The Globe-republican., 1897-10-07
REP~HLlcAN OPINION.

Can 1t be possible that the gold pow
er has obtained control of the trades
unions? Here they are reporting an in
crease of "a per cent in the number Of
people employed as against one year
ago. and silver steadily falling mean
time.
That party of Republican "spellbind-
ers' who are stumping Ohio will please
omit to mention the fact that silver
has fallen over Is per cent in value
since the Democratic platform was
adopted. and 20 per cent in the past
year. The mention of unpleasant facts
OF this sort is rather embarrassing to
Mr.. Mclean and his followers.
Mr.. MBryan still has confidence. He
hopes that the price of wheat will 60
down again, and then there will be an
other chance for the silver argument
and the calamity cry. At least he pre-
diets that the price will soon 60 back.
and that the demand for free silver will
then come again with renewed vigor.
Altgeld, In his speech in Philadel-
phia, says that railway rates are twice
as high in this country as they are in
Europe. On the contrary, it is shown !.
by abundant consular evidence that
railroad travel in this country is cheap
er, more comfortable, and better than
anywhere in Europe. Such reckless
statements as these can only result to
the disadvantage of the speaker when
the facts become known.
Those who have doubted the accuracy
if reports of increased employment can
now have the benefit of official figures.
The reports Of the New York trades
unions show an increase of "a per cent.
in the number of people employed In
that city compared with those of one
year ago. 1t is estimated that this
rate of increase applied to the country
at large would mean about 35O,OVv ad-
ditional persons at work in these Nc
Kinley times.
Senator Foraker says Ohio sheep
have doubled in value in the past few
months. That may be more difficult
for Mr. Bryan to explain" than was
the advance in wheat, which he says
was due to scarcity abroad. The fact
is, the theory that the low prices Of
farm products were due to the treat
ment of silver never had any founda-
ticn. and the general upward march Of
farm prices while silver was falling
shows it to be true.
The great free-coinage prophet, John
p. Altgeld, in his speech on Labor Day,
was strangely silent on the money
question. Last year, according to Alt
geld, all that was needed to effect
perfect condition of affairs was to es-
tablish free coinage, but even so soon
as this he has practically dropped the
silver issue and is now holding forth
on government ownership of tele-
graphs, railroads and other things.
Without going into the question at all
"a lAC AACAASS Va SACSC 4uOoSAOAo, SAV
people will be liable to doubt the de-
STABILITY of any measure advocated by
such a champion as Altgeld, who, 1t
thus appears. is liable to let go of his
subject at any time to take up some
other idea.
The free-traders contend that the
consumer pays the protective duty.
Why should foreigners object to it,
then, and threaten retaliation and all
that sort of thing? The following
statement by the Daily Argus. of Brad
ford, Eng, is significant: There is
not a weaver for the American market
in this district who could not offer his
or her own experience showing that he
or she contributed by the docking Of
weekly earnings to pay the duty Amer
lea imposes" :
How do the friends Of silver account
for the fact that there was an advance
of 6h per cent in values during the
months Of July and August, while sill
yer was rapidly falling? Silver in New
York was worth g. cents per ounce on
July 1 and on September 1 was worth
81 cents per ounce, fall Of 16 per cent.
Yet Bradstreet's index table of the
prices of 100 staple raw and manufac-
tured articles show an average adj
vance of 81 per cent. in their value
during the two months.
1t may be that the advance in wheat
is due to shortage abroad, but how
about cotton, wool, barley. tobacco.
corn, oats, and meats Of all kinds?
They have advanced, too. and yet sill
yer has fallen.
The calamity shouters are not refer
ring to the fact that oficial reports Of
the New York trades unions show an
increase of "a per cent. in the number
of people employed.