Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-09-17
PROTECTION UPHELD,
PROSPERITY HAS RE,oNEp DUR.
ING HIGH TARIFF PERIODS.
Decrease of American Homo Market
Under Wilson Law-corn consump.
ton Fell Away Over a Pillion
Bushels.
Treasury bureau Fiuurcs.

3s.~' " tbCSpOlitlSllCtss
what few statesmen and politicians
have been compelled to stay over the
summer in Washington are discussing
among themselves what the Democrats
will have for an issue in the next Presi-
Dental campaign. Protection has gain
ed such ground among members 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 opposition by reason Of the devel-
opments of the past few months. The
fact that they are finding it necessary
to seek for a new issue is shown by
the recent utterances of various mem-
bers of their party %favoring postal saw
lnss banks, single taxes, the initiative
and referendum, and other issues of
that sort as n possible basis for the
next years declaration. The latest
thing, perhaps, which is being discuss
ed as a possible basis for Democratic
oratory in 1900 is the initiative and ref
erendum. The initiative mean that
laws may originate with the people.
Upon the request of n certain per cent.
Of voters, the State and municipal leg
islaturcs u 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 meth
Cd every question would be submitted
to the popular vote, and legislatures
would be simply figure heads, and the
community would be in a constant
stew and uproar YER every question.
In this connection the latest state
ments Of Governor Boies, of Iowa, are
interesting. He was for free silver
last year, but he now insists that free
coinage at 1G to 1 is folly in view of
recent developments, and that a plan
for the warehousing of silver and the
Issuance Of certificates based on it's
market value is the only method by
Which 1t cur be utilized as a basis for
currency. With Mexican dollars only
worth 40 cents, as compared with
American money, which is upon n gold
basis, the Mexican workingman can
not be having an easy time. The report
made from the Trade and Labor As
sembly of Chicago last fall shows that
workingmen got but about one-half as
much per day in Mexico in the silver
coin of the country as the workingmen
of the United States got in our cur
rency upon the gold basis. When 1t is
remembered that the dollar in which
these people are paid is now worth
only 40 cents, compared with our own
1OO-cent dollar, their condition can be
imagined. This condition of the work
ingmen of Mexico is being made use of
by those arguing in favor of a gold
standard.
Another thing which is calculated to
damage the cause of silver in Ohio and
elsewhere is a table just issued by the
Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury
Department, the highest authority on
matters of this kind, showing that Ohio
XN wool, which, in August, 1896, was
worth IL cents per pound, was, on
July 30, 1897, worth % cents per pound,
while silver, which, in August, 1896,
was worth 60 cents per fine ounce,w was
on July 81. 1897, worth 5Sh cents per
fine ounce. This condition Of prices
does not, of course, coincide with the
oft-repeated silverite statement Of last
year as to farm products and silver.
In view of the prediction Of the return
of the American home market to the
producers of the country, a glance at
some of the crop statistics of the Treas
ury 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 profit
able. In 1891 the wheat produced in
the United States amounted to 611.OOO,-
600 bushels. AT the close of 1890 the
consumption of wheat was 600 bushels
per capita. In 1894 it had decreased
3.41 per capita. showing n loss of 2.6S
bushels per capita in 1894 as compared
with 1890. The population of the Unit
ed States in 1894, rs shown nv the
school census, was GS,275.OOO, making a
loss by MISREPRESENTATION of wheat in
1894 as compared with 1890 of a little
over 1S2,00O,O0O bushels. OF the corn
crop in 1890 the consumption of the
United States was 5000 bushels per
capita. In 1894 twas only 2 9. 76, or a
loss of 9.33 bushels per capita, making
a sscc*al loss of owe 637, 100000 bushels
Of corr IN 1894 as compared with 1890.
Again, in 1896, the last year of the Will
SOL law, the consumption of corn in
this country was reduced to 14.73 per
capita. and the total loss to the country
in under consumption was 800 5000
bushels of corn.
The increase of expectation of man.
ufactures under the Wilson Tariff law.
about which the free traders were jubi.
liant. is a fact, but is not altogether in
structive unless it is considered in the
light of some other facts. The increase
of importation of foreign manufactures
during the time in which our exporta. !
ton of home manufactures increased
was three or four times as much as the
growth in exports. Naturally with our
OWE markets filled with foreign manu-
features ut low prices, our manufacture
ers were either compelled to seek n
market abroad or close their establish.