Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-08-31

| appeared IKE cloud SCar27'y hrgG'
than a mans hand. Today thai clO'l,
we'll nigh overspreads the industrial
sky. The farmer does not participate
in the profits Of any trust, but hi
sorely feels the burden of them all
He is dependent upon the season fol
his income. When he plants his croI
he knows not whether it will be
blessed with rain or blighted with
drouth; he knows not whether WING
will blow 1t down or hail destroy H.
or insects devour 1t, and the price OF
his crop Is as uncertain as the guam
tity. If a private monopoly can sus-
goods. There Is no conflict whatever
between these two propositions. II q
general rise in prices occurs because
of permanent increase in the volume
Of money, all things ADJUST themselves
to the new level, and II ffie volume OF
money then increases in proportion
TO the demand for money the price
level remains the same and business
can be done with fairness to all. If,
however, the rise is arbitrary, and
only affects a part of the products of
labor, those whose products do not
participate in the rise su1er because
the purchasing power OF their income
is decreased. II bad monetary sys-
tenn drags down the price of the
farmers products, while monopolies
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.
| 1t is sometimes urged by partisan
popullsts that four years more Ur re-
publican misrule would so aggravate
economic conditions as to maks re-
forms easier. No one can afford to
aid in making matters worse in the
hope Of being able to make them bet
ter afterward, for in so doing he as
sumes the responsibility for evils
which he may not be able to remedy.
No populist, however sanguine, be-
lieves it possible to elect a populist
president at this time, but the popu-
list may be able to determine whether
democrat or a republican will be
elected. Mr.. Chairman, the populist
| convention, which your committee rep
resents, thought 1t better to share with
the democrats in the honor of secur-
ing 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 reforms for which the popu-
lists contend.
Those who labor to improve the
conditions which surround their fell
low men are apt to become impatient;
but they must remember that 1t takes
time to work out great reforms. Let
me illustrate by calling your atten-
ton to the slow growth of public
opinion in support of proposition
to which there has been practically
no open OPPOSITION. President John
son, in 1868, recommended a constitu
tional amendment providing for the
election of United States senator by
direct vote Of the people, but his
recommendation met with no re-
Spouse. About twelve years later,
General Weaver, then a member of
congress, tried to secure the passage
of a resolution submitting such an
amendment, but his efforts were flu
tile. In 1892 the resolution recon-
mended by President johnson and
urged by Congressman Weaver finally
pdoScu Inc AOuSC VI iCPi
but it has not yet reached vote in
the senate. And now after eight
years more of public discussion the
proposition for the first receives the
endorsement Of the national conven-
ton of one Of the great parties.
II the fusion forces win victory
this fall, we shall see this reform ac-
complished before the next presiden-
tial election, and with its accomplish
ment the people will find it easier to
secure any remedial legislation 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 vau1ted
skies,
And we mount to its summit round
by round"
And so it is with great social and
political movements.
Great problems are solved slowly,
but struggling humanity marches on,
step by step, content If at each night
fall it can pitch its tent on little
higher ground.
have called attention to the is
sues which have brought the demo-
Gratis and populists together and
which have justified their co-opera-
ton during the last four years. Let
me now invite your attention to new
questions which would Justify COOP
Grafton at this time even though we
differ upon all economic questions
1t is not our fault that these new
questions have been thrust into the
arena of politics; it is not our fault
that the people have been called upon
to consider questions of ever increas-
ing magnitude. In 1890 the tariff
question was the principal subject of
discussion, and the democratic party
commended that the masses were car
rying burden of unjust and unnec-
essary taxes. 1t 1892 the tariff ques-
ton was still the principal issue be-
tween the democratic and republican
parties, although in the west and
south the money question was assum-
ing greater and greater proportions,
and the populists were contending
that our monetary system was more
responsible than the tariff laws for
to-