The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-11-03
FALSE PRETENSE OF PROS
PERITY.

OF all the humbug and false pretense o
the Mckinley administration there is moth
ing more hollow than the cry of "prosper
ity.'' The suppressed rotten beef scan
dial, which is sought to be covered by plea
of patriotism; the Cuban frauds, whose
authors are pretended to be prosecuted
the Doodle furnishing trusts, which are
held up as enemies while licensed to tax
the people, are all palpable evidences Of
the miserable hypocracy of Mark Hanna s
regime, but for cool audacity nothing has
equa1ed the clamor about prosperity.
DIR. o. j. Perkins, of Chicago, has
made study of certified report signed
by A. FL. Gleason, Chief Clerk of the Bn-
reau of Labor and Industrial Statistics of
Nebraska. Under his analysis this report
tells widely different story from that daily
proclaimed by Republican speakers and
press. "'Using the round numbers, he
says, "the mortgages satisfied during the
three and half years ending June ID,
1900, amount to 500, 900, 900, as against
ST., 900, 900 fled or difference of
s22, 900, 900 in favor of prosperity.
This applies to real estate mortgages only
and would bear out the claim of the Re
publicans provided there was nothing fur
ther. When, however, we pass to the
next column we find that S230, 900, 900
in chattel mortgages have been filed as
against ST., 900, 900 satisfied differ
ence of Sl6l, 900, 600 against pros
perity. "
The difference between Sl6l, 900, 600
and S22, 600, 600 is Sl39, 900, 900. This
is the actual increase in the mortgage in
debtedness of the state of Nebraska accord
ing to the sworn statement Of the county
clerk. These large figures are not easily
comprehended Viewed from another
standpoint it may be easier. Allowing that
the population of Nebraska has increased
twenty per cent since the census OF 1890.
we find that the increased Indebtedness is
over S109 for each man, woman and child
in the state.
If the people of the state of Nebraska
with abundant crops are in this short time
plunged sl39, 900, 900 more in debt than
at the beginning of this period, how many
years will it require under the same regime
to place the property entirely in the hands
of mortgage holders?
Those not acquainted with the present
methods of loaning money in the west and
south will be 'astonished at the large in
crease in chaitel mortgages shown by the
report. This is explained by the fact that
the lender prefers short time loan ut an
increased rate of interest secured by mort
gage on growing live stock to one on real
estate. An analysis of similar reports
made by other state officers in the west
and southwest will show practically the
same results
Instead of there being any decrease of
mortgage debt in Indiana, the mortgage
debt, real estate and chattel, has increased
during every year of the Mckinley admin
istration, and the total increase for the
three years completed is in excess of $50,
900, 900. In two years of Mckinley
prosperity the chattel mortgages of Indiana
have increased 255, ISL in number, and
81, 1872, 234 amount, and the total mort
gage debt of the state in three years Of
Mckinley prosperity has increased $40,
946, TAG over what has been paid, not in
Guiding the chattel mortgages aad fore
closures of 1897.