Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-06-29
SOME or THE ISSUES.

he added 23O millions to its burdens.
He found a tariff act, bearing the name
of his successor and our President, fit
ted to meet the requirements of our
necessary expenditures, and to insure
the steady and remunerative employ
ment of those who labor. Instead of
permitting manufacture and commerce
that repose and stability of law which
are essential for working out economic
conditions, he at once recommended
violent and radical changes in revenue
and tariff provisions, recommendations
which his party in Congress proceeded
partially and disastronsly to execute.
The appalling result of his policy is
still fresh in the memory of millions
who suffered from it. In four years
the country witnessedso some 60,OD COM
mercial failures, with liabilities aggre-
eating more than 900 millions of dol
lars. One hundred and seventy-seven
railroads, with a mileage of $4,000
miles or twice the circle of the globe,
and with securities amounting to e
ly three billions of dollars, were unable
to meet their interest charges and
passed into the hands of receivers.
More than 40 National banks closed
their doors, with liabilities reaching
20 millions: woodland all farm products
which tariffs could affect, lost tens of
millions in value: farm mortgages
we're foreclosed by the thousands
though out the great West: our agri-
cultural exports shrunk in value: the
balance of trade which had been in our
favor turned %ruinously against us: the
National Treasury was depleted of
it gold reserves; our bonds were sold to
syndicates at far below their market
value before or since, and u steadily
declining revenues we're insufficient to
meet the necessary expenses of con-
Quoting the Government. If capital
alone had suffered, the loss would have
been great, but not irremediable. I'm
fortunately, those who rely upon their
daily labor for their sustenance, and
their families dependent upon them,
constituting the great mass of the
American people, were made to feel
heaviest this burden of disaster. Near
ly one-third of the laboring population
of the United States were thrown out
of employment, and men by thousands
able and willing to labor, walked the
highways of the land clamoring for
work or food.
-Four years of commercial misfortune
| enabled our industries to meet in a
measure. these changed and depressed
conditions, but when President Nc
Kinley was inaugurated the country
was in a state more deplorable than
had existed for IL generation.
Against this picture, Senator Wolcott
places that of the commercial situation
of the last three years. After reciting
the enactment of the revenuelaw which
changed the treasury from u condition
of threatened insolvency to II of ur-
plus, the senator said:
The looms were no longer silent and
the mills deserted; railway earnings
increased, merchants and banks resum-
| ed business, labor found employment
at fair wages, u exports increased.
and the sunshine of hope again illum-
ined the land. The figures that illus
trate the growing prosperity of the
four years of Republican adminstra-
tion we'll nigh stagger belief. There
isn't an idle mill in the country to-day
The mortgages on western farms have
been payed by the tens of thousands
and our farmers are contented and
prosperoug. Our exports have reached
enormous figures; for the last twelve
months our exports of merchandise
will exceed IL imports by 55Omillions
OF dollars. Our manufactured articles
are finding a market all over the world
and in constantly increasing volume
We are rapidly taking our place as
one of the great creditor nations of tn.
world. Above and beyond all, there IL
no IA who labors with his hands, il
all our broad domain, who cannot FIND
work, and the scale of wages was neve,
in our history as high as now.
And where is the man who will ques
ton the facts given forth in the above
Those r only a few of the reason,
why Mckinley will be endorsed by tn,
country. But those are enough {,
convince most reasonable people which
party is mostshelpful to the advance
ment and prosperity of the country.