Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-09-18
PROTECTION UPHELD.
PROSPERITY HAS RElGNED DUR.
ING HIGH TARIFF PERIODS.
Decrease of American Home Market
Under Wilson L~nw-Corn Consump-
tiou Fell Away Over a Fillion
Bushc'U.
Trcasury Bureau Figures.

summer in Washington are dlscusslhs
anon" themselves what the Democrats
will have for an issue in the next fresl'
Dental campaign. Protection has gam.
ed such ground among members oi
their own party that they dare nor
make that Il further issue rs against
the Republicans. while the bottom mas
absolutely dropped out of their free sii
yer poposition by reason OF the deNel-
opmcnts of the past few months. Inc
fact that they are finding ii necessary
10 seek for Il new issue Is SHOWN u!
the recent u~ttcranceS of various mem
beers of their party tavoring postal say
ingS banks, single taxes, the lnltlatN'
and referendum. and other issues of
that sort as Il possible basis for the
next years declaration. The latest
thing. perhaps, which is being discuss
ed rs a possible basis for Democratic
oratory in 1900 is the initiative II rel
crendum. The initiative means that
laws ma originate with the people,
Upon the request OF Il certain per cent.
of voters. the State and municipal leg
iSlaturcs must pass any bill that Inc
petitioners ask Tor. Referendum means
that thc~U laws must We sunhlll"h 10
,ha ,o,uI.. -~.- ~-J io3o,sS"J i,"'nr"
they shall be operative. Ivy TINS lnetn-
od every question would be submitted
10 the popular vote, and legislatures
would be simply figure heads, and the
community would be in Il constant
stew and uproar owe every question.
In this connection the latest state
mcnts Of Governor BOieS, of Iowa, are
interesting. He was for free silver
last year, but he now insists that free
coinage at Ii TO ! is folly in view OF
recent developments, and that a plan
for the warchousing Of silver and the
issuance of certificates based on It's
market value is the only method 10y
which II an be utilized as "A basis for
currency. With Mexican dollars only
worth 40 cents, as compared with
American money, which is upon Il gold
basis, the Mexican workingman can.
not be having N easy time. The report
made from the Trade and Labor AS
ScmDly Of Chicago last fall shows that
workingmen got but about onc-half rs
much per day in Mexico in the silver
coin of the country as the Norkingmen
of the United States got in our cur
rency upon the gold basis. When ii is
remembered that the dollar in which
these people are paid is now worth
only 40 cents, compared with Il own
1OO-cent dollar. their condition can he
imagined. This condition Of the work
ingmcn of Mexico is being made use OF
by those arguing in favor of a gold
standard.
Another thing which is calculated 10
damage the cause of silver in Ohio and
elsewhere is a table just issued by the
Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury
Department, the highest authority on
matters OF this kind. showing that Ohio
NN wool, which, in August. 1896, was
worth i cents per pound, was, on
July 20. 1897, worth 30 cents per pound,
while silver, which, in August, 1896,
was worth 60 cents per fine ounce, was
on July 81, 1897. worth 1917 cents per
lo~o ~.~.a nn,I- ~~~,s.t~- - -
In view or the prediction Of the return
Of the American home market TO the
producers Of the country, Il glance at
some of the crop statistics of the Treas
ury Department during the period OF
prosperity up 10 the enactmai.t OF the
Wilson law and the subsequent era of
depression under that law will be profit
able. In 1891 the wheat produced in
the United States amounted to G1l.000.-
300 bushels. AT the close of 1890 the
per capita. In 1854 IL had decreased
3.4l per capita, showing n loss of 2.GS
bushels per capita in 1894 as compared
with 1880. The population of the Unit
cd States in 1894, as shown hy the
school census, was GS.2TJ,0O0, making a
loss by under-conSumption Of wheat in
1891 as compared with 1890 Of a little
oven 49,. OOO,0OO bushels. OF the corn
crop in 1890 the consumption of the
United States was 300 bushels per
capita. In 1894 IL was only 30. 20. or n
loss OF 9.33 bushels per capita, making
Il total loss of over G31 100000 bushels
OF corn in 1894 as compared with 1890.
Again. In 1896, the last year of the VIII
son law, the consumption Of corn in
this country VAS reduced TO 1913 per
capita, and the total loss TO the country
in under consumption was 1,229, 2SG, 900
bushels OF corn.
The increase % expectation of man
ufactures under the Wilson Tariff law,
about which the free traders were jubi-
liant, is a fact. but Is not altogether in
stfuctiye unless L Is considered IL the
light of some other facts. The increase
of importation Of foreign manufactures
during the time in which our eXporta.
tion Of home manufactures increased
was three or four times as much as the
growth in exports. Naturally with our
own markets filed with foreign manu-
features at low prices, our manufacture
ers were either compelled to seek Il
market abroad or close their establish
ments. The effect Of legislation cannot
be determined by the study of a single
year or a term Of years. Those who
want to examine this subject closely
can get a better view Of ii by noting the
imports and exports Of the United
States during the past half century. In
the past twenty-five years. which has
been a season of constant protective
tariff with the exception Of the three
years just ended, the excess of ex-
ports over imports amounted L about
$4,000, 100000, while In the preceding
quarter of a century, which was one Of
low tariff excepting the wal period, the
excess of imports over exports was ST.
4OO, 900, 900. These figures which cover
two twenty-five year periods, n Of
which was characterized by low tariff
and the other by protective tariff, are
convincing as to the effect Of protection
upon u foreign commerce.
A. Il. CARSON.
Boies' New Plan.
The warehouse-certifcate statement,
which was popular with the POpulists
two or three years ago as applied to
farm products only, Is now proposed by
ex-Gov. Boies of Iowa as the only meth