The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-30
NO HARD TIMES THERE.
wALLA wALLA CONDITIONS DO NOT
FIT CALAMITY TALK.
Bryan's Pessimfsm Not I'm Accord
With Facts and Anti-Expansion-
lists Find No FolIowing-Au
Are Satisfied With the Present.
Special Disl

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
WALLA WALLA, March cit is the
universal opinion of Walla Walla bust
ness men, farmers and mechanics that
this city and county were never more
prosperous and that the outlook for the
material advancement Of the community
was never better. This general feeling
makes an odd setting for the speech OF
William Jennings Bryan here today. Mr.
Bryans talk was all calamity and pessim-
ism, the talk OF the people of Walla
Wala was all hope, encoura cement and
optimism. Their talk is backed up by
substantial bank accounts, by good col
lections. by homes free from debt and
warehouses fun of yellow wheat. which
IS convertible at any moment into gold
Today before Mr. Bryans speech, in
which he pictured the condition Of the
American farmer and tradesman as des-
perate. | interviewed more than a dozen
of the most representative and promi-
uent citizens Of Walla Wala county,
without regard to political affiliations.
Their story was in sharp contrast to the
mournful diatribe Of the Democratic as.
pirant for the presidency. No complaint
had the farmers of Walla Walla to
make; no charge have they against the
administration of President Mckinley,
and no criticism to offer Of his patriotic
course through the trying days of the
Spanish American war
Their hope is that, in the retention of
the sovereignty of the United States In
the Philippine islands great trade will
be built up which win directly and hand
somely benefit them because of the
greater opportunity offered for marketing
their wheat and -four
People Prosperous and Happy.
Gilbert Hunt. formerly a Democrat, who
is a large manufactured of threshing ma
chimes and resident of long standing in
this city said. "Our business Is almost
entirely with the wheat growers. They
never were more prosperous or more hap
py They have no patience with Bryan's
free silver talk nor with his pessimistic
warnings about Imperialism. They have
faith in Mckinley. They sold their 1897
crop al a high figure and the year follow
ing saw the majority of them out of debt.
Since then the price Of wheat has kept
them i'm easy circumstances. They have
to thank Mckinley that they have had
no reason since 1897 to go into debt. There
is upwards of 50 per cent of last years
wheat crop in warehouses. Farmers own
a goodly portion of this That they can
afford to carry 1t until prices advance Is
most eloquent testimony of their condi-
ton. More than that. there is a good
profit in wheat, even at present prices"
Miles c. Moore, who was one Of the
prime movers in the organization Of the
Silver Republican party, has renounced
Organism, and is an open and avowed ad-
vocate of expansion. Said he today. Il
am a believer in blmetallism. yet frank
ly admit that the predictions we made in
1896 We're not fulh.led. We seem to be
getting along nicely under the present ad-
ministration. l have studied the expan-
sion question, and | firmly believe that
it is our duty and manifestly to our adj
vantage to retain the Philippines | am
waiting to see now the platforms turn
out before | take any hand IN state poll
tics. just now | am I'm the neutral zone
| do not agree with Mr. Bryan on the
Philippine issue"
W. III. Reeser, Democrat, who owns and
farms 5000 acres of the finest wheat land
in the county. said: Il am satisfied with
things as they are. We do not hear the
silver question discussed The national ad-
ministratton Is satisfactory"
q. j. Mckay. a well known merchant of
Walla Nalla, said: "Our trade was never
better Farmers are good pay. and they
are more free with their buying than they
have been In years. The county was never
more prosperous"