Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-08
PROSPERITY.

Inc democratic party is abso-
lutely necessary TO restore prosper
lily. The Republican party has had
its chance and has failed. We are
now In the midst of a depression
Tor which natural conditions fur
nish no excuse. Artificial condi-
conditions are responsible for he
present business prostration, and
those artificial conditions originated
In Republican policies. Tn bust
ess failures for the nine months
ended on September 80. 11,s4s in
plumber and the liabilities amount
ed TO s17s,0O0.OOO. 1t means that
II the assets are worth, in fact. the
amount at which they are placed.
there will still be a loss OF $4,000
600 to account for"
This tremendous loss comes at a
time when crops are reasonably good
and when nature has not withheld
her bounty. II comes when the Re-
pubiicans are IN complete control
They have a president. whom they
eulogize in their platform, a senate
completely in the hands of the Re
publican party and house OF rep
resentatives dominated by a despot-
&c speaker.
We can assume therefore that
they have done everything they
could do consistently under their
policies to prevent a panic. and yet
the panic is here. 1t comes too
when we have tariff SO high that
even the Republicans promise une-
quivocally to revise ii immed latelx
and Mr.. Taft has ventured the opih
ION that the revision will probably
be downward. What does 1t prom
ise 20 do for the protection OF the
public? What policies has II that
LOOK to a restoration OF prosperity :?
EXCESS OF FAILURES.
In fact the failures OF the last
nine months exceeded in number
the failures OF the corresponding
nine months or 1893 and the diff
ference between par and liabilities
- o. SNeNi Ahio year IMAM lLs was IN
1893, although the total amount of
the liabilities was greater in 1893
than this year. But 1t must be re
membered That the Mckinley law
was still in force in 1893. 1t was
In force until the Summer OF 1894.
The Wilson bill was not passed I'm
TIL the summer OF 1894. The fail
ures of that year were not as great
either in number or in the amount
OF liabilities as they are this year.
y The failures of 1895 were not as
great in amount or in the total LA
bilities as they are this year. The
failures in 1896 were not equal TO
the failures OF this year IN number
or in amount of liabilities, and yet
in 1896 the Republicans were talk
ing about a Democratic panic and
kpromising prosperity.
A member of the British cabinet
said recently in a speech that the
reports OF cotton goods from Ian
cashire had Increased eleven per
per cent over last year, and he de-
clared that the cotton exports 81
the United Staes had fallen of As
per cent in the same period. If this
be true, how will the protectionists
explain IL?
Che Republican party cannot es
cape It's record. 1t is important to
protect the public, because It's pol
icies have for their object not the
advancement of the general welfare
but the enrichment OF a relatively
pense of the rest of the people. II
we are to have prosperity, we must
restore independence in Industry.
The Republican party does not
promise this. On the contrary, SC
pledges itself to a continuation o.
the policies under which trusts have
grown and fattened at the expense
of the public
If we are going TO have prosper
ity we must have a reduction of the
tariff. The people recognize tina;
the tariff is extortionate. Even the
Republican leaders are forced to ad-
NIT this, and yet they are deliber-
ately planning to prevent any real
revision by electing a standpat con
gress. while the Republican candl-
date il talking about revision. with
out giving any assurances that re-
vision will mean a material redu-.
ton. If the Republican party wins
II will not revise the tariff in the
interests OF the consumer. AMI thai
means that the present agitation
must continue four years longer.
APPEALS TO BUSINESS MEN.
Do the business men want bust
ness unsettled? Do the business
men want an extension OF this asi-
tation? DO they want business 70
be unsettled by four years OF dis
4cussion over tariff rates II Jno
Democratic party wins there will be
an immediate reduction OF tariff
which will, satisfy the public de-
mand and remove the tariff Iues-
ton from politics for a NUMBER Of
years A Democratic yfcforv moan.