The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-18
Bryan's Figure Juggling.


There IL no manner In which Mfr. Bryan
has more clearly shown his characteristic
mental dishonesty and unfairness than
his attempt to juggie with the figures as
to the growth and prosperity which all Of
the Industries Of the country have been
enjoying. Thus. for example, MIR. Bryan
eagerly holds up to the public gaze the
figures Of the number Of failures for last
August. shows that they exceed those for
the same month Of last year. and from
this proceeds to argue seriously that fall
ures are becoming more common. and that
consequently the Republican prosperity
plea Is faliacious.
Mr.. Bryan carefully rsfrains. however.
from any allusion to tho fact published
in the same periodical from which he
quotes. Dun's Review. that the Increase
waa due to the phenomenal showing Of
last year rather than to any unsound con-
ditions existing now. In the third quarter
OF last year. to which ailusion IL pArticu-
larry made, the failures were fewer In
number than in any year since 1881 al
though the number Of business houses In
the country Is enormously greater now
than ever before The showing fer last
year was the bssA with two exceptions.
ever made since the records OF failures
were first kept.
Failures for the last three months have
been slightly IN excess Of the number for
this corresponding quarter OF last year
They.were slightly fewer than for the cor
responding period OF Isss. During the same
quarter OF 1896 when business was dis
turbed by the presidential campaign. in
addition 20 the many other causes Of dis
turbanes. the number OF failures was over
100 greater than this year. white the
amount Of liabilities was nearly three
times as great
II may also be observed that netwith-
standing the approach OF a presidential
election. and although I, Is ths rule tAat
business mortality is creates, during the
third quarter Of the year. the liabilities Of
insalvents during the third quarter Of
this year were sl4sooooo smxlcr thaa IN
the secoad auar,sr. and 10000 iess than
In tho nrst quarter Of the year Instead
% business conditions having grown verse
they have steadily improved all through
the year.
a. matter es fact the small number %
failures this year has been constant
ssaree Of surprise 20 all the cemrorclal
newspapers ard commercial writer's IN tha
couatry. The reaction from fsverisa sctIv-
~ came. az anticipated and predicted, ana
the fall Of prices from tho highest level
seen in many years also came. a. pre-
slctea. WHY It Gid not result IN more fail.
ares Is pointed ost sy Dun's Revisw as
follcwss
1T has been surprising. ana IL an sws-
cence % the firm foundation on which the
csuntry's business now rcsts that sh~
highest prices ia many years Aad the con-
ssaaaat excessive activity az iron mills.
shoe shops and many other rnznufacsar-
Ing lines. 1sd rat bring moro serious con-
sequences when tire Inevitable reaction ar
rived. Ore explanation can Be found IN
the extent to which foreign markets havm
been secured This opportunity 10 expert
their Surplus Was the salvation Of many
concerns that had contracted for much
more than even the steadily increasinw
popsiatton and rapidly growing wealth Of
the country could be expected 70 con-
sumo
All Of these fsess we're before Mr.. Bryan,