Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-12-28

AooV "cic truc answer 10 " mats
the matter with Kansas" while
the prolonged period of distress
led to thes.political revolt of agri-
cultural classes in the midst of the
Harrison administration, with or
ganlzation for independent action,
demand for free coinage of silver,
printing of paper money with
de0t-paying power. and in fact
for any measure that seemed to
hold out hope for relief fro m
impending bankruptcy and ruin.
Facing these conditions the
Kansas Legislature in the winter
Of 1891, by practically unanimou S
vote. adopted resolutions inviting
representatives from agricultural
districts, WEST and South, to a
conference, with a view to ascer-
tanning if possible the causes pro-
ducing the widespread and pro-
longed depressing. And respond
Ing to this call, what was known
as, The First Western States
Commercial Congress assembled
at Kansas City in April, 1891,
with an attendance of such re.
preventative men as Senator Geer
of Iowa, Governor Francis of Mis-
souri,, Speaker Crisp of Georgia,
Senator Blanchard Of Louisiana,
and many others of equal Dromin-
ence throughout the country,
while President Harrison sent a
letter commendatory of the pur-
pose Of the congress. as did also
VIM. Mckinley.
Folio wing this long depression
and shrinking volume of money,
the first substantial increase dur
ing ten years came in 1891, with
gold production of a hundred and
thirty millions, as against a year
ly average for the previous ten
years of one hundred and five mil
lions. And with each succeeding
year there came increase, 1896
showing more than two hundred
millions; 1900 two hundred and
fifty millions; 1903 three hundred
and twenty-five millions; 1904
about three hundred and fifty mil
lions with production for 1905 of
probably four hundred and twety-
five millions, a gross production
of about three billions of dollars
during the ten years from 1896 to
1905, inclusive, or yealy produc-
tiOn equal to three times the an
nual production during each of
the preceding twenty years. This
vast sum, with national and bank
reserves previously supplied. has
entered into the available money
supply of the worlds market,
with concurrent advance in price
of staples.
That increasing volume of
money implies dimini shing value
of money, with concurrent ad-
vance III price Of com mo1ities,
seems fully sustained by condi-
tions attaining during and since
the worlds transition to a gold
basis. And while adopt on of a
common money for the universal
market may possibly have been
the logical course, the change in
monetary basis from two metals
to one proved a most frey ordeal
for production and business
throughout the world, with re-
sultant conditions similar to those
recorded by Smith, due TO ex-
haustion of the mines throughout
Europe, at time of discovery of
the new world, the conditions
then having been relieved by sup
plies of silver from Peru and
Mexico.
Cessation of abnormal demand
for, supplemented with concurrent
and phenomenal increase in pro-
duction of gold, was follow ed
everywhere with improved condi-
tons, advancing prices and bust
ness revival. The transition in
this country. almost magic al, was
from distress to prosperity, from