davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
The Iron barometer.

Among the proofs Of reviving prosper
ity, which some people are trying nara
not TO see. must now be included the in
crease Of II per cent in the output of pig
iron within about one month after the
new tariff was enacted. For many years
there have been not few among the fore
most practical business men who have re-
garded the production and consumption OF
iron as the surcst barometer of the con-
ditions upon which depends increase or de-
crease Of general prosperity. This is IN
part because the production is Of necessity
months ahead of the final consumption III
finished forms, and is based upon all that
some Of the shrewdest practical men III
the country can foresee Of the future de-
mand for rails, car materials ana other
railway supplies, for freight vessels along
the lakes and on sea coasts, for business
buildings and the structural shapes OF
which their skeletons are framed, FOR az
ricutural implements and the iron ana
steel entering into their construction, Tor
extension and Improvement of farms, ana
so for fence wire and wire rods, and Tor
erection Of residences and other build
ings. and so for nails and hardware of all
kinds. When evidence points to material
ly increased consumption in so many
forms trained business men calculate that
better times are coming.
The production of pig iron started this
year with n weekly output of about lOO,-
600 tons, having enlarged to that extent
from 112.TS2 tons last October, gam
of more than 40 per cent. There was
little further advance to about 10000
tons in March and April, but as the pass
ing Of the tariff bill came to be considered
more remote or uncertain and stocks OF UNI
sold iron accumulated the production was
diminished to 164 900 tons ut the begin
ming of July. showing a conservative de-
termination TO defer further increase OF
output until the conditions necessary for
future prosperity were more positively as
sured This assurance came with the
passage Of the tariff bill late in July, and
the weekly output was slightly raised
Aug. 1. and increased 20, 12S tons weekly
during that month But the output Sept.
was already the largest ever known for
that month, excepting in lSoo--'when Il
sudden furry lifted prices about to those
of 1S90-and it was 1000 tons larger
than Sept. l. 1892.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Causes of Good Times.

Advocates Of the theory that the revival
of business throughout the country is due
to the wheat crop instead of the tariff
found something to ponder over in the
trade reports of Dun and Bradstrects
for last week From these it appears that
the farmers have not yet marketed one
tenth of their wheat, but are holding il for
the higher price which the foreign demand
implies Hence 90 per cent of the cash
returns already credited to them in Dem
ocratic estimates has not yet gone into
American circulation, and cannot posi-
bly, have caused or influenced the general
reopening of iron, steel, rubber and tex
tile industries and the increase in the pro-
fits of all private business which have
been in evidence since July. The special
points Of interest aside from this in the
trade reports are: An increase since one
year ago of 81 per cent in the employ
ment of members of trade unions; a gain
OF II per cent in one month in the output
of pig iron, implying an increased con-
sumption Of 100000 tons; rise Of ; cents
in the price of wheat; an advance for Au-
gust in prices of more than 100 staple
farm and manufactured articles or "a
per cent, following g. per cent advance
in July, and a marked decrease in failures,
both in number and the average amount
of liabilities. In this chapter the tariff
plays y leading partisan Francisco
Chronicle.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
BRYAN AS A OEAOBEAT.
He Attacks the Corporations and Their
Asks and A ccepts Fayors from Them

He Attacks the Corporations and Then
Asks and A ccepts Favors from Them.
The more Mr.. Bryan tries to explain
away his foraging expeditions on railroad
passes the more he conyicts himself Of
demagogy and willful deception. When
the San Francisco papers made public
the fact that Bryan had solicited and ac-
cepted favors from Huntington's South
ern Pacific Railroad in the shape of rail-
road passes, Bryan's friends at first de-
MED the charge. They backed their de-
mails by producing the requisition written
by Bryan in which he applies for the free
ticket over the Southern Pacific on ac-
count Of the Omaha World Herald.
Upon inquiry ut Omaha it developed
that Bryan had severed his connection
with the World Herald year previously
and furthermore that the World-llerald
had no advertising contract with the
Southern Pacific aud was not entitled TO
any transportation for any advertising
done for that road. TO parry this ex-
posture Bryan retorted over his own name
that he was still n stockholder in the
World Herald BY this, matters were not
much mended for the reason that as n
stakeholder in newspaper he could have
no claim upon any railroad for free rides
and furthermore that under the Interstate
commerce law interstate railroads are for
hidden from giving free transportation eX-
cept TO railway employees.
The Southern Pacific is not, however,
the only railroad on which Bryan has
been foraging. Mr.. Bryan Travelled TO
st. Louis some ten days ago over the Wa
bash and dead-headed his way with an
1897 annual pass. The pass is ostensibly
issued on account of the World-Herald
but bears on its face the fiat contradiction
of the pretense that it is business trans
action. Railroads do not issue annual
passes in exchange for advertising. In
the nature of things they could not know
how often they would be used, for what
distance and how much advertising value
they would represent.
The discreditable part of Bryan's dead
heading over the railroads arises not
merely from the fact that he poses as the
champion of the anti-monopoly forces and
denounces the railroads for discrimina-
ton in favor Of influential non-producers
as against the common people who must
pay their way, but also because while
amply able to pay his fare he is resort
ing to deception to cover up his accept
ance of railroad gifts.-Omaha Bee.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
No Time for Crookipu.

The propensity of the calamity bowler
to predict misfortune for this country and
TO emphasize the dark side Of life, will find
little encouragement by contrasting the
present condition and prospects OF the
American people with those Of the rest Of
the world. For such Il comparison will re-
veal the fact that we arc vastly better off
to-day than most peoples. While other
countries arc threatened with distress ow-
ing to short crops, we Americans have
been blessed with one of the most abun-
dant harvcsts in our history. While the
far East is suffering with famine and
while the harvest in Ireland is reported
ruined by unpropitious weather, we in
America are chiefly concerned with the
problem of transporting to market the
surplus products of the farm. While ris-
ing prices will bring dismay TO those
parts OF the world which are under the
necessity Of buying the American farm
er. with granary overlooking with wheat
and corn. looks with complacency upon
the steadily climbing grain markets. The
great laws of supply and demand are
working in our favor. and are bound to
bring renewed prosperity TO our country.
Detroit Free Press.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
IMAM ERICAN.
The Principles of Debsism Will Not BE
Welcomed by Patriots.

The ferocious hatred for the rich felt
by men like Mr.. Debs and his Social Dem
ocracy is utterly un-American. 1t argues
in the men who feel and express it an
estimate Of the Importance Of wealth so
invcterate that it has destroyed their self
respect. Apparently they cannot breathe
freely--can hardly live. so miserable are
they-so long as they see other men far
richer than themselvcs-that is to say, pos
sessed in far larger measure than they
of the only thing that they think Of impor-
lance. To them. the men who have wealth
belong necessarily TO different class from
the men who have not. Not brains. nor
learning, nor character, marks the differ
ence between men, they think, but wealth
only. No men have expressed n more alb
Ject Difference to wealth than these So
cial Democrats. who wish to kill all who
possess more than little Of it, They
cannot, apparently, conceive of n poor
man being rs self-respecting. as respected,
as happy and as useful us n rich one.
Ii is n fortunate thing for the country
that the Social Democracy speaks out
its mind frankly. and government will be
very unwise il it does anything to sup
press its spirit by putting penalties on its
eXcesses. A few weak-mindcd or vicious
men, il is true, may be mislcd and even
rendered dangerous to society, but the
best arguments against the scm-socials-
tic, scmi-annrchistic purposes Of the So
cial Democracy that can he addressed to
the masses OF the American people are the
utterances OF the Social Democrats them
selvcs.-New Orleans picnyune
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07

in the case is that there has been sub
stantially the same healthy advance in the
prices of other properties of about the
same sensitiveness to the market. This
proposition was brought out with special
force by Gov. Tanner in an interview
given to the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
At the time the Governor spoke the adj
vance in wheat had been 80 cents per
bushel, and he added:
But railroad stocks, manufacturing stocks,
and all other stocks of a character 10 feel the
effects OF prosperity have Increased all the
way from 30 10 80 per cent. on The FORMER
values at the same time that wheat mas
been making this gain OF 20 cents bnshei;
Cattle, hogs, corn, oats, redtop secu: az
farm products, have gone up almost. IL NOT
quite, In the proportion that stocks ana
wheat have. Bonds and mortgages nave en-
HANGED. Taking the vast interests repr'
scented by stocks and bonls, you VIII hnu
that the Increase In The total value mace
during the past three nnlhhs - Sl.oOOoou'-
600. The advance on ether things, cattle
hogs corn and 50 on, has Amounted 10 more
than S3O0OOO.O00. There is gr1nd total
OF 81 800, 0O0. 600 added 10 the wealth OF TINS
country. Ii has been done by tie adoption
OF wise and encouraging economic policy
which has restored the confidence OF our
people.-Chicago Inter Ocean.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07

the markets will again be as low and weak
rs the price Of silver"
This sort Of explanation can never be
effective, for two reasons. The first is
that it goes too far for the average voter
TO follow with much interest. The second
and the best is that it wholly fails to ac-
count for the advance in many important
commodities which have nothing to do
with the harvesls in Europe or the famine
in India. Has there been famine in
hides anywhere? Has the leather crop
faiedF What bad weather has made
iron scarce and raised the price Of steel?
What is the force that has lifted the mar
kct for wool as far, in proportion to for
mer quotations, ms wheat has risen? Why
arc lambs much higher than they were
when the Dinglcy bill was passed? How
about the butter crop? Has that failed
in India? Is the cheese market feeling
the effects OF the harvests in Russia
Where is the cotton crop failure? Who
has heard Of a lumber famine?-Cleveland
Leader.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Work of the Dingley Law.

Reports from the little State of Rhode
Island are full Of cheer. "The mill situa-
ton is better than it has been for five
years." says n special dispatch to the st.
Louis Globe-DemOcrat. The Lonsdale
company has started on full time opera
ton, employing 5000 men and women.
In the Woonsocket worstcd mills, the
200 employees had their hearts gladdened
by the restoration Of wages to what they
were in 1893, which is virtual increase
Of ~ per cent. But more than this,
ground has been broken for the erection
of new mill in the Olncyville district,
and plant near Blackstone, which has
been idle for almost five years, will be
purchased by n new company and started
into full operation. 1t will not require
n microscope to observe that the develop
ment in the mill situation is the direct re-
suit of the Dingley tariff law. 1t means
prosperity.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
why DO the Croakers CroakY

Solemn silvcrites whose knowledge Of
affairs is wider than that of most of the
men who voted for Bryan last fall, are
not altogether silcnced by the rise i'm
prices under the conditions existing since
the complete triumph OF sound money in
the United States. Some OF them, like the
lubugrious Richie, Of Summit County.
essay the weary task Of persuading people
who like the change in the times that il is
the result OF famine in India and ruined
harvests in Europe. These persons pa
radc before the voters OF America the
dread procession OF Gaunt victims of star
walton IN llindustan, and they quote the
gloomy reports OF crop failure in Ireland.
They point TO mcager grain fields in Rus
STA and TO the shortage Of JO.000,000 bush
els in the wheat crop OF France. There"
they say. sis the source OF higher prices
In the United States. Let famine and
ruin abroad be followed 10y normal wealth
er and harvests, aud the general level of
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Yens OF silver and Ycns of Gold.

1t was very unkind on the part OF the
Director of the Mint to delay his recent
statement about the comparative value Of
the coins Of the world until the departure
Of those silver patriots who recently has
tened TO Japan to learn the true cause Of
the decentralization of silver there. Had
they had opportunity TO study Director
Preston's little table they might have
stayed at home and devoted their ener-
gies to explaining TO the farmer why
wheat has gone above Il dollar a bushel
while the free coinage dollar has fallen
below forty cents. Director Preston's
table shows the comparative value Of the
silver and gold yens of Japan during the
past decade. One minutes study Of these
figures would have been sufficient to show
these peregrinatng patriots the true cause
Of Japan's action. Here are the figures
read them for Yourself:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Cotton's Best Year.

This butchery is sickening. There is
no hedge. nor bush, nor rock on all the
stricken field in whose slim shadow some
shuddering silverite may not be found
hiding from the statistician's steel. They
are thickeSt behind the refuge Of foreign
crop failure. A poke in these sets all
sorts and sizes to wrigglng. Grandpa
Bland and Boy Bryan, and Teller wall
ing, now that christianity and morality"
depend on more business for Nick Hills
smelter And as they wriggle they squeak:
Famine, YOU brutcs! You are gloating
over famine You are eXuting in the mis-
cries OF the victims of the gold standard
in India and Austria and England and
France. There is nothing in this wave
of prosperity withdrawals giving us
some temporary embarrassment but for
eign shortage in wheat.
Let us stir up the wriggers n little
further. There has been no foreign short
age in cotton If there had been, il would
not matter i'm the sense that Il wheat
shortage matters, for we supply 40 per
cent Of the worlds cotton anyway. and
never more than - per cent of its wheat.
Yet we are getting nm extra 10 per cent
this ycar-say. 100000 on 100000
O00-for our cotton. These are the fig
urcs, just compiled by the secretary Of the
New Orleans Cotton Exchange, Mr.. Hes
ter:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
PROSPERITY is NOW GENERAL.
Business Improvement Moves Forward by Great
Leaps and Bounds
The Doefu Cries Of Calamity Howers Cannot
Check the Advance Of Good Times.

Being unable to deny that prosperity
has come again upon the country, the
Popocrat statesmen and organs with
one accord are loudly proclaiming that
it is all due TO the failure Of the foreign
wheat crop. The growers of wheat,
they say, are prospecting, but other
wealth producers are getting no bene-
fits. There is a great deal Of difference,
however, between mere assertion and
well authenticated fact There is
abundant evidence on every hand that
all classes of the people, including
wealth producers of every description,
are sharing i'm the new prosperity. Inc
failure of the foreign wheat crop could
not start hundreds of idle shops and
factories to operating and give employ
ment TO hundreds of thousands OF idle
workingmen. The failure of the foreign
wheat crop would not suffice to stimu-
late all lines OF business and produce
a feeling of confidence and security
among investors and merchants
throughout the country.
The failure Of the foreign wheat crop
would not quicken the domestic wool
trade, the leather trade, the trade in
print cloths and sheetings, the tin, cop
per and iron trade, the beef, pork and
lard trade, the trade in petroleum,
glass lead, cOttonseed oil, lumber, pa
per, brick, coal, salt, hay, hemp. pota-
toes corn barley, rye, butter, eggs and
fruit. According TO Bradstreets, which
has kept record of the business done
in all lines for the last four years, the
trade in all these commodities and
scores Of others has rapidly increased
since July-the month in which the Re
publican tariff was enacted.
Regarding the stories Of Western
farmers paying off their mortgages IN
such enormous amounts, the Orange
Judd Farmer has made careful inqui-
ries and says that while ii finds the
newspaper statements somewhat ex-
aggerated, there is unquestionably IN
immense amount of liquidation going
on. During the past few years the
farmers have practiced such economy
that the marked Improvement in wheat
and other prices has wonderfully inn
proved their financial condition. One
great incentive TO pay off old mort
cages is the lower interest rates AT
which new loans can be obtained.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Southern Cotton Mills.

One Of the most encouraging features
of the business season ended on the first
of this month was the shaving made by
Southern mining and manufacturing en-
terpriscs Reports from reliable sources
indicate that all of them were fairly pros
porous. even while similar industries were
depressed in other parts OF the country,
the result being due in great measure to
the advantages Of the proximity Of the
raw material to points Of consumption or
manufacture, and to the favorable climat-
ic conditions. This was especially true Of
cotton manufacturing, which evidences a
growth both continuous and OF remarka.
bic extent. For the first time the con
sumption of Southern mills exceeded a
million bales Memphis Scimiter.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
1t Cannot BE Concealed.

Once in while we meet man VINO
says that while he sees good deal IN the
newspapers about revival of business he
finds no Improvement in his own condi-
ton and cannot see any in that or MS
neighbors. 1t is true that the marked I'M
provement which has been so strongly felt
i'm the East and in the Southwest has not
vet reached the Northwest in full volume,
simply because our harvest is later. Our
wheat crop has only just begun moving to
market. The S100,000,000 which this
years crop will fetch into this region has
only begun TO be distributed. Neverthe-
less. if the person who complains that
prosperity has not yet reached him will
look around over the whole city and State
he cannot fail to perceive very marked
Improvement. The banks are in better
shape and are loaning money more freely.
The merchants are full Of hope and conf
dcnce, and manufacturers are making ar
engagements for full output. Less idle
men are seen, and, in fact, it is claimed
by employment agencies that no person
who is able and willing To work need now
suffer from lack Of employment. The IN
crease in the volume of business through
out the country is unmistakable. 1t is
revealed in the statement Of weekly bank
clearings, which show a gain Of 400 per
cent, rs compared with the corresponding
week Of last year. Minneapolis gain is
43.2 per cent. which may be taken ms an
indication that from this time on the re-
vivnl will be felt here in full rce.--Min-
neapo.is Tribune.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Labor and Free silver.

The Illinois Federation OF Labor has re-
adopted, as part of its platform, demand
for the free coinage OF silver ut the ratio
of 16 to 1. But on this, MS on previous
occasions, the advocates OF the plank fail
ed to point out wherein labor would be
benefited by the granting OF such de-
mand. No attempt was made to contro.
vert the specific statements ms to where
free coinage would do irrcparable harm to
labor.
The workingmen Of Illinois have eighty
million dollars invested in building and
loan associations. A change to the mono.
metallic silver standard OF a free coinage
311A-grain dollar would reduce the value
Of these investments about 60 per cent.
and labor would lose forty.cight million
dollars on one item.
The working people Of this State have
loaned 25lh mill N gold value dollars
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07

to the savings banks. If the currency
were deprecated GO per cent, as IT would
be were silver coined free ut the ratio OF
16 to /, the depositors would lose 10 l-3
millions. No friend Of the free coinage
plank mentioned that fact or argued that
building and loan association investments
would be affected injuriously.
The constant experience of the world
has been that when there is change for
the worse in the money standard the
wages OF abor are slow to adjust them
selves to it. The price of commodities adj
vance rapidly. The price of labor lags
behind Thus there is a real reduction in
wages. Though they may be nominally
little higher, their purchasing power is
decreased Chicago Tribune.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
The Tariff and Farm Prices.

Our free trade friends assert that the
sole reason for the rise in the price Of
wheat is the grain shortage abroad. They
are yocifcrous i'm declaring. in season and
out of season. that the enactment OF u
Republican tariff has had nothing to do
with the farmers increased prosperity.
Let us look into this claim for moment.
II is not true. ms many of the anti-protec-
ton organs imply. that wheat, of which
we export vast quantities, is the only agri-
cultural staple that has risen in value.
There has been n marked increase in the
price of corn. oats, rye, pork, butter,
cheese, hops, hides and potatoes. Lambs
for Strengthening are worth $1.25 per head
more than they were one year ago. The
value Of sheep kept for wool has also risen
significantly since the passage Of tariff
that protects American nocks. These as
sertions are not made rashly. They are
based upon the official statistics OF the
Department of Agriculture. 1t will be
seen ut glance that products of which
we export comparatively moderate
amounts have kept close to wheat in its
upward movement. In our estimation the
tariff has had great deal to do with this.
Since the Dingley bill became law huge
army Of previously idle men has been set
to work throughout the United States.
Wage enrners who had been employed
only part time are now working full time.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
Due to Republican Policy.

1t is only little while since the Demo
Gratis Of the country were haunting the
Republicans with the slowncss OF pros
pcrity in returning. Where now, they
said, are the signs of its coming? The
now tariff had hardly been signed and
Congress adjourned before the boom was
on in such force as to be undcniablc. The
blindcst pessimist in the Democratic par
~ had TO admit it. Then came the claim
that the shortage Of wheat abroad was
the cause Of il all That was the burden
Of Mr.. Bryan's Iowa speech.
No doubt the shortage in the wheat and
rye crops Of the other graincxportine
countries has advanced the price OF wheat
in this country, lui the great central fact