Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-09-02
The RICH AND THE POOR
How They Are Influenced by
Mexican Free Coinage.
MoNOPOLIEs AND CORPORATIONS
They Are Not Unknown In Mexico, Despite
the Champions of Free Silver - Taxes.
Wages and Prices In the Land Of Presk
dent Diaz-Seventy Cents Q Day.

rThis series Of letters IA the result Of a per-
sonal visit 10 Mexico made by the writer
early in 1905 ms a special representative OF the
Michigan Republican Newspaper Association
to investigate the monetary System OF that
country]
VI
It Is the boast Of the City Of Mexico
That no other city in the world, save
Paris alone, possesses drive equal III
beauty to its Pasoo de In Reforma, n
magnificent boulevard which connects
the national palace and the business
heart of the ely with the castle of Cha
pultepec, 2ia miles distant The car
riage way is broad and shaded by great
trees two rows on each side, over which
every afternoon from o'clock till dark
magnificent procession OF finer and
more costly equipages than any other
city In this western world could present
rolls like the boastful stream Of wealth
it is, through fashionable San Francis
co street past the beautiful Alameda
and the costly statues Of Charles ~,
Columbus and Guyatimotzin on TO Cha
pultepec, once the palace of kings and
emperors, and today, as the home of the
president Of Mexico, fitted in regal
splendor which compares with the ot1i-
cial home Of the American president az
a castle TO q cottage. If the query shall
como TO the mind of the reader how
can such wealth and splendor exist III
country where the extreme Of poverty
is the lot of large majority Of the peo-
pie, it can be promptly answered that
the poverty of the people is a necessary
incident to the monetary policy Of Mex
leo, whatever contributory conditions
may exist, even as Is the wonderful
wealth of the fortunate few who profit
through the free coinage Of silver and
cheap labor Of which this country per
sistcntly boasts.
The oft repeated assertion INDUCED IN
by the American advocates Of free silver
that monopolios and corporations could
not or would not thrive under such II
policy and therefore that friendship TO
free coinage involved favor for the COM
mon people in opposition to capitalistic
cncroachmpnt is discredited by the
concessions granted, subsidies paid and
taxes RENTED by the government of
Mexico 20 corporations and mOnOpolies.
The government Of Mexico has recently
entered into contract with the West
err Union Telegraph company and the
Mexican Cable company, both owned
and controlled III the United States,
whereby an absolute monopoly of ali
communication by wire with foreign
countries is bestowed upon them
For Il message 10 any part of the
United States they are empowered to
charge 81 IS in gold for ten words and
IL cents III gold for each additional
word, and for kilograms from the Unit
ed states to any part of Mexico 81. So in
gold, with l6 cents III gold additional
for each word above ten. a special rate,
which would be an eXorbitantly high
one in the United States, is given the
Mexican newspapers, and the contract
compels the payment by the newspapers
for their entire outside service in gold
to companies chartered by the Mexican
government and with established offices
and complete equipment here. This fur
ther illustrates the fact that the cheap
silver currency of Mexico is for the pay
ment of wages to workingmen and to
farmers for their produce, but is not for
the importers and exporters or the gov
eminent favored corporations.
1t is well remarked III a recent num-
Der of The Mexican Financier that
the common people are not asking for
concessions or saiaried places or social
distinctions at the hands Of General
al
friends NE has. " Very true it is that the
common people of Mexico are not ask
ing for concessions or salaried places or
social distinction. They know by long
experience that salaried places are at
the disposal of the wealth of Mexico,
that social distinction is barred from
them by their poverty and wretchedness,
which are increased and perpetuated by
government policies.
Taxes to Pay Subsidies.
In his letter eulogizing the Mexican
government and its financial policy it
will be remembered that Mr.. Bryan
made no reference 60 the most conspic-
uous feature Of Mexico financial policy
its subsidy granting, monopoly form
which add to the power of an edict from
the palace even while they add TO the
poverty of the masses from whose toll
all are being enriched in Mexico save
the toilers themselves. 1t may be mat
ter of some interest TO my readers to
learn how the generous subsidies are
provided for In the first place Mexico
has a schedule Of import duties several
hundred per cent in excess Of the tariff
duties of the present Dingley bill in the
United States on many staple articles,
| 50 per barrel on -four 81. 40 per bushel
on wheat, 50 per keg on nails, 5 each
on hats SO per square yard on wooden
| cloth and 5 cents per square yard on
| plain cotton cloth, 12 cents per pound
on cured meats and 60 cents per quart
OH canned fruit, being some items indie
ative of its general make up. These
duties, however are evidently intended
to be in great part prohibitive, and they
are having that effect, although Mr..
| Bryan approvingly credits the decrease