The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-10-18

rbo nrice of wheat is lower this
,,oor than it was last year; it was low
~ LAST wear than it was ten years ago;
tbo average price of wheat has been
falling for the last thirty years, while
tho supply of wheat in proportion to
ronulation, has been steadily decreas-
ing.
The Wall street editors and orators
insist that the fall in the price OF
wheat has been caused safely by enor-
mously increased production, caused
bv the invention of self-binding har-
vpsters steam threshers, etc.
But the production of wheat has not
increased. Probably every farmer who
has cast a vote for goldbug candidate
believes that the low price Of wheat is
unavoidable because machinery has in
creased its production until the mar
kets are glutted, but there is no truth
in the assertion which has deluded
them.
Wheat fell in price from 1891 to 1896;
vet the worlds supply of wheat, ac-
cording to GoIdbug Secretary of Agri-
culture J. Sterling Morton's reports,
did not vary during the period more
than per cent any year, and the sup
ply was slightly less in 1896 than in
1891, and population was increasing
year by year.
Here are Secretary Morton's figures:
Worlds wheat product for 1891, 2,432,-
$4,000 bushels; 1892, 2,481 ,805, 900
bushels; 1893, 1852, 900 bushels;
1894, 2,676, 651 900 bushels; 1895, 1885,
$4,000 bushels; 1896, 2,430, 497, 900
bushels.
After being convinced by Secretary
Morton's statistics that the production
of wheat was less in 1895 than it was
in 1891, the gold-standard farmer
should seriously ask himself and his
political leaders why the price of wheat
and but 491 cents per bushel in 1896.
Some gold-standard farmers will at
once reply that it is because Goldbug
Harrison was president in 1891, while
Goldbug Cleveland was president in
1896; but this could certainly not ac-
count for the state of the foreign mar
kets and the Liverpool price of wheat
fell as low, proportionately, as the
Chicago price.
The price of cotton has this year
been lower than has ever before been
known, and the increased production of
cotton has not kept pace with the in
creased use of it. The prices of other
farm products have fallen with wheat
and cotton, and with all other products
Of labor
But the necessary cash expenses
the fixed charges''-of the farmers
and workingmen have not been re-
duced in anything like the same pro-
portion. Taxes and house rent, on the
contrary, have increased Freight rates
have been reduced, but are much more
burdensome than formerly, as they
are now a greater share of the value
Of the crops than ever before. Debts
have not been reduced one dollar, al
though the value of crops per acre
has been reduced one-half.
The situation as it exists, therefore,
is satisfactory to usurers, railroad mo-
nopolists, landlords and officeholders,
whose incomes have not been reduced,
while the purchasing power of their
incomes has been doubled.
Wall street newspapers and orators
parade statistics to prove that pros
perlty has returned, but farmers and
Workingmen ought to know that there
can be no revival of prosperity while
farm products are falling in price and
wages are being reduced. Statistics
prove the prosperity of usurers and
monopolists only. Business men
whose prosperity depends upon that of
lhe farmers and workingmen know
mat they are making no Roadway,
ana that the claims of the goldbugs
are fraudulent.
IN the face of actual conditions Wall
street theories can not be forced upon
tue people. The gold standard and
lne monopolies which fatten upon it
must go.