Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-11
an Impression That Bryan Will Not
Be Elected.
WAGES NEVER SO High AS NOW
The Big Wheat Crop in That Sec
ton of the Country.
PROSPEROUS CON DITION S


democratic states in the south and west will
give Mr. Bryan emphatic majorties in 1860
there seems to he indcfnable though
distinct impression in the minds of men of
affairs in the west that W. J. Bryan will
not be elected President next November.
1t Is not difficult to discover the origin
of this impression, for it arises from the
excellent commercial and agricultural con-
d.tionS which general west of the Mis-
siss:ppi river. Some Importance is attaCn ned
by democrats to the strikes which prevail
In seN eral of the large cities These strikes.
however, with few exceptions, are for the
extreme principle of uniOnism and not for
nri increase in wages. The strikers have
carried their contention in Chicago AMI
St Louis to such a degree of violence that
they have alienated the sympathes of q
great many conservative people who would
otherwise have given them their moral sup
port That the effects OF these strikes will
not be far reaching is shown in the lack OF
interest throughout the country In their
success or failure. 1t is common TO h"ar
the people of Chicago or St Louis, or even
Kansas City. commiserated with by me
people of other places. but the principle
underlying the strikes receives little. atten-
ton or the strikers much intelligent en-
coura cement. There is apparently no great
principle at stake in these labor troubles
which appeals to the interest OF the voters
oIlSltt VI Inc iSii SCI iiit'''AN ii''tAN'>N-
Wages Never So High as Now.
The democratic campaign orators, some
of whom are already on the stump. are not
able to extract much powder from the Ia
Dor situation. for they Immediately met
With the undeniable fact that wages were
never so high in all the trades as they are
today and that any man desiring work at
these wages can find it The dweller In
sr,all towns and In the country Is not ct
all in sympathy with the contention that
the woykingman should have control of his
employers business. Local issues of n;t-
tiunal import hard to find. and the er-
fCrts of these campaign orators are neces-
sarily expended in the direction of pa1tg
policy 1t concerns the nation ana Foreign
Countries Crops are good. the mines
being worked in every mining state; there
are very few idle men and none are ldie b!
nece ssity. The cattle business Is hourishlnS
and there Is prospect OF any decrease IN
the profits now being made by the cattle
raiser.
Republican Speakers Advantage.
The republican speakers have everything
TO their advantage. Enthusiasm can always
be evoked by skillful reference to the re-
suits of the war with Spain. to the pros
perity which has prevailed during the past
four years, to the enormous growth or
Americas foreign trade and to the fact
that the democrats, while denounclng re-
publican plans. propose no Ttllltb!t-S OI at
knoWledged value for what they thus decry.
The foreign trade of the United States has
made an immense impression upon The peo-
pie of the Pacific coast one instance alone
will illustrate the growth of this commerce
from the western shore Three years ago
Seattle shipped 500 barrels of flour as its
quota 10 the Chinese trade. Only recently
one firm in Shanghai has made contract
with a firm in Seattle for the shipment
each month of 5O.un, barrels Of flour for a
period of six months. Incidental to this 1t
may be noted that the men in charge Of
this trade report that American flour is
being substituted in China for rice by thou
sands of the natives, and that they see no
limit TO the future expectations of bread
RtuffS from the United States to the celes-
tia empire.
The Big Wheat Crop.
The center of the greatest prosperity in
the west is found in southern Kansas and
eastern Oklahoma in the wheat fields Kan
sas with its 5.H0.oo0 acres of wheat and
probable crop. of 10oHDG0 bushels, is ably
seconded b. southern Nebraska to the north
and Oklahoma TO the south In the latter
territory 1t has been estimated within the
past few days that there are 1.!AH.'sr acres
of wheat, which will yield between fifteen
and twenty bushels to the acre. The acre
age OF wheat in oklahoma in 1899 was about
1.2'n.pD and the crop is closely estimated
To have been about 16Ooo,G1 bushels. This
year there are nearly hs,Hp acres more
OF wheat. and from the harvest which has
already commenced will come 2n.osno'o or
more bushes of grain. The most significant
fact in regard to these big wheat Yields
IS that three other large crops have pre-
ceded this one. The profits of the first crop
We're absorbed by debt. the second crop fin
ished the payments, the third crop was
nearly all velvet and the fourth crop, when
represented by net profit, will be that much
added to the bank accounts of the farmers.
1t is estimated to cost from 2o to 80 cents
l,rfG hal n al W mid 10
states and If the farmers DO not receive
more than 80 cents bushel for their grain
the surplus profit Will still be enormous in
the aggrt gate, and II is possible. owing to
the predicted shortage abroad. that prices
will be better. The growth of this agrcul-
tural factor in the progress Of the west is
hest illustrated in Oklahoma, where the
acreage of wheat has grown from Gio,UO
acres in 1896 to 1do.G0. as stated.
Effect of the Profit.
Another feature of the wealth which
comes from a good crop is not appreciated
by those unfamiliar with western agricu-
tural conditions. When a good crop is har-
vested IL means that the profit for one year
is nearly. If not quite, equal to the entire
value Of the land and It's improvements.
One good crop means that the farmer can
pay of the entire mortgage contracted in
dull times. He can not only do this, but
he has a surplus left with which to buy
agricultural implements and conventences
for his farm and home. The optimistic tone
of the agriculture! regions is already shown
this year IN the enormous purchases of
agricultural implements. The dealers in
the western cities have at this early date
sold out their entire stock. usually pro-
Nided for the season, and are now sending
supp ementary orders east for more goods
marked rush.
Il must also be borne in mind that wheat
: not III" only thing upon which prosperity
J. founded i'll the west. The corn crop Is.
after all, The backbone of the agricultural
sirua'ign. for it Is from the cornfie!ds
comes the feed for the live stock which
supplies the market of Chicago, Kansas
city and St. Louis. II Is too early In the
season To make any definite prediction as
to the corn yield in the middle western ter
rf,Orv. but II never had better promise.
To the south the cotton crop Is tremen-
dous factor. and II is interesting to note
how the northern line of the cotton belt is
creeping constantly nOrthward until il
reaches far into Indian territory, Oklahoma
and other places where few years ago
II was unknown a staple product. While
Colorado depends first upon its mines, the
agricultural features of the state are be-
coming OF more and more value. The min
,rg towns are busy and furnish ready cash
market for the products Of the farmer.
The cattle interests and sheep interests in
th,. mining states share in the prosperity
o. the states which lie to the east and the
IA fuence of one section of the country has