The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-20
Will New Tariff Rates
Bring Prosperity?
Two Divergent Opinions on
the Important Matter.
What Republicans Claim-Asser-
tions of Silver Democrats.


discussed on all sides. The Republicans
have taken their stand upon the theory
that 1t viii, while the silver Democrats are
quite as positive that it will not. Their
attitude is that nothing can restore pros
perity except striking down of the sin
gle gold standard. Which of the two views
Is the correct one only the future can do
termine. But It is worth while at this
moment to bear in mind the diagnosis OF
the situation which Chairman Dingley oi
the ways and means committee made
few weeks ago I'm an interview published
in these dispatches. Mr.. Dingley took tht
ground that the chief cause of the indus
trial depression was economizing among
consumers. Economy in all personal and
household expenses was practiced not only
by those who were compelled TO do so on
account of lack of income, but by those
whose circumstances did not compel them.
Dingley's Opinion.
Mr.. Dingley believed then and he be
lieves now, as know from recent CON
versation with him, that all the conditions
In this country point TO revival OF pros
perity. 1t will come slowly and in health
full way, but Il will come. He believes
that period Of activity inevitably follows
period of depression and stoppage. That
is natural law, and no power on earth
can stay it. His idea therefore as framei
of the Republican tariff policy Is merely to
assist these natural conditions TO their nat
ural effects. The means relied upon are
stoppage of importations to some extent,
thus permitting the home manufacturer
and producers to take a little larger pen
cent of the home market. To restore con
fldence In the future which will gradually
work to put a stop to considerable share
of the rigid economizing which the people
have been pactcing. To set more men to
work in this country, every man finding
new employment being an additional push
to the ball, because he not only begins t.
consume more, but encourages his neigh
bors to feeling of greater hopefulness and
confidence and thus leads them TO increase
their consumption.
There can be no doubt that in his dag
nosis of the situation Mr.. Dingley is pretty
nearly correct, whatever we may thins
about the efficacy of the tariff as an assist
ant to recovery. l met here few days age
an old farmer friend of mine from the in
terror of Ohio, one of those old fellows wht
keep up a great deal of thinking and oh
serNlnR anu WHO uuNc VIII fbu koou cohoe
along with 1t all He talked TO me in a
most interesting way. II will tell you
what is the matter with the county," said
he. 1.-THE farmers have been getting such
low prices for their products for several
years that they have been forced 10 econ
omize. know what am talking about,
because am farmer myself, and 1 know
what am doing all my neighbors are do
a.. IF nc hax MI n
In bank too. We are not crowded to the
wall, but il you know anything about tn
average farmer you will know that he IL
going to come out ahead on his year &
operations if there is any possible way Of
doing 1t.
Curtailing Expense.
"Therefore we have been economizing.
You have no idea to what extent we have
shut down on our purchases OF things IN
town. We get along with fewer groceries
than we did before. We buy less coffee,
tea, sugar--everything of that sort. AS tc
clothing we wear our old garments. VIZ
make them last twice as long as we used
TO. So with shoes; 80 also with farm ma
| chinery and tools. We patch up the old
ones We don't run in debt any more fol
every new tangled machine that comes
/
doing more work in our own families. II
| Is the same way with wagons and harness
and household furniture and books ant
magazines and everything you can thinl
| of. Do you know what this means to th'
storekeepers, TO the manufacturers, to th'
wholesale houses In the big citiesf Wher
the farmer shuts down, they all feel 1t
| That is what Is the matter with the coun
try now. The farmer is tightening up
whether he is actually compelled to or not
because he Is not In the business simply TO
his health"
"How about the future9" asked m!
farmer friend.
at looks little brighter. Prices ar
picking up slowly on our farm products
Even If prices do not get any better, w
have learned the lesson of economy. w
have put ourselves down to a lower leye
and have done IL rigidly and severely. w
have not found il so awful, after all. Nat
urally there must be "a little reaction. w
cant go on wearing our old clothes ant
boots and shoes and using our old imple
ments and wagons and harness forever
We must replenish We must buy. Whel
we begin TO feel little better--and we d
already--we shall buy little more Th
country will feel 1t very soon--is feeling
now. But / give you warning that tn
wide open days are over with America
farmers. They have learned their lesson
No more running head over heels In deb
for machinery and things. They are goin
TO keep close TO the shore hereafter. PEI
baps the depression has been good thin
for us, after all. Ii has been discipline fo
us as we'll AZ for the merchants and manr
facturers. believe the country, in tow
and city as we'll as out among the farms,
more solid now than it ever was before.
The Debt orgy.
"ADother thing" concluded my farme
friend, "it will be we'll to bear i'm mint
We are going to go up grade very slowl!
AS the farmers begin buying to replenis
their played out garments and articles the
will move cautiously. They will buy III
tle at time. IL things come easier, the
they will buy more. For these reasons
believe we are going On recover our pro
perity, or the solid, real part OF IL, in IN
course of couple Of years. IL crops nj
fairly good and prices reasonable-1 don
mean the old prices, rs they are gone 70
II