The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-09-08
HIGH PRICES AND CAUSES

lands administration, with tn
prices for the same articles today
attributing the advance in prices +
Republican legislation and thei
much Wanted Republican pros
perlty" This to tickle the farm
ers and if possible to hide iron
them facts which are so patent tina
any but the dullest must see if the,
think at all on the subject. Thi
Republican sOphistry is pure doma
gogy, as are all the specious plead
lngs of Republican benefcence ant
prosperity.
Let us, just for n moment, put
aside all demagogy and politicaI
partizan prejudice, be honest with
ourselves and look at the facts in d
matter Of-fact, common sense way.
During Clcveland's administration
the country was recovering from q
financial panic that had its incep-
ton during the latter part of the
preceding Republican administra-
ton which his administration in
herited. Money was scarce and it's
purchasing value high, hence ev-
erything else was abnormally low
IN price. Since then the unex-
pected discovery of new gold fields
and the production of more gold
than has been known in the history
of the world, increased the volume
of money, made the dollar cheaper
and the prices Of everything cores
pondlngly higher. That accounts
for portion of the advance in the
prices of farm products OF all kinds
not wheat and corn alone.
Let us go little further, and
see if there is not a reason for the
advance in the prices of
farm products not accounted for
by the money increase of the coun.
try Since 1896 two decennial cen
suses Of the United States have
been taken, showing a large in.
crease in our population. How
much this is for the last ten years
has not yet been made known, but
it is estimated to be not less than
20 per cent. Some of the cities,
the figures of which have been
given out, reach as high as 50 per
cent, but in the rural districts it is
as low as 10 per cent in many
places. In the fourteen years since
1896, the bread winners and con.
sumers in our great cities and min
ing centers have increased out of
all proportion to the bread pro.
ducers in the agricultural sections.
The result Of this is, according to
reports Of the Agricultural Depart.
ment, that the increase III the pro-
duction of breadstuffs and other
farm products have not kept pace
with the increase in population,
and is to-day but little il any more
than it was fourteen years ago.
What does this meant An in
creased demand and consumption
at home without any increase in
production of farm products and
grain, aud a smaller surplus for
shipment abroad. This increased
home demand makes higher prices
here, and the smaller expectation
of wheat and corn affects the for
eign markets, where the prices of
these products are fixed.
What has the Republican party
or any legislation for which it is
responsible done to bring about
these two indisputable causes,
which alone are responsible for the
increased prices in farm productsi
And how is the farmer in any way
indebted to the Republican party
for whatever advantage the higher
prices which these two facts or
causes have brought about have
given him2 In no way whatever.
Now, just for a moment, let us
look at those higher prices for