The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-03
HOW PEOPLE
ARE WORKED
Who Won't Think for Them
selves on Public Questions.
Remarkable Confessions Of a
Pamphlet Issued
By Leading Boston Capitalists
Who Are Interested
IN MEXICAN PROPERTY
They Make the Hottest Kind of
Silver Argument.
GOldbug BOndhOlders Endorse
Free Coinage Mems Views.


Denver, Jan. s.ZThe Rocky Mountain
News publishes the following:
The feat of riding two horses in oppo-
site directions has been accomplished
successfully by the principal bond and
stockholders of the Mexican Central rail-
road. 1t is ken known fact that
the Mexican Central is owned chiefly in
Boston and that the men who control the
Atchison, Topeka &, Santa Fe railroad are
the main figures connected with the Mex
lean Central. These gentlemen when
standing for the AtchisOn. Topeka & Santa
Fe railroad are out and out gold men.
When they stand for the Mexican Central
railway and seek to induce emigrants to
the neighboring republic of Mexico they
are out and out silver men. How they
reconcile this dual position upon the fin
aneial question is for them to settle. What
the News wants to call particular atten-
ton to is what they have to say about
the effect of the silver standard and free
coinage of silver for Mexico and the re-
suits that follow a silver currency across
the Rio Grande.
There is before US a pamphlet entitled
Facts and Figures About Mexico is
sued by the Mexican Central railway. It
has the Boston imprint upon it, doubt
less having been prepared as we'll as
printed at the Hub by the same men who
are at the head of Boston's gold propa-
ganda. The pamphlet refererd to con-
sists of hfty-nine pages. with a map of
Mexico and number of haIf-tone scenes
of cities, mills and ranches in the coun-
try through which the Mexican Central
runs. Of course it is quite eulogistic
of Mexico and gives number of reasons
why it is about the best field for invest
ments there is open to the money owner.
The book as it tells of the advance of
Mexico from a mere consumer for Euro
pean countries in the matter of their pro-
ducts to that of a prosperous, growing
self-sustaining and industrious country in
its own right, reads almost like a tale of
the fairies. Yet we are prepared to be-
Ieve that it is not exaggeration, since
nearly all the literature of late years up
on the subject tells the same story. But
the book itself does more than rehearse
the development and growth of Mexico;
it tells the cause of it, and it is this story,
relating why Mexico has been constantly
ascending to the highest ground of ma
tional prosperity, that we would call the
attention of our readers. The wand which
touched the country and changed its deg
radiation and poverty to growing intelH-
gence, ambition and prosperity is that of
silver, supplemented by legislation of other
countries which transferred them to the
gold standard columns. It will be noted
that neither Mr.. Bryan nor any other of
the recognized advocates of free coinage
for the United States go so far as do
these Boston railway magnates in eStoll-
ing silver as the wand to produce and
maintain prosperity At page Al of the
pamphlet, under the head of The Cause
for Prosperity they make the following
statements:
CAUSES OF PROSPERITY.
g While MexicO's prosperity is unquestion-
ably due to a large number of causes,
prominenteamong which are the suppress
sion of disorder, the extension of rail-
roads and the liberal policy of the govern
1nent towards foreign capitalists and en-
igrants, it is very evident that her indus
trial growth has been powerfully stimu-
lated by the existing monetary standard.
When silver and gold, as valued in the
worlds commodities, and Mexican dol
lars (which are being exported to Eu-
rope) were sold for a less price as meas
ured in the currency of the gold standard
countries. a rise in the price Of al i'm
ported articles began in Mexico. From
this time dates the development of Mex
4co's cotton and wool industries. as veil
as the increase IN the expectation of arti-
cles other than the precious metals. The
demand and the margin of profit for
homemade goods increased as Mexican
dollars deprecated. The native manu-
facturer enlarged lbs operations, intro
duced improved machinery and began to
of imported goods.
The consumer now purchases from the
Mexican manufacturer at the same price
in silver as when silver was at par with
gold. instead of being exported to Europe
as formerly. Many millions of dollars
have thus been kept at home and added
to the capital of the country.
Cotton mills have been cons ructed in
all parts of the republic. The acreage of
cotton is constantly increasing, but the
native crop is not yet sufficient to supply
the demand. and large quantities of cot
ton are imported from the United States.
Tha history of the wooden trade has been
almost identical with that of cotton.
The Mexican manufacturer of woolens
produces now a very good article, although
he cannot yet compete with the finer fab
RIGS of France and England. In former
years there was a considerable exporta-
ton of wool to the United States; now
there is considerable importation of it
from the United States into Mexico.
While it is true that the Mexican dol
lar, as measured in francs, marks. or
pounds sterling has decreased in value
nearly so per cent, it is also true that
prices of nearly every class Of foreign
goods have also decreased 80 per cent. A
suit of clothes made from the finest quail
ity of imported goods costs only the same
number of Mexican silver dollars today
that it cost twenty-five years ago.
Note also the effect on real estate. Cot
fee plantations have risen in value from
was at par with silver, to 800 to $500 an