The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-09-16
COUNTRY NOT BOUND
FOR THE BOW-WOWS
CONTINUED From Page One.)

the history of our country, but wages
and the earnings of business men
were so extremely small that there
vas far less ability then on the part
If the city people to buy the low
priced foodstuffs of that day than
there is now to buy the high-priced
foodstuffs Of the present.
Mutterings of discomfort based on
the appalling proverty OF the farm
er and the mechanic and the day lab
orer and the business man were heard
everywhere. Even revolution was
threatened, because a very large part
of the people, not understanding the
reasons for these conditions. felt that
they had been brought about by fiscal
legislation for the express purpose of
enriching the banking interests at
the expense of the producing interests.
But the banking interests were suff-
ering like all other interests. We
were then passing through an econo-
mic period OF extreme depression.
The low prices of farm products were
largely due to the fact that for years
the production Of crops in proportion
to population had been steadily gain
ing, reaching it's climax about 1893
or 1894, although the effect continu-
ed for several years after the turn
had been made. and we had once
n hn I,,l,
swing the other way and the produc-
ton OF foodstuffs grew slightly less
year by year in proportion to popula-
tion. Moreover, we had the worst
banking system in the world. which
afforded no relief against such con-
ditions
Though Henry Ford may think that
history is bunk" intelligent men
know that the history of past events
gives us some basis on which to
judge the present and the future. We
can see today that there is no such
conditions as existed in 1896; nc
such cause for unrest. and that In
reality the unrest is not as great as
1t then was. Moreover, il was then
due to actual starvation facts which
faced people every hour OF their lives
and which had continued to run fol
years following the panic of 1928
At the present time we have high
cost OF focdstuff. but the farmer Is
getting a splendid price for his pro.
ducts. Instead of being in desperate
poverty. he is enjoying a greater
prosperity than ever before. The
wage-earner is getting larger wage:
than he ever dreamed Of, far more
nearly in keeping with the cost o.
/ living than were the wages of 1896
{hs compared with the cost OF Twins
at that time. We have now the Bol
shevistic agitation, but we then haC
an agitation that was even more dan
gerous. and more men, even men o.
high standing in the business world
were carried away by the free-silvel
craze, five to one. than are influenced
today by the rad 'cal labor unions anC
the spirit of unrest of the hour
/ In 1896 Bryan. with all of hi.
tremendous power as an orator stir
red the nation to its depth witt
dire poverty throughout the land h,
appealed TO the hungry man who's,
b FAMILY was starving He created class
hatred everywhere. and millions wer,
caught by his well-rounded sentences
and his appeal to the mob mind. Owe
and over again the free silver leader,
proclaimed utter ruin of the natioI
IL their pet hobby was defeated, ant
millions OF people really believe thes,