The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-01
Will Put $1OO,OOO,OOO in the
Farmers Pockets.
PROSPERITY FORTHEM
But There is None for the
WOrkingmen.
We Can Not Expect More Short
Crops Abroad.

BlanO OIL MISSOURI, VINO says, IN
at cannot be contended that the great
rise in the price of wheat. and consequent
promise of prosperity to the farmer, is
in consequence of the passage of the
Dingley BILL or any other law incident to
the Mckinley administration. The rise in
the price of wheat has been phenomenal,
it is true, but it began in London and Eu-
rope before it began here.
1t will hardly be asserted that the
Dingley bill or anything else relating to
the present administration caused the rise
in the price of grain in Liverpool or Eu-
ropean markets. This is not even claim
ed. 1t was not expected that the Ding
ley bill would raise the price of wheat
farm products in any country. The fall
ure of the wheat crop in the principal
countries of the world that come into
competition with the United States, as
is well known, Is the sole cause of the
rise in the price of wheat.
1T is to be hoped, and no doubt will be
true that the present rise in the price
of wheat will add many millions-proba-
bly, more than s1OO, 900, 900 to the income of
the American farmers for this season.
This will be a great boon to them and
the whole country, and we are all very
glad so far as our own people are con-
cerned. that such are the special condi-
tions under which the American agricul-
turists are now situated. 1t will also, to
some extent, at least, be to the benefit of
the federal treasury. and, incidentally,
probably to the advantage of the present
administration.
mo doubt our present good yield of
wheat and other food products will cause
an influx of gold to this country. so
regulate and govern the exchanges
abroad as to prevent any shipments from
for. 70 n ~,
itself will strengthen the federal treas
ury. or at least prevent the withdrawal
of gold from it, and give a steadiness to
the money market that, perhaps, other
wise would not have occurred.
But, after all. are good prices or high
prices a good thing? The gold advocates
have heretofore commended that low
prices were not in themselves a bad
thing.
They have insisted that for the past
20 years or more prices on commodities
everywhere average have gone
steadily down, whereas, on the other
hand, the wages for labor have gone
steadily up.
They have attributed this to the oper-
atoms of the single gold standard. and
have, heretofore, claimed that such a
condition is the best for mankind, and
that low prices are for the benefit of the
masses, whereas. on the other hand, the
advocates of the free coinage of silver
have insisted that low prices falling
prices mean the stagnation of business. |
failure of enterprises. and the throwing
of labor out of employment; that low
prices ultimately mean the oppression of
the debtors, because low prices mean
dear money. For, speaking of prices and
money relatively, when prices COM |
modities on an average are low and fall |
ing, it necessarily means that it takes
commodities; that is to say. that money. |
as compared to commodities, is con-
stantly rising in value, while commodi- |
ties are constantly falling.
Now, however, the gold advocates
seize upon the fact that here is rise in
prices, and especially in the price of our
farm products, and aIlude to it as an in
dication of returning prosperity, and at |
tribute it to the elections of last fall, the
victory that Mckinley won over Bryan
and the passage of the protective tariff
bill.
They now insist that rise in prices is
a good thing, that the argument is
=. now upon side and the admission of
our opponents we cite against them.
We contend that the rise in prices is
EXCEPTIONAL; that it has been caused by
nature, brought about by causes over
which the legislature the administra- |
ton have no power; that, therefore, !
neither the gold standard, the election of
Mckinley, nor the passage of the tariff |
bin has anything to do with affecting |
favorably the rise in prices or the price |
of anything, except those prices that are
artifcially increased in value by the pro- |
tective tariff. This artificial increase will !
last as long. probably, as the law increas- |
ing them remains upon the statute books, /
but the rise in prices of farm products !
will remain only long the excer- |
tional conditions exist-that is to say so |
long as there are failures of crops else |
where and we have fair crops in our
country.
'On the other hand the election of Mr.. |
Bryan and the restoration of the free |
coinage of silver would have increased |
the prices not only of farm products but |
of all other property; would have given !
employment to labor at better wages, and !
thus revival of business and better |
times would have been made permanent |
by the reformation of our monetary sys- |
tenn, and not depend upon the mere within, |
so to speak, of natural causes''-that is !
to say. the failure of crops in other coun- |
tries.
Another contention that we insisted |
on is admitted by our opponents |
that the prosperity of the farmer is the /
foundation of the prosperity of all other |
people in this country. The present con-
dition proves this contention of ours We /
insist also that good prices are a good |
thing for the country and all if it's peo- /
pie. This is now practically admitted.
1.-The only question remaining then is
Can we depend upon the present causes |
and conditions that exist throughout the |
world to maintain good prices, especially |
In this country?' The answer to that is |
that we cannot expect that nature viii |
always favor us by shortening the crops |