Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-02-04
PRICES AND WAGES.


not little pointing with pride to the high
prices of farm products. Some time since, the
Daley Drovers' Telegram published top prices
of hogs and cattle in Kansas City for the twelve
years closing with 1897. The highest price
paid during these years was in 1895, when
cattle sold for $6.5o Next highest was in 1894
and was $6.25, and 5000 in 1898, and 500 and
$6.15 in 'o2 and 81. $4.15 was the lowest
price paid and was in the year of 1889. From
recent quotation, we find top cattle at $3.50.
In the light of these figures, what becomes of
the yawp of Hanna advance in the price of
beef cattle? Seldom have cattle been lower
than now in dozen years. Now turn to the
hog market, and from the same source and tor
the same period, we find that hogs topped IS. 80
in 1893, were Sc. 70 in '92, and &C., so in 1888.
The lowest price paid was in 1896, when hogs
touched 1924. From recent report, top
price was $500. Seldom have hogs been lower
than now The lowest figures given are ex-
ceptional.
For the years of 1886, 1857, 1888, 1892,
1893 and 1894, hogs never fell below the $500
mark; slightly below $500 in 1899, 1890 and
1891, but never above $4.27H in the years of
1896 and 1897. Lower prices have prevailed
for hogs since the repeal of the Sherman act
than at any time previous back to 1865; and
while the same cannot be said of cattle, yet, it
is fact that, considering the shortage in cattle
supply, which is generally admitted, cattle
have Jared no better than hogs. Cattle fell
from $500, top, in 80, to $40, bottom, in
ga. Again cattle rallied and went to $3.50 in
'o5; vert as low as $4.2o in GO, rallied and
climbed to $6.4o in 81. Now, cattle are 81 80.
AS we have heretofore claimed the general ten
dency is downward, and whenever the supply
is abundant, the bottom literally falls out, and
prices tumble to the point of bankruptcy.
Witness corn and cotton We do not mention
horses and mules, but things of daily consump-
ton, and for which, if conditions were right,
the demand grows with the supply.
"The way to get prosperity is to open the
Mills was the battle cry of the Hanna CO.
horts. The mills opened, and, after running
few months, there was cut of 10 per cent in
the wages of the employees, affecting $4,000:
wages paid before the cut gave ablc-bodied
men 5000 per week. dividends paid mill
owners run from to I6 per cent. Just where
prosperity came in for the employees is hard to
find. Even the great Dingley microscope has
hardly revealed the embryo stage of the exist
ence of prosperity. 1t is claimed that the
starting of cotton mills in the south did the
mischief. To be sure; but then, "the way to
get prosperity is to open the mills" and were
not the mills opened? Too many mills opened.
Verify, the Hannaites are hard to please. Not
enough of mills year ago; too many mills now;
and, as consequence, prosperity struck the
mill owners, and snugly nestles in the bosoms
of the moneyed men. AS yet no Southern mil
turns out the finer prints; and in 1890, Massa-
chussetts had more than five times the number
of spindles of all the Southern states combined.
Lo here, and 10 there! All the same, pros
peritv is just where is was 1t has not reached
the masses. Wheat is exceptional. 1t was
the famine abroad that advanced wheat, and
the election of Mckinley had no more to do
with the advance of wheat than Satan had to
do with the plan of redemption. Bosh rot and
deception are written all over Hannaism, from
the crown of its brazen forehead to the soles Of
its cloven fee..
But there is more to all this Glamour. The
American manufacturer is selling goods abroad
=-compe ting with foriegt manufacturers. Ger
mans became alarmed, and sent agents to
America to find out the cost of production in
American manufactures. Tell it not in Gath