Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-06-17
Hot-p.a Prosperity,

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Hot-Bed Prosperity.
Two elements are at work trying to
create prosperity, and both seem to
emanate from the same source. Ger
tain Wall Street interests have been
forcing up the price of securities for
some weeks until railroad and indus
trial stocks are higher than before the
panic occurred. Then we have the Ma
tional Prosperity Association going up
so far as to set June for the birth
Of the new prosperity that Is to envel-
op us all with golden mantle. The
plan seems to be to boost stocks In
Wall Street SO that the railroads can
borrow more money, which from the
Harriman-R Rockefeller point of view is
a sure sign Of prosperity.
The manufacturers are to do their
part by starting up all the factories on
full time and, OF course, selling the
products at full prices.
Whether this hot-bed process of pro-
ducing prosperity will work can, Of
course, be only surmised, but as the
primary heat furnished by the stock
market manipulators does not seem to
have warmed up the lambs to the neces-
sary enthusiasm, prices are erratic and
inclined to sag. The lambs have been
shorn too lately and closely to be ex-
spected to show much enthusiasm until
their fieeces have had time to grow
enough to cover their nnkedness.
There Is no doubt that all the tariff
protected trusts can start production
on a large scale on June /, but wheth-
er the consumers can pay the high
prices necessary for this hot-bed brand
of prosperity is more than doubtful.
To overstock the market with manu-
featured goods that many people in
their poverty through lack of employ
ment cannot pay for, will hardly help
matters, unless the trusts are prepared
to reduce prices and thus stimulate de-
mand
As the Republican Congress has re-
fused to reform the tariff, the protect
ed trusts still have the power to col
lect their share of the tariff tax; and
Judging from the action of the Steel
Trust, the Beef Trust, the Sugar Trust,
and many others, in determining not
to reduce prices, they evidently do not
intend to divide their prosperity with
their customers.
The people generally must have
money in their pockets before prosper
ity returns. Confidence is child of
slow growth, and until confidence is re-
stored, 1t is much to be feared that
prosperity, nourlshed by the corpora
lions for their own selfish ends, will
hardly be deep enough to reach the
homes of the people.
Who has confidence In any prosperity
for the people from Wall Street manip-
ulators?
Who expects prosperity to be pro-
duced by the railroads advancing rates?
Can prosperity come to the people
by paying the trusts more than they
charge foreigners?
Who can have any confidence that
Republican policies will produce pros
perity since the panic and with the
business of the country still at low
ebb?
A presidential year Is not a boom
year, and good crops will have to be
assured and marketed before the buy
ing power Of the people against as
sures prosperity. The boast of the Re-
publican politicians that the tariff that
protects the trusts assures prosperity
has been rudely shattered during the
past year, and their do-nothing policy
during the session Of Congress has not
condoned their evident desire to serve
the trusts and corporations more than
the people.
Everyone wants prosperity, certainly
for himself, and may be depended upon
to do what he can to secure 1t. II the
people can secure fair deal they will
be prosperous, but with the Republican
policy Of protecting the trusts and cor
porations in plundering them by high
prices and still higher rates for trans.
portation, the brand of prosperity that
has been, and is to be handed out, is
Of the Dead Sea apple variety that
crumbles at the touch of investigation.
Please keep cool and give the people
a chance to recuperate. Under bad
laws, and the stand-pat policy that our
Republican Governors have forced us
to bear, the growth of better times
will be slow for the people, though
the trusts and corporations should soon
flourish as the green bay tree
Graft In the Philippines.
The ter-Island News, of Zambango,
Mindanao, publishes statement from
the Manila Review Of Trade and Price
Currents. from which we learn that,
In the Philippines. official salaries are
nearly twice as high as they are in
the United States. In the Philippines
the Secretary of the Interior, Secre.
tary Of the Treasury. Secretary Of Com.
merce and Superintendent Of Public
Instruction, receive $4,000 apiece
while in this country, the Secretaries
Of the Interior, the Treasury and Com.
merce and Labor get $1,000 apiece
Il