Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-08-31

side Of those who desire to protect the !
public at large from monopolies?
The fact that the trusts support the
republican party ought to be sufficient
it, The republican party cannot be re-
lied upon to extingufsh the trusts so
long it draws its campaign contribu-
tions from their overlooking vaults.
The prosperity argument which the re-
publicans bring forward to answer all
complaints against the administration
will not deceive the farmer. He knows
that two factors enter into his income:
First, the size of his crop, and, second,
the price he receives for the same. He
does not return thanks to the party in
power for favorable weather and boun-
tiful harvest, and he knows that the re-
publican party has policy which in
sures permanent increase in agricultural
prices. Since he sells his surplus in a
foreign market, he is not a beneficiary of
the tariff, and since he produces mer-
chanGise and not money, he does not
profit by the appreciation of the dollar.
He knows that the much Wanted pros
perity, of which he has never had his
share, is on the wane in spite Of the un-
usual and unnatural stimulus which 1T
has received during the last three years.
He knows that each month of 1900 shows
larger number of failures than the
corresponding month of 1899. and that
there is already a marked tendency
toward a decrease in the output of the
factories. He knows also that discov-
cries of gold, famines abroad and war
on three continents have not been able
to raise the price of farm products as
rapidly as trusts and combinations have
raised the price of the things which the
farmer buys.
Our opponents have tried to make it
appear that we are inconsistent when
we desire a general rise in prices and yet
oppose an arbitrary rise in protected man.
ufactures or trust-made goods. There is
no conflict whatever between these two
propositions. If a general rise IN prices
occurs because of permanent increase
in the volume of money all things adjust
themselves to the new level, and if the
volume of money then increases in pro-
portion to the demand for money, the
price level remains the same and business
can be done with fairness to all. IT, how
ever, the rise is arbitrary, and only affects
a part of the products of labor, those
| whose products do not participate in the
rise suffer because the purchasing power
of their income is decreased. If a bad
monetary system drags down the price
of the farmers product, while mOnopolfeS
raise the price of what he buys he burns
the candle at both ends and must expect
to suffer in comparison with those who
belong to the classes more favored by
legislation.
It is sometimes urged by partisan pop
ulists that four years more Of republican
| misrule would SO aggravate economic
conditions as to make reforms easier.
No one can afford to aid in making mat
/
make them better afterwards, for in so
| doing he assumes responsibilities which
he may not be able to remedy. No pop
| ulist, however sanguine, believes it pos
sible to elect a populist president at this
| time, but the populist party may be able
| to determine whether democrat or re-
| publican will be elected. Mr.. Chairman,
| the populist convention, which your
committee represents, thought it better
to share with the democrats in the honor
of securing some of the reforms desired by
your party than to bear the Odium of
| remaining neutral in this great crisis,
or of giving open or secret aid to the
| republican party which opposes all the re-
| forms for which the populists contend
| Those who labor to improve the condi-
| lions which surround their fellow men
| are apt to become impatient; but they
| must remember that it takes time to work
| out great reforms. Let me illustrate by
calling your attention to the slow growth
| of public opinion in support of q prop
osition to which there has been prac-
tically no public opposition. President
johnson in 1868. recommended constitu-
| tional amendment providing for the cleo
| ton of United States senators by a di-
rect vote of the people but his recon-
mendation met with no response. About
IL years later, Gen. Weaver, then a mem
| Der of congress, tried to secure the pas
| sage of a resolution submitting such an
amendment, but his efforts were futile.
| In 1892 the resolution recommended by
President Johnson and urged by Con-
gresham Weaver finally passed the house
| of representatives, but it has, not yet
reached a vote in the senate, and now,
after eight years more of public dis
cussion. the proposition for the first time
| received the Endorsement of the national
convention of one of the great parties.
| If the fusion forces win a victory this
fall, shall see this reform accomplished
| before the next presidential election and
| with it's accomplishment, the people will
find it easier to secure any remedial leg
islation which they may desire. But how
| hating has been the progress Holland
| has said:
Heaven is not gained by single bound.
| We build the ladder by which we rise,
From the lowly earth to the vaulted
| skies
And we mount to it's summit round by
round"
And so it is with the great social and
political movements.
Great problems are solved slowly, but
struggling humanity marching on, step
| by step, content at each nightfall, it can
pitch it's tent little higher ground.
1 have called attention to the issues
which brought the democrats and popu-
lists together. and which justifies the
cooperation during the last four years
| Let me now invite your. attention to new
questions which would justify co-opera-
ton at this time even though we diff
fered upon all economic questions. 1t is
not our fault that these new questions
have been thrust into the arena of poll
tics: 1t is not our fault that the people
have been called upon to consider Ques-
tions of ever-increasing magnitude. In
1880 the tariff question was the principal
subject of discussion and the democratic
party contended that the masses were
carrying a burden of unjust and unnec-
essary taxes. In 1892 the tariff question
was still the principal issue between the
democratic and republican parties, al
though in the west and south the money
question was assuming greater and
greater proportions and the populists were
contending that our monetary system
was more RESPONSIBLE than the tariff la