Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-07-20
Good Times.

SIt is very amusing to read In our re.
publican exchanges the account of the
great improvement In the times. They
keep standing at the head of their col.
umns, in bold letters, every day, good
times have arrived" They have said it
so often that they really believe it.
Well, if it is true we are all glad, for
all should rejoice in the return of pros
perity to our country. Business has
improved, and the crop prospect IS re.
markably good, and the war has crea-
ted demand for the production of Ia
Dor, but is 1t really true that the con-
dition is the result of republican legis-
lation, or the election of Mai. McKin-
ley 10 the Presidency?
If q nan opens up in business. or if
a COW gives birth to twin calves, or q
SOW to an extra litter of pigs, our re-
publican friends point with pride to
the wonderful improvement under re-
publican Administrations!
If the change in business is the re
suit of republican administration, who
is responsible for all the strikes, lock-
outs, shutdowns, and complaints now
heard in the country? If the republi-
can party claim the one they must &C.
CepI Cno OJner.
1t is true that money is more plenty,
but is it not also true that large part
of this increase is in the hands of the
few, and that combinations and syndi-
Gates are forming daily, which com.
bines are diametrlcately opposed to the
interest of labor, and calculated to in
jure business in the hands of smaller
industries, crippling business and to
make it hard for men of small means
to succeed in legitimate business?
These combinations are intended to
limit both trade and prices, and to so
manage as to freeze out competition.
They limit the output, and fix the price
to be- paid for labor, and here is the real
trouble. With the republican protec-
tive tariff, it governs the Importation
of goods, limits the amount of home
manufacture, limits the price of labor,
while they raise the price of their pro-
duct to the consumer, and thus place
the American people between two fires
first to force them to buy home pro-
duction, and second, to pay syndicate
prices; and also cut the price of labor
down to their plan of action. Thus the
American laborer is at the mercy of q
combination as destitute of the spirit
of justice as monkey of poetry. The
remedy is with the act of congress in
which the President has the power to
place on the free list all goods in COM
petition with the syndicate American
production.
1t Is, however, a notorious fact that
the republican party is largely re-
sponsible tor the condition of these
combines that are threatnlng the best
interests of the nation, and that the
only remedy left to the people is to
drive the republican party, with their
combinations, from power. This cor
rupt systom OF combines has polluted
our courts, turned our pulpits into DO
litical rostrums, and infected the
whole community with spirit of un-
rest which is detrimental to the we'll
being of society in general, and to
politics in particular.
Smash these corrupt combinations.
retire the republican politicians; pay
labor the highest price compatible with
the demand for services; lower the tar
iff to revenue basis, and give all men
an even chance to fight the battles of
life, and strikes will vanish from our
land, labor be respected, and our peo-
Pile will again enjoy the blessings of a
free government. Capital concentra-
ted i'll the few becomes dangerous to
the many, and to make things even is
now the demand of the hour.