Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-04-27
PROPERTY OF FOOLS.


s'FOr as much as many have taken in
hand to set forth in order a declaration
of these things which are most surely
believed among u.s." it seemeth good
for me also to set forth few facts ex-
listing among the common people, as
we are one of the common herd, and
have some understanding of these
things. We have conducted a quiet in-
vestigatl0D among the working class,
and those who eat their bread in the
sweat of their face. as to just how
hard they have been struck by prosper
fty. We find the workingmen receiv-
ing about the same wages as they did
a year or SO ago, that Is, in this county.
Generally, wages are lower, and will
keep getting less under the present sys
tenn. The wave makers are continual
ly aud with ck-like regularity ad
yancing claims about the people being
happy and prosperous, confidence re-
stored, business activity, etc., although
there never was so much misery preva-
lent. Men ruthiessly shot down for de
handing their share OF the good times,
thousands of cotton operatives starv-
ing in this land of the free, men and
women sold into slavery in Florida, two
negroes recently sold under the ham
mer i'll Kentucky for S2.50 each, crime
and vice increasing rapidly, God
reigns. and the republican party still
lives" commercial failures aggregat-
ing fifteen thousand year, are few
of the beneicent results of the return
of prosperity.
A consideration Of these facts caused
that eminent law and order patriot,
Hon. q. l. Long, who is noted for his
extreme chastity, virtue and truthful
ness, (also works at ths republican
trade) TO say: "This prosperity will
be the principal question in the coming
campaign. and it will be answered al
the polls In November" You see, the
good man refuses to lie about good
times, but refers the question to the
people. This is the referendum princi-
pie. you know. But, times are better;
the sugar trust for example. Sugar
stock has gone up fourteed millions of
dollars. The coal trust, oil trust, steel
(steal) trust, are doing very we'll. A
combine on everything but prosperity
and it is supposed to be general. True.
times are better here in our own coun-
ty-for the money changers. A proml-
nent cattleman informed us recently
that times are better-he is paying a
man and wife $50 {. month and they
board themselveS-and that any man
who could furnish range for 100 head OF
cattle could get them. The question
would be, then, would man be pros.
porous taking care Of cattle belonging
to the money changers. The cattle.
men who own their cattle free from
mortgage and unincumbered, can be
counted on the fingers of the two
hands, with fingers enough left to picL
a guitar. When the money changer.
demand their pound of flesh" and il
the almost certain event of the market
going to pieces as it did a few years
ago, howl will go up from the "head
less congregation" who will declare
| that adversely causes a dark greer
taste In the mouth, and that Populist.
and Socialists done It, ''and ought to b,
kicked off the face IF the earth. They
| haven't brains enough to discern thu
real cause of the trouble. That thu
| oh a.
the currency, see the gage plan. Al
old timer, and one of the best informed
cattlemen in Barber county stated re
Gently that chances were better to los,
money than to make it on cattle a
present. Tho prosperity of fools
shall destroy them" Is the wOrkins
tproduclng) class prosperous? Singl
men can be hired for SIS to SIC pc
month, and work seven days eac
week. A married man and family ge
$50 month and board themselves
Wages would average probably Sis
month-5O cents day-or nearly
million dollars in 5000 years. Keep a
it, boys, you'll be millionaires if yo
save and live long enough. Think of
man raising a family, educating an
providing them with the comforts an
luxurles of life, laying up a store fo
the proverbial rainy day. on $50 DE
month. He that provldeth not we
for his own, hath denied the faith, an
is worse than an infidel.' search a
history and you will find no age whe
robbery of the just earnings or the ma
ses was more systematic, more shame
less and less resisted than today