astrous to the farmer. What troubles the
farmer row and makes low prices for his
productions is the fact that he is row
producing more than the market will read
ily absorb of certain commodities. 80
long as he continues to do this he must
be content with low prices. If this boun-
ty should stimulate the production and
increase the surplus offered in the mar
kets of the world, it would have the eff
feet of decreasing the price received by
the farmer rather than increasing it, AS
| said. it is a departure from the policy
of those who believe in protection. The
protective policy advocates the encour-
agement of production in those lines
where we are now not producing enough
to supply our own people, but are depend
ent to an extent on foreign countries for
our supply. This proposition does not
have such a purpose. 1t proposes simply
to donate TO the farmer certain bounties
on products exported, and it is doubtful
whether it would at the most have more
than a temporary beneficial effect, with
tendency to bad reactionary results
From interview with Assistant Secretary
of Agriculture Brigham.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16

of last year. The fact that large numbers
of Democrats in every State where cam
paigns are to take place this fall are re-
fusing to support the free coinage of sill.
YER and that many members Of that par
ty in Congress and elsewhere are aban'
doning free trade and supporting high
protection, has rendered n further ALI
ance Of the two parties improbable. Mr..
Il. b. Rankin, prominent member OF the
Populist party IN Ohio, in a recent IN
terview, said: "1'he object Of the or
ganization of the Populist party was to
secure needed reforms. not to stab the
Democratic or Republican parties. l was
opposed to fusion last year, and am sim
more opposed to it now"
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16

The statement Of failures In May by
branches Of business gives much encour-
sgement. In amount Of defaulted habili-
ties the month was the smallest since
September, 1896. In manufacturing ha-
5ilities the smallest since November. 1895
and In trading liabilities the smallest
since September excepting the last
MONTH 1894. Failures Of general stores
have not been as small In any month as
IN May. 1897; in only two months out of
thirty-six have there been smaller failures
in books and hats: only FIVE 10 groceries:
and not one trading class in that month
has reported failures larger than the
half daring preceding months. though In
furniture failures are rather numerous.
In clothing manufacture the month was
the smallest except four out Of thirty six.
except FIVE in chemicals, six In wooden
goods, seven In machinery. lumber and
miscellaneous manufactures, and exceed
ed the average only IN iron and cotton
goods and eaTthenware. owing 20 a few
failures Of exceptional sire. Nobody can
mistake the meaning Of such returns.
The statement that. except for the tenn
porary depression In prices, the volume Of
business transacted Is now larger than
g was IN 1sa2-tbe year OF greatest pros
perity-has been questioned by some. But
comparison Of prices this week in the
leading branches Of manufacture not
oBly confirms that view. but shows a
remarkable similarity 20 the course Of
prices In the earlier months Of 1870. when
the most wonderful advance in production
and prices ever known in this or any
other coantry was close at hand.-Dun's
Review.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
History May Repeat.

Twenty years ago. In 1877, the country
was enshrOuded In the gloom OF busi-
ness depression. consequent upon the pan
ic Of 1873. There were plenty Of prophets
who predicted that the times would never
get any better, and the mass Of the peo-
pie were discouraged and about ready TO
concede that the prophets Of evil were
right
But IN the fall Of 1877 signs Of improve
sient began 10 appear. The general the
ory was that a more hopeful feeling was
Induced by the approach Of the date for
the resumption act 20 20 into effect.
There was no doubt something IN this
theory; nevertheless plenty Of states
men" were found who asserted that re-
sumption would be a failure. and that
business would be injured rather than
helped by the attempt 10 resume
But IN suite Of ali the talk. the times
continued 70 Improve steadily. They
were much better In 1878. and In 1879 the
rising tide assumed the proportions OF
something ike boom. Some Of our Min
neapolis people who carried real estate
through the period Of depression, and
nearly broke their backs doing 80, viii
remember that by 1880 Il was salable NJ
eNfAut%-u aliA nhhAfot ~ Aht
next few years the prices Of realty here
and elsewhere In the country reached the
highest prices ever known before or
since.
The history Of this country appears 10
show that panics and rccoyeries run In
about twenty-year periods. There was
the panic OF 1878. followed by five years
Of depression: the beginning Of recovery
IN 1877; the fun tide Of recovery In 1870,
followed by a period % prosperity lasting
until 1892. Then came the panic Of 1898,
followed by the period Of depression
which We are now experiencing. TO |
some there are as yet no signs of improve |
ment discernible. while to others there is
slrcsdy a faint giimmer Of dawn. Many
ere looking forward TO the passage Of the
tariff biz az the starting point Of 4 new
period Of prosperity. But whether from
hat or some other cause or causes, II IL
quite probable that history viii repeat IL
self. and that In the fall Of the present
year, or the beginning Of 1898, we shall
witness a notable improvement, followed
by perhaps ten or dozen Yeas Of great
The cycle ~ nearly completed. We |
have experienced nearly Eve years of de- |
preston since the election of Cleveland In |
1892. IL Is about time for a change In |
he nature! order Of things Exchange
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
pi.tlnrul.hea nu.lns.s Men speas.

The New York Mail and Express last
week published interviews with three men
prominent 10 business and finance just as
fhey were shout 70 sail for Europe. with
the following result; George J. Gould
s4id: Everything is on the up grade aud,
50 far as ! can see, the signals are set
for clear track ahead The improve
rue1t, whether il be in Wall street or else
sFhere. is coming slowly, II Is true. but IL Is
better that Il should move aloug slowly
because il will be more lasting aud salts
factory 70 AL concerned" Andrew Car
nesie said: Il believe business IN this
country r. actually beginning to perma-
nentiy improve. The outlook il excellent
and ! expect 10 see very busy times when
] return" Cbauncey NJ. Depew said:
What shall ! tell them fforeignersl Of the
outlook Wei. ! shall tell them that it
seems 70 me we have crossed the Rnblcou
that ahead Of Us now are good times
business activity. general prosperity"
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Rifts in IN. ciond..

Secretary Gage, who recently talked
with the members Of the Commercial
Clubs In session al Cincinnati. all Of
whom were Representatives Of the great
business interests Of Boston, Chicago.
Cincinnati and ST Louis, made the reas-
srring statement IN Washington that they
reported a better business feeling than
bad been noted for some time, which they
regarded as z forerunner Of a permanent
improvement. II is worthy OF nore that
they reflect the common judgment Of bust
ness firms whose transactions are 80 wide
spread that they are fairly symptomatic
OF rhs pulse Of general trade. Nor on a
vssT Of ths wh<&s fed Is il unreasonable
u AJAX enet here may be hftiEg rp
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16

Occurring separately, the increase in
loans and the decrease in failures would
be encouraging, but coming coincidentnl-
", ms they do now, they tell story at
which the country should felicitate itself.
The expansion In the one shows that bust
ness Is on the increase. while the con-
traction In the other proves that business
is carried on under better conditions than
prevailed recently. This Is a state of
things which justiies financial confidence
and cheerfuloess. The country is not yet
entirely out Of its slough of business de-
spond, but Il has advanced so far In that
direction that Its complete extrication cam
not be long delayed.St. Louis Globe
Democrat.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Good Prophet. In the Northwest.

In Minnesota and other states OF the
Northwest the spring opens with the
promise of abundant crops. especially of
our leading staple. wheat. And in spite
of the low prices now prevailing there is
every ground. as shown elsewhere, for
believing that our farmers will realize
fairly good prices for their crops. This
viii almost certainly stimulate the ac-
tivity OF trade and industry in the cities,
so that by next fail. with the aid of the
new tariff. IL Is pretty safe to anticipate
a restoration Of wholesome business con-
ditions. Minnesota. therefore, is In full
sympathy with the cheerful prognosti-
cations OF Mr.. Gagc.-St. Paul Pioneer
Press
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Their Theories Exploding.

If farm prices do not stop advancing
and silver prices do not stop their down
ward course, there will be nothing left to
sustain the chief theory of the free COLL
age orators of last fall that prices of
farm products kept pace with those of sill
yer. Leading farm products have in
creased in price from 80 TO 100 per cent.
since this beautiful theory was exploited
on the stump last fall, while the price of
silver has meantime steadily decreased.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
DIDN'T KNOW 1T WAS LOADED.
The Sugar Trust Screamers Find Their
Attacks Rencting on Themselves.

Attacks Reacting on Themselves.
There has been some especially sharp
talk In the Senate and some of the people
who are seeking to make political capital
10y throwing dust with reference to tho
pending tariff bill have suddenly dis
covered that there are two sides to almost
| any story. Two or three Democrats
leaders seem 10 have reached the conclu-
sion that they could once more fool the
people, and that their most convenient
way to do it would be to charge that the
sugar schedules of the tariff bill as agreed
upon by the Republican caucus were IA
vorable TO the sugar trust. So they pro-
ceeded upon the stop thief plan to make
all sorts of malicious charges OF this KIND,
taking advantage of the fact that HepuD-
leans in the Senate have been refusing to
discuss any features of the bill not abso-
lutely necessary to be explained, simply
for the purpose of gaining time and get
ting the bill through as promptly as pos
sible. The gentlemen have found, how
ever, that there is limit to the endur-
ance of the public who are being imposed
upon with this sort of falsehood, and the
newspapers of the country have suddenly
revived the fact that the very men who
are now shouting sugar trust with refer
tuCt u the DeuulHS ldIln DlH are Aho
ones under whose guidance the "per-
hdy and dishonor" bill Of 1894 was franz
ed and its sugar schedule so shaped as to
create the greatest scandal that has been
known in political history in many years.
Attention is called to the fact that the
three men, Senators Vest. Jones and
Mills, whose mouthings about an increase
in prices of sugar trust stock as a result
of the pending tariff bill have been the
features of the week. are the very men
who framed the sugar schedules of the
Wilson bill under which sugar trust
stocks advanced GO per cent, while the
advance during the entire consideration
of the present bill is only 6 per cent. and
this a mere incident of the general ad-
vance which has been strongly marked
meantime in all stocks. That the three
men whose manipulations in the schedules
of the Wilson bill caused an advance of
&C per cent in the price of sugar stocks
should now be screaming like madmen
because sugar stocks have increased per
cent during the consideration of the pres
ent bill would be unaccountable but for
the fact that they are apparently doing it
TO not only make political capital against
the Republicans but at the same time
conceal as far as possible their own rec
ord in this very line.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16

of the clouds even In advance of the
proper legislation" which the Secretary
looks for. The passage of the pending
tariff bill. whatever may be It's conditions,
will give the country a truce on that head;
the promise of the grain fields is most
cheering; and though the currency CUES
ton awaits solution, II is far less com
plicated with the menace of free silver
than il was six months ago. Philadelphia
Record (Dem.).
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Moving with Caution.

Every side of the Cuban question is be-
ing considered by President Mckinley
now, and course of action is likely to be-
indicated in the near future. The import
ance and gravity of the issues involved
and possible consequences of mistake
are so great that the President and his
advisers are moving with the utmost
caution, as any judicious citizen would
do if such grave responsibilities were
placed upon his individual shoulders.
Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
Antics of Jones. Vest. and Mills.

Senators Jones, Vest and Mills didn't
know it was loaded. They began shout
ing about a small advance of about per
cent. in the value of sugar trust stocks
simultaneously with q settlement of the
sugar schedule by the final action upon
il in the Senate caucus, but had evidently
forgotten that when the tariff bin was in
their own charge. in 1894, stocks of this
same sugar trust advanced 50 per cent.
in value during their manipulation of the
bill.