Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-09-02

prices OF commodities since lS73-
greatly accelerated in 1893.
That prices are still falling can
hardly be denied. The reference to
sporadic rises in the prices OF certain ar.
ticles is not fair argument. For she.
clal reasons particular commodities will
rise, even when the general average of
prices is downward-as wheat when
there is & famine in India or short crops
III Europe. The bimetallist argument is
based in the general fall of average
prices extended over series of wears.
MI. wharton Barker's table reprinted in
the American OF Philadelphia, dated
July Il, 1897, gives his index number
based upon the prices since 1891, Of 100
articles in common use. In January
1891, the quantity was ascer,ained which
could be purchased for 500.
"Since 1891, the number of dollars
necessary to purchase the same quantity
has gone steadily down until it reached,
on July |, 1897, the figures 1913
There are notable rises during the period
OF six and one-haif years, including that
OF wheat and other food products be-
tween October l, 1896, and January |,
1897 but the general fall is from 100 to
1888.
Mr.. Sauerback's index numbers are
made by taking the English prices of
forty'tive leading commodities (see the
London Bimetalist for October, 1866
since 1877, starting with 100 at that date
The figure goes invariably downward
until it reaches sixty-two in January,
1897; the last number have being sixty.
one in April, 1897
That the various index numbers
clearly prove general fall in prices since
1877 there can be no reasonable doubt,
and every one knows from common OBJ
servation that real estate and machinery
have fallen in the same proportion.
The consequences of these conditions are
depressing, as any manufacturer will
testify who, in 1877, had 100000 in
property and owed So, 900, but who now
finds himself with only 500, 900 OF prop
erty and still owes the $4,000. If, as
Mr.. Barker claims, the fall in values has
been twenty-five per cent. in the last
six years and is still progressing, the
baneul effects upon merchants is under
stood by all thoughtful persons.
ssNI,a f,11 ~ c'1vac will 1ouc, t1,n
present or prospective woes from mono
metallism. 1t only points the moral Of
decentralization. The gold price OF silver
falls and so fall the prices of all other
commodities. Such Il fall in the prices
of the necessaries of life is beneficial ii 1t
comes from natural causes, out is inlur-
ious, according to all political economists,
il it results from the cancellation or de-
structon OF the money OF the world,
which is the measure Of values. If this
wrong to society has been progressing for
twenty years it will be wise for the free
citizens of America, who can accomplish
results by votes, to begin the inquiry
anew (now that the tariff question passes
out of sight for IL time) whether the work
Of remedying the wrong ought not soon
to begin. This question is not to be an
swered alone by the money lenders and
the persons Of fixed incomes. All
classes in the community will study it
and will reach and act upon their conclu'
sions. l should be glad if could think
the question has disappeared, for the
reason that silver has gone down in price
everywhere because demonetized, and
wheat has gone ny everywhere because
of shortage OF crops in various coun-
tries. But is the question really gone?
Let us not be too sure but make in
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