The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02

more pitfalls for them than exist even
now. For the Governments currency
notes to serve the people in even a mod
crate degree. they must be kept at all
times redeemable upon demand IN the
standard OF value. which is now gold
coin. But our experience In the past
proves 20 us TO a demonstration that this
characteristic IN them cements them into
the most dangerous engine for producing
disasters and financial crises that 1t Is
possible 10 construct. Emergencies in
evltably arise. which cause other parts
Of the world TO call for great sums OF
gold and the roadiest source OF supply
for this demand is our Treasury. Ac-
cordlngly as soon as the demand sets In.
those who are commissioned to procure
the gold present the Government notes TO
the Treasury and demand gold. The sup
ply OF it falls to point that alarms the
world. lest we may be unable to keep up
gold payments: confidence becomes i'm
paired. panic sets in, and those very (and
dreadful disasters and financial crises"
Of which Mr.. Gompers has such lively
| appreciation. set in. The last four or five
years ought to have demonstrated 10
| every intelligent man that a currency
| consisting Of Government notes Will In
ovitably plunge the country into sue
| cession Of these troubles. And, although
| we have seemed TO have a rest and ex-
| emption from them since the last Presi-
| a1a Il
| the conditions OF our export and import
| trade, since the election, than TO any
| radical change in our general conditions.
We have been exporting enormously dur
| ing the past six or eight months, and
importing very moderately. so that gold
| has been steadily flowing TO this country.
| But conditions are already changing, and
our gold has commenced to leave US
again. Nearly three millions Of dollars
of It were exported from New York city
during the past week. and it is impossible
TO foreten how far this new drain may be
carried.
If Mr. Gompers had explained, in stat
| ing this demand that the working people
wanted fixed standard of value. that
would keep the dollar always of exactly
| the same value. and then liberty TO the
| banks of each community TO issue their
currency notes payable always on demand
in this dollar of unyarying value, he
would have told Mr.. Reed exactly what
the laboring man really needs, and what
| is necessary to secure as an exemption
Ill.
AS pertinent TO the general subject OF
| the workingman's interests, we cannot
forbear to quote from the Washington
Post the following letter to that paper,
published on Thursday last:
| Editor Posts The frequency with which
| you seriously discuss economic problems
must be welcomed by all thoughtful read
ers and you will doubtless accept any
| suggestions which might tend to their
| solution. A word as TO the proposal that
| the city poor might greatly benefit their
| condition by seeking work upon farms. l
| think the proposition IS true and valuable.
What are the facts? The facts are that
farm laborers are greatly In demand IN
| all sections Of the North. Their wages
| are twice as high on an average, as the
| wages for similar service were forty years
| ago. Then farm laborers could be had in
| abundance for IS to Sl2 a month and their
! board. Now they command and receive
| from Maine to Minnesota from SIS to $50
| month and their board Moreover, they
| are much less useful now than they We're
| then. because a much smaller proportion
| Of the present farm iaborers can speak
| the English language. 1t is within my
| personal knowledge that where forty
years ago Irish, English, and Scotch help
| was obtained in abundance for IS a month
| Hungarians Italians and Poles are now
| hired at from Sl5 10 $25 month and their
board. who cannot speak word of En-
| glish
| OF is r. mistake to suppose that TO be
| useful farm hand one must have been
| trained to agricultural pursuits. The
| farm hands hired forty years ago from
| Castle Garden had no such training, and
| strength, industry, and willingness were
| all that was required; and similarly the
Huns and Poles, who do the work on the
farms Of New England ana the Middle
| States to-day do not genrally know
| hoe from a harrow when they first be-
| gin work on our SOIL Yet those who
| speak no English and are the least valua-
| BILE get sl5 TO SIS month and the best
| board that workingmen ever had in the
| world. Tho farmers I'm those regions
| would gladly exchange them for Ameri-
| cans White OF bldths WHO are SlipISt
obedient and acquainted with the English
language, and would without hesitation
| pay the newcomers s25 a month the year
| round. il will not do to say that they
| cannot do the work. That. as every
| farmer knows. is a nonsensical and pre-
| posterous plea. They can do it. and the
| wages that are paid. winter and summer,
| prove that there is plenty Of it to do.
| Why do not the city poor seek these
| places? a great majority Of the tramps
| that wander over the land are white
| Americans. in good health, who speak
| English huently. There is not one Of
such. IL he be willing. who could not com
| mand 500 20 SS5 a month and a table that
| well might be called luxurious. in every
| county in the North II IS significant that
| men Of the wandering foot are not gener-
| ally brack men and not generally foreign
| ers. These seem able to find work. Does
| 1t not follow those who are more de-
| srable as workmen could find work If
| they would? w. A. CROFUT.
|
| SABBATH OBSERVANCE.