The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-11-17
AN Ella ON RISING PRICES.

During the last presidential campaign our
populistic brethren were constantly assur-
ing us that what the country needed to in
sure restoration of prosperity was an era
of rising prices. But they now refuse to
admit that prosperity has returned, al
though they cannot deny that many prices
have risen. In fact, the burden of COM
plant by the Democratic and mugwump
press just now against the Republican
party is the increased cost Of living since
it's return to power. On recent occasion
when it was announced that Congressman
Dingley, Mark Hanna and Senator HOar
would speak at the Home Market club in
Boston, the Herald Of that City called up
on them to explain why, if we are in the
midst of prosperity, many of the prime
necessities Of life and principal staples are
so much higher than they were year ago:
Among the articles whose prices has been
materially enhanced the Herald schedules
the following:
Flour is fully So per cent higher than at
the lowest point a year ago.
Corn is to IL per cent higher.
Granulated sugar is over !! per cent
higher.
= Molasses is I per cent to 9 per cent
higher.
Pork is over 33 1-3 per cent higher.
Mutton is over 25 per cent higher.
Potatoes are over 100 per cent higher.
Apples are more than 100 per cent
higher.
Butter is more than Is per cent higher.
Eggs are over 10 per cent higher.
Wool is from 50 per cent to 100 per cent
in q
struggling to get the prices of woollen
cloths up to a par with wool.
Hides are 40 per cent higher. and boot
and shoe manufacturers are trying hard
to get this increased cost out of boots and
shoes.
1t is hard satisfying the critics OF Repub-
lican rule During the first few weeks Of
Mr.. McKinley's term the cry was raised
that prices were as low as ever. and con-
sequently the Republican victory was doing
our producing classes no good. Now that
prices have advanced, the cry is raised
that the consumers are suffering.
1t is easy to explain why flour is higher.
The failure of crops in European countries
and the strong foreign demand for wheat
has advanced the price of that cereal, and
consequently of the flour made from it.
Corn has followed wheat to a limited ex-
tent, aided by the fact that the corn corp
of 1897 is several hundred million bushels
smaller than the crop Of the previous year
and the year prior to that Pork isn't much
higher. as will be seen by examining the
Chicago quotations. Farmers and packers
would be much better satisfied If it were
selling a dollar or two barrel higher.
Potatoes are up because the crop in most
localities is rather short. Apples have
doubled in price because the crop In some
of the largest apple raising states is a
comparative failure. Wool is up partly be-
cause of the protection afforded the wool
grower by the new law and partly because
of the increased demand for the staple
and the falling decrease in the number Of
sheep in the country. Hides are helped by
the tariff. The other articles mentioned
have advanced because Of an increase of
demand as compared with supply, and the
movement is a healthful one.
IT is not likely that the Republican party
will lose any votes in the agricultural dis
tricts from the showing made by the
Herald.