The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-01-19
THE PARTY OF SHAM AND FALsIrIEs.

In the campaign Of 1896 the sham Re-
publican party paraded Mr.. Mckinley
as 'tne advance agent of prosperity"
Aud after he assumed the presidency
the promises Of great things in bust
ness was continued and promised for
1898. Their journals of all kinds, and
their orecles and orators reported signs
Of revival, and now they declare that
10 bad it in 1898, and prophecy still
greater improvement in 1899.
Many business men and many manu-
faoturers have been struggling nobly
in hopes Of realizing, but have not, The
disapp pointment is cruel aud ha-rassing,
especially so when present conditions do
not indicate improvement. For them
the prospect is not rosy and encourag'
ing. 1t is not honest journalism to
mslead in these matters, and the News
Democrat will not attempt IL.
A much greater business has been
done than in the year before, bat at
very low prices, and at little or no
profit. Our home markets are limited
and cannot take what our mills can pro.
duce, and much OF the machinery has
been lying idle, the foreign market not
being a cessabe without loss. Gold
standard is not raising prices, and the
worst Of it l., it is not likely to. The
Philadelphia Press says: "At some
points, prices may be advanced, but 1t
is hard to say how and where. II iron
and steel 90 up exports will stop and
sume 500 000, ,0CO Of products will be
dunn ed on the home market" The
Press also says new, or revised furnaces
sre about to blow which will add mil
lion tons to the annual production and
this will check any material rise in
pricss.
Some lines Of business are ahead o'
Others. Our exports OF grain and iron
and steel and also machinery in certain
lines have been remarkable. While the
prices have been low, this enormous
trade has helped us. Bradstreet, in hi
review of trade in the cities Of the east
says as to Philadelphia. "Tn wool th'
year (lS9s) opened fairly we'll, but hal
shown a decided shrinkags in volume
and price. Textile manufacturers hav'
run about 70 per cent Of their mschiner!
as class bat in the carpet trade 1t i
estimated 50 per cent Of the looms hav'
been idle"
This is not a happy report Of tn
textile business, especially under th'
Dinpley tariff, arranged purposely t
benefit these lines. Wool growers to-
com plain Of their low prices for wool
and blame the Dingley tariff for favor
ing the manufacturers more than the,
in arranging the schedules. Such, how
ever, are the results Of protection an,
gold standard"
Bradstreet, in summing up as to tn
textile manufactures in PHILADELPHIA
says "The output in 1898 was less tina
in 1897 in volume aud value, and tn
business unsatisfactory, but for 1S9
things look more promising" 1t is we
to hope. The report gives tbs vari ou
lines in volume and value and promise
improvement in 1899, saying, "muc
was looked Tor from 1898, when the yea
begun, but the Cuban troubles and sub
sequent Spanish war'held back the dt
served improvement; the general cours
of business is hardly regarded as sati'
factory; some lines at times have had
very good trade, while Others eS
rerienced reversed conditions. Thi'
with the disposition to force goods to
sale, which has prevailed in all line
much of the year, have probably result
ed in an increased output, while prof.
as a rule are hardly likely to be large
than in 1897. Everybody is hopin
that we are about to enter on seaso
of continue prosperity, but conservi
tive business men feel that ii is hop
rather than condition already prevail
ing"
These last words no doubt are to th
point and tell the truth. The repol
all through is rosy and hopsful, but th
conclusion does not indicate tina pro:
perity claimed: nor that the condition
thereof have yet arrived And how ca
things attain prosperity under sue
legislation and snch exactions as th
American people endure and which al
: sure to continue and increase, all to
under gold standard and protection.
Is not the g. o. p the party of sham?