Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-07-20
A VOICE FROM THE PEOPLE

President Mckinley, in alluding to
Mr.. Wanamaker's criticism of the do
lngs of Congress, took the usual course
OF apologists for the Administration
and intimated that it was still too ear
~ to look for business revival and
that the people must have patience and
walt. But, all things considered, has
any one a right to demand more
patience on the part of the heart-tried
people? During the campaign the re-
publican politicians cried for restora-
ton of confidence. In their opinion
the cause of depression was the fear
OF fifty-cent dollar in case of demo-
cratic success. The election of the re-
publican candidate, with the assur-
ance that the mills would be opened in
stead of the mints, would be a certain
and speedy cure. Have not events
now gone far enough to test their re-
medy? If they were right should not
the effect have been plainly apparent
as soon as election was over? To in
innate that stagnation of industry
would continue after it's cause was re-
moved is to belittle the enterprise and
resources of the American people.
But, while the republicans gave to
the financial question only a second
airy Importance, the two other great
parties and several lesser ones be-
lieved that relief could be obtained
only by reform of the financial sys-
tenn. The suffering citizen out in the
circles of trade and production can
now judge of the merits of the two
opinions at leisure. In spite of re-
publican success and "tariff tinker
lng,' he sees prosperity, as measured
by gold, still declining in value and
drug on the market. Nature year
after year yields bountiful rewards to
industry. The power of man, by the
aid of machinery, to work up the pro-
ducts of nature into forms to suit his
needs is greater than ever before
Wealth in the economic sense was
nevermore abundant. Men we're never
before more willing to work and to ex-
change the products of labor for the
comforts and luxuries of life. The
ideal of the American citizen was
never higher than it is to-day. He
wants education, luxurious home,
opportunities to cultivate the arts
and the refining grace of character.
But ''money is scarce.'' The pro-
ducts of the farmer are sold below cost
of productions; men are in enforced
idleness; the merchants shelves re-
main loaded with goods, not because
men lack that which they are accus-
toned to exchange for life's necessi-
ties, but because the scarcity of money
and money is prim arily an invention
to facilitate trade) operates largely to
prevent trade. The debtor, unable to
pay his interest, must have his scant
property, perhaps even his home, sold,
not because his security would not be
adequate, but because money is at a
premium over property, over justice
and over the rights of man, while the
owner of money and securities is mas
ter of all. Meanwhile congress, in
extra session, haggles over the tariff
and politicians, drawing fat salaries,
admonish the people to have patience
and wait.
But the people are thinking and
learning. Although slow in reaching
unanimity, the cleaning process will
be the more thorough when it finally
comes. And perhaps compensation
will be in a measure realized by the
people when, along with the real cause
of hard times, is banished also the
monopoly fostering and time-serving
politician.
Toledo Ia. E. B. BERGER