Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-09-23
SENATOR osAR ON THE SITUATION.

In another column we publish re-
cont interview with Senator Gear OF
lows on the business outlook In that
state at present. The Senator is q
practical busi1ess man, has long,
time acquaintance with the conditions
- they prevail In that state, and Is as
we'll qualified to correctly estimate the
present situation and future outlook
In that state o. any man within its
borders. The interview Is of special
interest to our business men and farm
ers, because the Iowa conditions differ
but little from our own, and the pres
emit Iowa outlook IL sure to be repeated
here a. this country grows in age and
experience.
Senator Gear finds a hopefulness
pervadipg all lines Of business enter
prise, and Improvement and enlarge
ment Is the talk everywhere in marked
distinction from the entrenchment
which has % generally prevailed for
the past two or three years. Among
the farmers the senator sees prosperity
abundantly ct hand In prices which In
many cases have nearly doubled with
In year, and In the Investigation of
crops which insures against q total
loss In any given year. Mortgages are
being paid of, few new ones are being
placed, and such as are required are
being secured at . greatly reduced
rate Of interest.
Our populist friends have from the
force Of events been obliged to aban-
don their unvarying claim of q year
ago that wheat and other commodities
were low because silver had been de-
mooetized and degraded. Now the
universal cry is that famine and dis
aster elsewhere haye brought tempo
rary demand for our commodities, so
that foreign distress and loss has be-
come our gain and opportunity. On
this point Gears words are specially
signi6cant and worthy Of attention.
While freely admitted that shortage
abroad has its influence, the Senator
also calls attention to the Importance
Of the fact that the ''Dingley bill has
given the people chance to work and
earn money, and is promising contin-
ued employment. That makes buyers
put the whole machinery OF prosperity
In operation" says the Senator. 81
believe good times have come to stay
- long - the protective tariff is in
operation, because that means the
opportunity for men to work and carr
and to Be buyers. OF course we ma,
have bad crops to hurt us temporarily
but - long a. We have average crops
and the Dlngley tariff remains on the
books We shall have prosperity"
There 10 the whole situation in .
nut shell. The Dingley bill has moi
created famine abroad, NOR good crops
at home, but, In some cases where one
or both these elements are lacking, Al
in Iowa where the Senator says the
corn will b. only three quarters cror
this year, there is prosperity, because
the protective tariff has so increased
confidence and hopefulness that de-
mand 10 stimulated and opportunit,
created. Our grains are not alone con
stunned by the famine stricken million,
Of India; the we'll fed victims Of appe
tito IL our own land consume by fal
the larger portion, whether In solid Of
liquid form. The amount of consump
tion here IL largely dependent upor
and largely modified by general con
hdence and general prosperity.
lack Of confidence, created by lack O
encouragement and protection, viii
Lessen supply just - quickly and effect
lively - lack OF moisture or sunshine
A protective tariff In which the PEG
pie have confidence, will create pros
psrity with small crop even, much
quicker than an abundant crop which
no ont wants to buy. To stimulate