The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-09-04
LARGE GRAIN CONSUMERS
This Country's Consumption I'm
der Republican Prosperity.
Double That Under Democratic De-
preston - American Manu-
features Under the
Wilson Law.

at some of the crop statistics of the
treasury department during the period
of prosperity up TO the enactment OF
the Wilson law and the subsequent era
OF depression under that law will be
profitable. In 1901 the wheat produced
In the United States amounted TO Gill;
100000 bushels. At the close Of 1890
the consumption of wheat was 600
bushels per capita. In 1894 II had de-
creased 3.41 per capita, showing a loss
Of 2.6s bushels per capita in 1894 as COM
pared with $500. The population of the
United States in 1894, as shown by the
school census, was 6s,275, 900, making a
loss by under consumption Of wheat in
1894 as compared with 1890 Of little
over 100000 900 bushels. OF the corn
crop In 1890 the consumption OF the
| United States was 5000 bushels per
capita. In 1894 IL was only 22.76, or
a loss Of 9.33 bushels per capita, maxi
ing total loss Of over 100000 BUSH
els OF corn in 1894 as compared with
1890. Again in 1896. the last year Of the
Wilson law, the consumption of corn in
| thi country was reduced 20 14.73 per
| capita and the total loss 10 the coun-
try in under consumption was 1922
2S6.0O0 bushels OF corn. A table just
issued by the bureau Of statistics Of the
treasury department, the highest au-
thority on matters Of this kind. shows
| that Ohio Xxx wool, which in August.
1896. was worth II cents per pound,
was on July 30, 1897, worth 90 cents
per pound, while silver, which In Au-
gust, 1896. was worth 60 cents per fue
ounce, was on July 81, 1897, worth 5sh
cents per fine ounce. This would seem
10 controvert the statement of silver
men now and again during the last
campaign that the price OF silver and
farm products went hand In hand.
Other figures published by the bureau
OF statistics show that fully three
fourths of our foreign commerce is
with gold standard countries. or the
N,s17, 900 TO which our foreign COM
merce amounted last year, two-thirds
was with European countries, all OF
which are upon a gold standard, while
but about 20 per cent. was with the
silver using countries Of the world.
There is considerable discussion here
among politicians and public men as to
what the democrats will have for an is
sue In the next campaign. Protection
has gained such ground among mem
bers Of their own party that they dare
not make that a further issue as against
the republicans, while the bottom has
absolutely dropped out of their free sill
YER proposition by reason of the de-
vclopments Of the past few months
The fact that they are finding II neces-
sary to seek for q new issue is shown
by the recent utterances of various
members Of their party favoring pos
Ia savings banks, single taxes, the
initiative and referendum and other is
sues Of that sort as a possible basis for
the next years declaration.
The initiative means that laws may
originate with the people. Upon the
request of certain per cent. of voters,
the state and municipal legislatures
must pass any bill that the petitioners
ask for. Referendum means that these
laws must be submitted to the popular
vote and Endorsed before they shall be
operative. BY this method every ques-
ton would be submitted 10 the popular
vote and legislatures would be simply
figure heads and The community would
be in a constant stew and uproar over
every question.
With Mexican dollars only worth 40
cents as compared with American
money, which is on n gold basis, the
Mexican working man must be having
hard time. The report made from the
Trade and Labor Assembly OF Chicago
last fall shows that working men got
but about one-half as much per day i'm
Mexico in the silver coin OF the coun-
try as the workingmen OF the United
States got In our currency upon the
gold basis. When II is remembered
that the dollar in which these people
are paid is now worth only 40 cents as
compared with our own 100-cent dollar,
their condition would seem 10 require
sympathy. This Is being taken adyan-
tage OF by those who urge that our pres
ent money system is of the best, and
that the adoption OF free silver would
mean silver recommendation.
a glance at the figures OF the treas
ury department with reference TO the
increase OF importations and exporta-
tions under the Wilson law is worth
while, in view OF the filings OF some OF
the free trade papers 10 the eff
feet that the Wilson law did have some
good points.
The increase OF importations of for
eign manufactures during the time In
which our expectation OF home manu-
features increased was three or four
times as much as the growth in ex-
ports. Naturally with our own markets
filled with foreign manufactures at
low prices our manufacturers were
either compelled 20 seek n market
abroad or close their establishments.
The effect OF legislation cannot be de-
termined by the study of a single year
or n term OF years. Those who want
20 examine this subject closely can get
a better view of IL by noting the inn
ports and exports of the United States
during the past half century. In the