Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-12-14

struggle OF the last twenty-five years be-
tween the money kings on the one side
and the great masses Of the people in the
civilized nations on the other over the
money standard has been the result.
In the United States the gold combina-
ton secured control of the organizations
Of the two great political parties, and in
national conventions protested friendship
for the restoration OF silver, but invaria-
bly, procured the nomination OF candidates
who were secretly pledged to the gold
contraction policy. The disappointment
Of the democracy OF the United States in
1893 when Cleveland forced the repeal of
the Sherman law and Carlisle proved
himself renegade to his constituents
and his party is fresh in the minds Of all.
The revolt Of the democrats against
Clevelandism and the triumph OF the
people in the convention at Chicago in
1896 is also fresh in their memories. The
fabulous campaign fund that was raised
to secure the election Of Mckinley who
had given one pledge to the people, name.
ly, to secure bimetallism by an interna-
tional agreement, and another one to the
money kings, to prevent al international
agreement, was calculated to fix the gold
standard permanently upon the Ameri.
can nation which was the only nation
that the gold combination feared, as it is
the only nation where the people have the
political power to right their wrongs.
1t is interesting to note that while the
gold combination are forcing their meas
ures to contiscate the property Of debtors
and enslave the producers OF the world
under gold standard that the gods are
working on the side of the people. The
discoveries in the Klontlike. the increased
discoveries in Colorado and other states,
and the discovery OF the cyanide process
caused the output Of gold in 1899 to be
more than double that Of 1896 and makes
the increase OF money supply from gold
alone greater this year than the annual
metals upon the basis Of production OF
1896. This increased money supply has
caused gold to depreciate and the general
level Of prices to advance. The increased
production Of gold in Africa has jumped
from forty.four millions in 1896 to more
than one hundred millions last year, and
the worlds output has increased from two
hundred and seventeen million dollars
in 1896 to more than a million dollars
day during the present year.
The effect OF this increase in money
supply is felt in change in the worlds
price level. From 1873 down to 1896 the
worlds price level constantly sunk to
lower and lower level each year bringing
bankruptcy and ruin in les wake and con-
fscating the property Of debtors and UNI
justly enriching money lenders and
creditors. But from 1896 to the present
time there has been slow but positive
upward movement in the worlds prices,
scoring nine points in three years. This
accounts iOI tlIC ICIlCi tiNt IL iNip iiOu
the pressure OF falling prices caused by
contracting money volume. Mr.. Sauer-
beck's index numbers, in which foity-fve
commodities are made the basis
Of prize computation, starts with 100 as
the index number in 1873, and finds the
average price Of these forty-five articles
to be represented by 81 in 1896, and that
It has risen from 81 in 1896 to 70 at the
present time.
The contention Of the bimetallists in
1896 was that prices were falling as the
result OF o contracting money volume
caused by the gradual elimination OF sill
yer from the currencies OF the American
and European states. On the other hand
the gold combination rejoiced in falling
prices, claiming that they were due to
improved methods Of producing commod
tiles and t. the peculiarly sound character
Of gold money. The republican politi'
clans who are the henchmen and slaves