Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-10-27
PASS THE PORK AROUND.
Wall Street PhiIanthropists Get q
1sHand OUT from the Gov
cFnment Pantry.

1--WE may be OVERRIDING this thing"
saws Hon. William Mckinley, referring
to the booming prosperity that is being
enjoyed by the trust promoters. the
stock gamblers and TIN money sharks
generally. Let US Ike half hitch on
our enthusiasm lest we go to smash
thereby endangering my prospects for
second term" These are not his ex-
act words, but the sentiment is pre-
served.
And it is evident that the understrap-
pers who have been steering the ship of
state while the regular crew have been
eating expensive dinners and talking
about the old flag have received instruc-
tons to make all snug aloft in case there
should be a stiff breeze. The assistant
secretary of the treasury, Mr.. Wander
lip, is keeping an eye to windward, at
any rate. Money is tight in Wall street.
The gentlemen who shear lambs, the
philanthropists who rig the market, the
financiers who come to the rescue of the
government when a bond issue is in
sight, are paying considerably more
than the legal rate for money, and in
their stress and trial they naturally
| turn for aid to the treasury department,
which is considered a sort of branch Of
fee of the New York establishment. Mr..
Vanderlip, acting undoubtedly upon the
orders of his absent chief, is quick TO
respond. He announces that the United
States government Will prepay the in
| terest on all its bonds for the rest of the
fiscal year-a period of eight months.
The stock gamblers must have easy
money at the expense of the taxpayers.
1t is true that on a large part of the
| anticipated payments the government
viii exact a discount at the rate of one
| fifth of one per cent. per month, but
the difference between this discount
| and the current money rate in Wall
street will go to the distressed finan-
| ciers. Upon $5,o00,0 900 of the whole $780,
100000 to be paid out no discount at all
| will be eNacted. The government will
give the use of the money gratis TO re-
lieve the worthy persons who amuse
| themselves by ''skiGning the Rubes, " as
| they POLITICALLY express it. 1t is a thank
offering of our noble executive to the
| patriots who gave so freely of their adj
pose tissue when Mr.. Hanna was OPP
Grating the frying pan in the fall of
| 1896. If they are treated literally now
| they may be equally responsive when
Mr.. Hanna takes up his pilgrimage
| again next year.
And of course it is all right. Stock
gambling is one OF our most cherished
| and aristocratic industries. 1t must
be protected and fostered like other IA
| vored industries. But while our noble
executive and Mr.. Vanderlip are in this
generous frame of mind why shouldn't
the federal pensioners, the federal of
| ficeholders and other prospective cred
itors of the government seize the oppor-
tunity to ask an advance payment? As
| a matter of fact, why shouldn't we all
! have a "whack" at the United States
| treasury, dividing up the funds on hand
pro rata and thereby insuring general
| prosperity and high old time through
! out the length and breadth of the land
so long as the money lasts?
Let us make this thing general. 1t is
| not fair that the Wall street philan-
! thropists should monopolize the pork
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