4:x:-:::
! Commoner
Extracts from W.
Tb Mranla; of ttlnirtallUiu.
A reader of The Commoner hnUs for
1 definition of bimetallism, and spoci
ally inquires whether tin Kansas
l it r plat form tie ma mis that the govern
uient Khali maintain the paritv bo-
ween gold ami silver.
Bimetallism is the name tfiven to
x,he monetary system under which gold
and sliver are usetl as full legal tender
money at a fixed ratio, anil admitted to
unlimited coinage. The Kansas City
platform declared in favor of the free
coinage of silver as well as its unlimit
ed coinage, the reason Wing that free
co in ace is nonr aceorvle.l to gold and
was formerly accorded to Kth metals.
Under the bimetallic system the two
metals are treated exacily alike. A
charge sufficient to cover the cost,
would, however, be entirely consistent
with the bimetallic system. Mr. Car
lisle favored such a charge in 1373
when he denounced the gold standard
but such a charge would create a diff
erence between the coin and the bul
lion value of thecoin. If, for instance,
the government charged one cent for
converting bullion into eoin, the coin
would necessarily lose one cent by
melting and the bullion value would,
therefore, remain one cent below the
coinage value.
Bimetallism does nor depend upon
any particular ratio. - We first had bi
metallism in this country at the ratio
of 15 to 1, and afterwards at the ratio
of 10 to 1. Other nations have had bi
metallism at different ratios, as, for
instance, France, at the ratio of 15'j
to 1. Tile ratio of 10 to 1 was specific
ally named in the Chicago platform
and afterwards in the Kansas City
platform, first, because that was the
legal ratio existing between the metals
when demonetization took place; sec
ond, because it is the ratio at which
.the standard silver dollars and gold
coin now circulated; third, because the
advocates of bimetallism believe that
the opening of the mints at that ratio
would create a demand forsilver which
would make an ounce of silver, wheth
er melted or coined, worth SI.-'J in
gold the world over; and, fourth, be
cause, if a new ratio were desired, it
would be impossible to select it intelli
gently without first opening the mints
at the present ratio in order to meas
ure the effect that free coinage would
have upon the price of silver bullion.
When the Sherman law of was en
acted it was thought that it would
utilize all the silver available for coin
age, and under the stimulus of this
law-created demand silver rose to
1.21 an ounce, not only here, but all
over the world.
It was necessary to Dame a specific
ratio because advocates of the gold
standard had for several years been se
curing office on indefinite or ambig
uous platforms, and then, when in
office, had been betraying their con
stituents. It became necessary to
pake the platform specific in order to
jrotect the voters from fraud and de
ception. That necessity is still pre
sent; a general demand for bimetallism
would amount to au abandonment of
bimetallism because gold democrats
would secure nominations on such A
ilatform, and then, if electeted,
would, as they have in the past, act
with the republicans to maintain the
gold standard.
As to the second question, namely,
whether concurrent circulation of the
two metals is essential to a bimetallic
system? To answer this in the nega
tive without further explanation might
fead to misunderstanding. The con
current circulation of the two metals,
while desirable, not absolutely nec
essary to the maintenance of the bi
metallic system, bat bimetallists be
lieve that the parity would be main
tained in this country at the ratio of
10 to t. We had bimetallism from
1792 to lsll, ouring nearly all of which
time gold was at a premium because
our mint ratio, compared with the mint
ratio of France and some other coun
tries, undervalued gold. When in 1334
the ratio was changed from 15 to 1 to
10 to 1, fcilver was then undervalued, as
compared with the ratio of France and
some other countries, and, therefore,
silver went to a premium and remained
at a premium until it was demonetized.
Iuring loth of these periods we had
bimetallism, and it was possible to
coin gold or silver without limit as to
amount into full legal tender money at
a fixed ratio. As above remarkad, it is
the belief of bimetallists that the
parity can be maintained at the ratio
of 10 to 1, and this belief is founded
upon two arguments: first, that the
monetary use of silver would absorb
all the silver available for coinage f-t
our mints, thus raising the bullion
price of silver to 81.23 an ounce; and,
second, that no gold nation is now
coining gold and silver at a ratio more
favorable to gold than ours. I f any large
nation opened its mint to the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver at
15- to 1, it would get some of our sil
ver and silver would go to a premium.
If, on the other hand, any large nation
opened its mints to the free and un
limited coinage of both metals at the
rate of 10i to 1, or some higher rat.o,
And now they say there is a tobacco
combine in the Philippine islands.
This ought to make Congressman Hull
favor a larger army over there to pro
tect the combine.
Up to date no one has heard any of
the "great captains of industry" com
plaining about the message.
John Hull may eat his Christmas din
ner in IVetoria, but he is subject to in
terruptions between courses.
Publicity for the trusts?
but who will bell the cat?
Very
rell,
Barred by the Bishop.
The Catholic bishop of the diocese
of Burlington. VL. recently forbade
the erection over a priest's grave In
Falrbaven of a monument represent
ing a recumbent figure of the priest
In a casket.
Production of Alainloum.
Aluminum, which had no commer
cial existence a few years ago. wa3
produced In the United States last year
to the extent of 5,200.000 pounds, val
ued at 350.000, which is one-tenth
of the cost of ten years ago.
Continent I
J. Bryan's Paper.
v
it would be apt to pet some of our j?old
and gold would go to a premium. But.
under existing or probable conditions,
there would be no difficulty in main
taining the parity at the ratio of 10 to
1. If there was any force in the argu
ment made for thirty years that the
parity was more difficult to maintain
because the production of silver was
increasing more rapidly than the pro
duct.onof gold, the parity ought to be
more easily maintained now, since the
production of gold is increasing more
rapidly than the production of silver.
Two ways of maintaining the parity
have been suggested. One is to put
silver upon an equal footing with gold,
make it a legal tender equal w ith gold,
and enable it to do all that gold can do
this is the bimetallic plan. The
other is to make the silver dollar re
deemable in gold, but this plan con
verts silver into a credit money and
grcatlj impairs its usefulness. It
really makes gold the standard and sil
ver subsidiary to it. When one metal
goes to a premium it does not all leave
the country. It circulates at its pre
mium value and still contributes to
the volume of money, just as silver did
from 1334 to 1SG1 and just as both gold
and silver did from 1301 to 1S7K. If
under bimetalism one metal goes to a
premium the people can do whichever
they prefer, viz.. they can either change
the ratio, or bear with the inconven
ience of the premium.
Some bimetallists whose devotion to
the cause cannot be doubted, have ex
pressed themselves in favor of a change
in the ratio, provided it is shown by
experience that tne parity cannot, ue
maintained at the ratio of 10 to 1.
Others have refused to diseuss this
proposition; first, because a discission
of other ratios might le construed
(not fairly, but unfairly) as no admis
sion that the parity could not be main
tained at 10 to 1; and, second, localise
the power to legislate remains with
the people, and they are always at lib
erty to make any changes wmcn to
them may seem best. Lnder our form
of government no unchangeable system
can be established. If the people try
the gold standard and do not like it.
they can change it: if they try the
double standard and do not like it.
they can change it; if they try one
ratio and do not like it, they can try
another.
In answer to those who express the
fear that the parity cannot be main
tained, but giveno reason for their
skepticism, the advocates of bimetal
lism express the belief that it can be
mained and give their reasons for it.
Neither side can prove its position by
a mathematical demonstration, but ex
perience and argument support the bi
metallists. Admiral Schley.
If Admiral Schley neede I a vindica
tion he obtained it in the splendid tri
bute paid him by Admiral Dewey in
the latter's minority report. In truth
Admiral Dewey did not need a vindica
tion. In the judgment of the people
lie is one of this countrv"s great naval
heroes, and this is shown to be true by
the very general condemnation with
which the court of inquiry's report has
met with on the part of the public.
Admiral Schley's detractors seem very
anxious to dron the affair. Some of
them declare that there is no need for
further investigation The Commoner
is inclined to believe that further in
vestigation is not needed. It is true,
however, that something remains to be
done in order ithat justice should be
accorded the hero of Santiago bay.
Instead of congressional investiga
tion into facts that are already estab
lished to the satisfaction of the Ameri
can peop'e Schley should be restored
to active service, and he should be ap
pointed vice admiral to hold the place
during the remainder of his life. Any
thing less would be inadequate.
If a congressional investigation is to
be had it should not be an ine. liga
tion of a hero; the naval officers and
employes who are responsible for the
assaults upon Schley should le in
vestigated for the benefit of the service
in the future.
At' Jamestown. X. Y., George M.
Iuntner was indicted on the charge of
being a publie nuisance because he
tried to organize the wood-workers in
to a union. Mr. Frank Mott, his at
torney, succeeding in convincing the
court that it is not yet a public crime
to endeavor to associate the lalwring
men together for their own protection.
Numerous republican organs com
mend Senator Hoar's plan to maroon
the anarchists and let them run their
own island. This is all very well, but
what about allowing tin people of
other islands who are not anarchists
to do the same thing?
Will some administration organ
please answer: Does President Roose
velt favor the ship subsidy bill? Yes
or no, now. You have expressed the
opinion that the message is "concise,
clear and statesmanlike."
A careful study of the message will
reveal that reciprocity has about as
much chance as the sheep had to
kill the butcher.
Secretary Gage saj's' the country
needs a larger volume of inoney. Is
Mr. (Iage going to play traitor to "con
fidence?" Matter of School Fifty Tran.
James A. Page, master of the Dwight
Grammar School for Boys In Boston,
will soon celebrate the fiftieth anni
versary of his election as master oX
that institution.
8now Fireplaces,
Sixty degrees below zero Is the
frightfully cold atmosphere in which
Alaskan gold hunters must often work.
They make fireplaces of snow in that
desolate region. The snow is pressed
into blocks like bricks and a fireplace
two or three feet square is built with
them. When the first is lighted the
snow, cf course, melts on the surface,
but when the fire is out this freezes
so hard that the next fire causes it to
become only damp. A snow flreplaca
used only for cooking purposes will
last tor en entire winter.
REVISION OF TARIFF.
LITTLE PROBABILITY OF RECIPROC
ITY TREATIES GOING THROUGH.
War Taxes Are to lie Lowered Suffi
ciently to ltcduee the Revenue Trust
lUroni Have Too Strong: a Ilold of
Congress to He Shaken Off.
Washington dispatch to the New
York World says that it is estimated
that the net treasury surplus for the
present fiscal year may reach $130,000,
000, and that 83 a consequence, Re
publican leaders in congress, with the
president's sanction have adopted a
plan to cut off all the war taxes, re
ducing the Internal revenue to figuros
as low, if not lower, than those which
prevailed before the Spanish-American
war.
According to the World's dispatch.
the abolition of these special taxes
will reduce the revenue to about $63,-
000,000. The tax on beer will be re
duced from $1.60 to $1 per barrel, thus
taking off about $25,000,COO. The tax
on tobacco will be reduced from nine
to six cents per pound, and the cigar
schedulo will te rearranged eo as to
effect, together with the general to
bacco reduction, an additional reduc
tion of $25,000,000. In this way it is
estimated that the entire war tax will
be wiped out and the surplus reduced
by about $65,000,000.
The World's correspondent says that
it is also suggested that the tax on
whisky may be i educed to eighty
cents a gallon, the present tax being
$1.20 per gallon. The World's corre
spondent says:
"The president and the Republican
members of the ways and means com
mittee, with two possible exceptions,
are unalterably opposed to any revis-"
ion of the tariff. All agree that re
duction on one artlce could not be
effected without going through the en
tire list, and such a revision is not
contemplated. All agree also that
business would be unsettled and the
present prosperity materially checked.
The president and these members
think it wise to leave well enough
alone.
It is also stated that it is now be
leved that any one of the pending
reciprocity treaties can obtain ratifica
tion in the senate, and that "there
seems no prospect along the line of
reciprocity."
The World's correspondent is
authority for the statement that when
certain members of the ways and
means committee suggested to the
president that possibly the treasury
surplus could be lowered by revision
of the tariff schedule in which the
greatest degree of protection is allow
ed, "the president declared his close
adherence to the doctrine of high pro
tection and expressed his opinion that
the present prosperity should be al
lowed to continue, and that there
should be no tinkering with the tariff
to unsettle business and cause appre
hension in commercial circles."
Chairman Payne of the ways and
means committee, said: "The country
is doing better than ever before, and
there is an old adage to "let well
enough alone."
Representative Russell of Connec
ticut, said: "Revision of the tariff
along special lines is a practical im
possibility at present. Conditions are
good, and they should be permitted to
remain so."
More and more every day it appears
that Representative Babcock's fight
for tariff revision will be a hopeless
one in the Republican party. Repub
lican leaders, who, like Babcock, have
changed their opinion as to the influ
ence of a high protective tariff on the
general welfare, would have a very
strong following in the Republican
party, and perhaps the recognition of
thi3 fact has something to do. aside
from the desire to reduce the surplus,
with the concessions which the admin
istration leaders seem disposed to
make in the matter of the war taxes.
Doubtless these leaders believe that by
a material reduction of the war taxes,
thus affording relief in some quarters,
they can postpone the demand for tar
iff revision.
Certainly the Republicans have the
power to defeat tariff revision, and
probably they have the ability to close
for a time the public eye to one great
evil, while affording a degree of relief
from war taxes.
It is interesting also to note that the
same authority that assures us there
will be no tariff revision also conveys
the information "there seems no pros
pect along the line of reciprocity."
Republican newspapers had much to
say by way of commendation of Presi
dent McKinley's last speech, and yet,
if the New York World's Washington
correspondent is to be relied upon,
already there are indications that the
policy announced by the lamented
president, in his last speech, has al
ready been abandoned by the Republi
can party. The Commoner.
LET OUR IDEAS COXQUER.
One of the presidentes of Li pa, Ba
tanzas Province, P. I., has addressed a
letter to the "Presidentes of the Prov
ince" inviting them to join him in
sending two young men, to be selected
from the students by competition, to
the United States for the purpose of
studying American institutions. He
offers to give thirty dollars (Mexican
money) a month, and asks the other
"Presidentes" to contribute a like pro
portion of their salaries.
It is a worthy precedent, and it is
to be hoped that it will be followed in
other provinces. Of course these Fili
pino boys cannot come here to study
our institutions without becoming
aware of the inconsistency between our
professions at home and our practices
abroad, but their acquaintance with
our form of government will fit them
to help us to conquer the world with
our ideas after we have withdrawn the
authority which now makes subjects
out of the Filipinos.
This country can do infinitely more
for itself and infinitely more for the
world by educating representatives of
foreign nations and sending them back
to apply American principles to their
social and political problems than it
can by wars of conquest. No alien
government will ever rfieet the expec
tations or satisfy the longings of any
people. The foreigner lacks the race
sympathy that Is necessary to the up
building of a nation. Americans who
go to the Philippine islands will find it
impossible to withstand the temptation
to use the government for exploitation
it Las been so with carpet bag gov
ernments in the past and it will be so
in the future. Human nature has not
changed much, and is yet far too weak
to exercise arbitrary and irresponsible
power.
A hundred students educated in the
United States and returned to the na
tions of the Orient would do more
toward extending our trade and our
civilization than an army of an hundred
thousand. The federal government
could well afford to establish a school
and educate all the students that would
be sent here from South America and
Asia. The cost to the nation would be
small compared with the cost of a sin
gle war of conquest, and the profit
would be immeasurably greater. The
Commoner.
CAN IT HE?
Referring to the great railroad trusts
the Chicago Tribune says:
"An issue of tremendous consequence
is thus being brought to the whole
country. It is a matter for conjecture
if these railroad and financial manipu
lators comprehend what this Issue is.
The failure of full and effective gov
ernment regulation which the road3
have so far succeeded In breaking down
means government ownership, nothing
less than that. And toward just that
conclusion the combinations are forc
ing the country. It will be a great mis
take to suppose that the present pa
tience of the people with the growing
domination of monopoly 13 a test of
what the public temper will always
prove to be."
What right has the Tribune to "con
tribute to the disquiet of tho people?"
What right has the Tribune "to seek
to make the people discontented?"
What right has the Tribune to "at
tack property?"
Does not the Tribune know that
trusts are "indispensable to progress,"
that "consolidation 13 the decree of
destiny," that a railroad octopus for
the United "States of America will
make us what we so long have wished
to be, "a world power?"
The Tribune threatens government
ownership, which the Tribune and
other Republican newspapers have so
often denounced as a Populist fallacy.
What is the world coming to when so
strong a Republican newspaper as the
Chicago Tribune finds it necessary to
raise its voice in protest against mon
opoly and goes so far as to threaten a
Populist remedy for a Republican dis
ease? Can it be that after all there is evil
in the trust system? Can it be after
all that consolidation and destruction
of competition are not good for the
public welfare?
CATTLE TKISTS GOOD DARUAIS.
The present tariff was shaped largely
according to the demands of the inter
ests that had furnished a great part of
the Republican campaign fund. The
cattle trust gave more than a million
dollars to tnat fund on the express
condition that the duty on hides,
which had been off for many years,
should be reimposed if the Republicans
should gain control of all branches of
the government. The contract wa3
carried out, and a tax upon every
household and every individual in the
land was the result. It was a mighty
good bargain for the cattle trust, and
there have been many other instances
cf such deals in which the masses of
the people were the victims. Dayton
(Wash.) Courier-Press. .
Over Production Mot the Cause.
The gold papers are still asserting
that the gold price of silver fell be
cause of over-production. Such papers
purposely ignore the effect that legis
lation has had in decreasing the de
mand and, therefore, the price. If the
over-production of silver a3 compared
with gold caused the gold price of
silver to fall, the over-production of
gold ought, by the same reasoning, to
cause the gold price of silver to rise.
The fact that the enormous increase In
the production of gold has not caused
a material rise in the price of silver
shows that the gap between the price
of gold and silver was not caused by
natural laws, but by legislation. The
Commoner.
"Limitations of the Pre."
The Philadelphia North American
(Mr. Wanamaker's newspaper) is like
ly to be accused of violating the priv
ileges accorded to the press. It says:
"If Emma Goldman's connection with
Czolgosz's crime should be proved to
be one-hundredth part as intimate a
was Mayor Ashbridge's with the theft
of Philadelphia's streets, she could not
escape the electrical chair." Such
frankness on the part of the North
American is likely to make the Phila
dedphia Republicans clamor for some
limitation upon the press.
What Flood of Gold Would Mean.
The New York Sun prints a story to
the effect that Russia has hidden away
five billions of gold an amount equal
to all the gold coined in existence as
shown by the records of the various
countries. The readers of the Com
moner need not be alarmed, however,
because the financiers would clamor for
the demonetizatin of gold if this
amount of tne precious metal was
thrown upon the market. The Com
moner. Reciprocity not Probable.
It looks as if reciprocity would be
side-tracked by the tariff barons. For
a great many years the beneficiaries of
protection have been able to silence all
tariff reform sentiment in the Repub
lican party with the threat that any
attack upon the system would Jeopar
dize the entire structure. It is the old
doctrine of "hang together or hang
separately."
Shippers Not Deceived. .
Gov. Savage gives as a reason for
not joining with Gov. Van Sant in
fighting the railroad combine that "the
railroads of Nebraska are fighting for
business." Gov. Savage, however, faibj
to mention the object of attack. Bnt
the shlppars know.
CHINESE IMMIGRANTS
WILLIAM i. BRYAN SOUNDS A WARN
ING IM THE COMMONER.
Evils That Would Follow the Cnrestrlct
ed Entrance of the Yellow Hordes
Duty of Democratic Statesmen In Con
gress Is Pointed Out From Exchanges.
It will be necessary for the present
congress to take action upon the Chi
nese exclusion act whih expires, by
limitation May 24. 1901. The Kansas
City platform contained the following
plank on the subject:
"We favor the continuance and
strict enforcement of the Chinese ex
elusion law and its application to the
same classes of all Asiatic races."
This plank was unanimously agreed
upon by the platform committee, and
there was no dissent from it among
the delegates. It is to bo expected,
therefore, that tho proposition to ex
tend the Chinese exclusion act will re
ceive the support of all the democrats
in the house and senate. The editor
of the Commoner received a letter a
few days ago from a democrat who
complained that the laboring men of
the Pacific slope had ignored- the Chi
nese question In the last campaign and
suggested that It would only be a mer
ited punishment If the republican party
refused to extend the exclusion act.
It is not unnatural that some resent
ment should be felt toward those who
supported the republican party in spite
of the dangers which republican su
premacy involves, and yet no one can
justify himself in either supporting a
bad policy or in failing to protest
against it merely because the policy
would punish some who ought to have
exerted themselves to prevent it. That
many of the republican leaders are in
favor of a policy that will flood the
country with cheap Chinese labor is
true, and that an imperial policy tends
to lend encouragement to the cheap
labor proposition is also true, but the
failure of the laboring men to see these
dangers in advance would not justify
democrats in remaining quiet on this
subject, although the republicans are
in power and are responsible for legis
lation.
The Chinese question is one that af
fecsts the entire country, not the Pa
clfic coast alone or the laboring men
alone. It is true that the Pacific coast
would feel the evil effects of Chinese
immigration first, and it is also true
that the laboring men would come into
immediate contact with oriental labor,
but in its ultimate influence the sub
ject touches all parts of the country
and reaches all classes. The question
is whether we are going to build up a
strong, independent, upright and pa
triotic people and develop a civilization
that will exert a helpful Influence on
all the world, or whether we are going
to be a greedy, grasping nation, for
getful of high ideals and concerned
only in the making of money.
Chinese immigration Is defended by
two classes of people. First, by those,
compartively few in number, who be
lieve that universal brotherhood re
quires us to welcome to our shores all
people of all lands. This Is the sentl
mental argument alvanced in favor of
Chinese immigration. There is no
more reason why we should construe
brotherhood to require the admission
of all people to our country than there
Is that we should construe brotherhood
to require the dissolution of family
ties. In a larger sense a nation is a
family. It is the center for the culti
vatlon or national character, na
tional virtue and national usefulness
A nation is under no obligation to the
outside world to admit anybody or
anything that would Injuriously affect
the national family; in fact, it is under
obligations to itself not to do eo. The
influence of the United States will be
much more potent for good if we re
main a homogeneous nation with all
citizens in full sympathy with all other
citizens. "
The second, and by far the larger
class, embraces those who advocate
Chinese emigration on the ground that
it will furnish cheap labor for house
hold and factory work. There Is no
force in the argument that is made by
some that it is difficult to secure girls
to do housework. If domestic service
is not popular as compared with other
work, it is because the pay Is not suffl
cient to make it attractive, and the
remedy, lies in better wages. Labor
can be secured for any and every hon
orable position when the price is suffi
cient to attract it, and the demand for
Chinese servants comes with poor
grace from those who often spend on a
single social entertainment as much as
a servant's wages would amount to in
an entire year. At this time when
skilled and intelligent American labor
is able to compete in foreign markets
with the cheapest labor of the world, it
is absurd to talk about the necessity
for cheap factory hands.
The increase in Japanese immigra
tion, or rather Importation (for large
numbers of them are brought for spe
cific purposes) has been referred to in
a former issue of The Commoner. It
was there suggested that the Japanese
government would doubtless, if asked
to do so.place restrictions upon Japan
ese emigration that would make it un
necessary for us to deal with the sub
ject by legislation. This matter should
at once be brought to the attention of
the Japanese authorities, and unless
sufficient and satisfactory action Is
taken by the home government the
Chinese exclusion act should be made
broad enough to extend to Japanese of
the same class.
The subject of oriental emigration
cannot be discussed without giving
some consideration to the danger of
cheap labor from the Philippine isl
and.. It will soon be necessary to leg
islate on this subject. If the Filipinos
are permitted to come here there is
danger that the Philippine question
will become only second in aggravation
to the Chinese question. If, on the
other hand, the Filipinos are prohibit
ed from coming here (if a republic
can prohibit the inhabitants of one
part from visiting another part of the
republic), will it not excite a just pro
test on the pfai-t of the Filipinos? How
can we excuse ourselves if we insist
:pon opening the Philippine islands to
the Invasion of American capital,
American speculators, and American
taskmasters, and yet close our doors
Vo those Fillplnes who, driven from
home, raay seek an asylum here?
The democratic party should tako a
strong and aggressive position on this
question. It can afford to oppose Chi
nese immigration and insist upon the
unity and homogeneousness of our na
tion. It can afford to Insist that Jap
anese laborers shall be treated the
same as Chinese laborers and exclud
ed, by agreement with the Japanese
government if possible, by congres
sional legislation if necessary.
The democratic leaders should fur
ther point out that the Philippine ques
tion Involves the same menace to our
euntry, and that as we can neither
afford to admit the Filipinos nor yet
make a distinction between different
parts of the republic, we should at once
declare our purpose to give the Fili
pinos independence as soon as a stable
government can be established. W. J.
Bryan in The Commoner.
Republican Boorbonlim,
The Republican party is threatened
by bourbonism. Bourbonism in poli
tics is unprogrcssiveness. It Is the
stubborn disposition to stand in the
way of progress until the obstruction
ist is trampled under foot. The men
who determine the politics of the Re
publican party are chiefly in the east.
Eastern Republicans refuse to abandon
their high tariff ideas and stand by
their extravagantly protected indus
tries in spite oi the imminent danger
of the loss of the house of representa
tives in 1902 and the los3 of the presi
dency in 1904 because they calculate
that the Republican majority in the
Senate cannot be disturbed for five
or six years, anyway, and until it is no
change In the political control of the
house and the presidency can accom
plish anything in the way of radical
tariff revision. Minneapolis Journal.
' Facts Overlooked by .lingos.
There is a remarkable tendency in
the expansionist press to Ignore the
significant trade statistics for the past
year in the Philippines printed by Sec
retary Root in his annual report. That
is not unnatural. It is an uncomfort
able fact that the trade of Germany.
France and British possessions with
the Philippines has increased much
more than that of the United States.
These countries, moreover, have not
been aided a3 the United States has by
the presence in the islands of a large
army and administrative force, which
has created a special market for im
ported American goods. The various
flag theories are being sadly discredit
ed. Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
Asking Too Much of Cuba.
Those republican statesmen who are
opposing trade concessions to Cuba be
cause the Cubans are unworthy and
ungrateful are in danger of making a
commercial thing out of gratitude. It
has often been noticed that those who
Insist that you shall be grateful for
what they have done are never satis
fled with the degree of gratitude man
ifested. Are we to be forever urging
the sen-ices we have performed in
Cuba's behalf, to be perpetually re
minding them of what we have done
for them and to denounce them as un
grateful if they do rot Incessantly sing
the praises of the American people and
their government? Indianapolis News.
Sentiment and Policy at War.
"No wantonness of strength," says
Secretary of State Hay, " will ever in
duce us to drive a hard bargain with
another nation because it is weak, nor
will any fear of Ignoble criticism tempt
us to insult or defy a great power be
cause it is strong or because it is
friendless." This is a noble sentiment,
but the administration with which Mr.
Hay has been so prominently connect
ed is not the one to which the historian
in future will point as an exemplar of
this principle. Indeed, the imperialistic
policy of the last four years will be
regarded as exemplifying a doctrine
precisely opposite to the one laid down
by Mr. Hay. Buffalo Courier.
Tariff Plunderers Are Cnlted.
The whole objection to tariff revision
either by an amendment of the Dingley
law or the ratification of reciprocity
treaties arises from the fact that such
a move must result in the weakening
of the high tariff party. This party Is
held together by the hope of securing
and retaining special privileges, and so
soon as even one of these privileges
are taken away the men who are the
losers thereby have no further Interest
in the protection of the remainder.
For this reason the whole party clings
desperately together and resists re
form anywhere along the entire line.
Peoria Herald-Transcript.
Dominant Party Jiot Cnlted.
it is doubtful if any congress has
ever assembled in which the majority
mi an divided in ouinion as to sub
jects and character of legislation as Is
the Republican majority in the con
gress that meets to-day. Upon all the
creat Questions that have been before
the country since the last congress ex-
nired. and upon which this congress
has heen exnected to act. there are rad
ical and seemingly irreconcilable dif
ferences. Washington Post.
The Snrptas and Those Who Spent It
The grafters in congress believe that
the way to reduce the surplus is to In
dulge in all sorts of public extrava
gances, but the rank and file of their
constituents are of the opinion that the
best way would be to reduce taxation.
The objection to this will lie in the
opposition of the favored interests who
are at the bottom of the corruption of
the public service. Saginaw News.
IIow They Quiet Opposition.
It seems to be quite the fashion now
for the trusts to quiet obstreperous
democratic leaders by making them
members of some corporation. Repre
sensatlve Sulzer of NewYork Is the lat
est example, having connected himself
with a Texas oil company. There is
nothing like the point of view for al
tering one s opinions. Indianapolis
News.
Easy to Locate Ilia inc.
The Republicans have absolute con
trol of the present session of congress.
The democrats are not called upon to
take any initiatory steps. All that the
party asks of them Is to keep watch of
he Republicans and take advantage of
their blunders. Indiacapoli3 Sentinel.
THE O., R. I. A P. R. R.
By January 1st the Rock Island ex
pects to ce able to open for business its
southwestern extension to El Paso,
Tex. This line, in connection with tha
Southern Pacific and the Mexican Cen
tral railroads, will give tho Rock
Island tho shortest line both to South
ern California and the City cf Mexico,
and make it a dangerous competitor of
the Santa Fe. It took Just one year to
construct the 546 miles of the new ex
tension from Liberal, Kan., to El Paso,
Tex. For the purpose of complying
with the Texas law that every railroad
within that state shall have state oper
ating headquarters and also tor general
construction facilities and convenience,
the new road was placed under the
charters of five different railroad cor
porations, viz.: The Chicago. Rock
Island & Pacific proper, the Chicago,
P.ock Island & Mexico, the Chicago,
Rock Island & El Paso, the Rock Island
& El Paso, and the El Paso & North
eastern. The road from Liberal to
Santa Rosa, N. M.. a distance of 273
miles, was placed under direct Rock
Island construction, with J. H. Conlen.
vice president of the Chicago. Rock
Island & Mexico, as Chief Engineer
and General Manager, while from San
ta Rcsa to Carrlzozo. a distance of 120
miles, the construction work was given
to the El Paao & Northeastern, which
already had a constructed line fiom El
Paso to Carrizozo. The road from Lib
eral to Carrlzozo will be equipped with
eighty-pound steel rails, oak or pitch
pine ties, and modern ballasting. De
pot, side tracks, switches, station
houses, yardings. water tanks, and
Western Union telegraph Hues have all
kept pace with actual road building,
and when the road is opened by the
first of next year it will be In as perfect
condition as any of the lines of tb
Rock Island system that have been in
service for years. In connection with
the Rock Island-El Paso line is the
new thirty-mile railroad which is to
develop the immense Dawson coal
fields, owned by the Rock Island, on
the Beaublen and Mirand grant. In the
northern part of Colfax county, N. M.
This toad will leave the main Rock
Island rails at or near Liberal station,
twenty miles southwest of the Cana
dian river crossing, and run through
the New Mexican counties of San Mi
guel. Mora and Colfax. This branch
will be completed by May 15. 1902. The
coal is to feed the southeastern por
tion of the Rock Island-El Paso line,
and probably will largely supply tha
Southern Pacific railroad, in addition
to a heavy domestic custom in that
section of the country. The comple
tion of the El Paso line will give the
Sock Island a route of 222 miles short's-
between Kansas City and El Paso
than that of the Santa Fe between the
same points, together with a saving
c fifteen hours of time, the latter fact
oelng largely due to the favorable
alignment and maximum 1 per cent
grade of the new Rock Island line. In
connection with the Southern Pacific,
the Rock Island will have a shorter
line from Chicago to Los Angeles than
will the Santa Fe. The construction
cost of the Rock Island-El Paso line
will approximate J7.000.000, an average
of about flo.COO per mile. CLIcesu
Tribune.
Sppclul Proclamation.
Governor Shaw of Iowa, having re
ceived a letter from a little girl in
his state, whose name he refuses to
divulge, to the effect that she had been
ill on Thanksgiving and had thus miss
ed the dinner, has issued a special
proclamation urging the child's fam
ily and such guests as she desires to
assemble at her home on a day chos
en by her, to partake with thankful
hearts of a dinner. The governor sent
this proclamation direct to the little
girl, and with it a fine turkey.
Mayor Low's "Kick" ltar.an.
When Seth Low shall have taken his
seat as mayor of New York it is bis
intention to establish a "bureau oi
complaints and suggestions," where all
kinds of kickers may come and make
their complaints known. The man in
charge will act as a sort of lightning
rod for his official superiors, who will
thus be able to save much time. and.
besides, the indignant citizen will have
a place where he can Mow off super
fluous steam.
Mercnrv nm -ecu by Fee.
Dr. See of the United States naval
observatory in Washington, D. C. has
just concluded a measurement of the
planet Mercury with the largo tele
scope of that Institution. Its diam
eter is found to be 2.C5S miles.
An Ken Tard of Sore Throat.
The tallest giraffe in the New York
zoo has about three feet of sore throat
and the business cf curing it is puz
zling the authorities, who are consid
ering the feasibility of letting tha
work out by contract.
TALKS ON ADVERTISING.
The best way to advertise is just to
advertise. Get at it with a view to hav
ing tha people know what you most
desire to sell, and incidentally letting
them know that the specified items do
not represent your full stock. Say in
teresting things about interesting goods
and have the goods to talk.
Men talk of the secret of successful
advertising, but It is all very plain. Tha
essentials are to offer what people
want, at fair prices, and to offer it la
a way that will make readers know!
they want it. The art In writing an
advertisement is to speak as the inter
ested and well-informed merchant
would speak to a prospective customer.
The mere appearance of a business
nan's name and address in every issue
of a leading newspaper will do work to
increase his trade. Every business man.
however, li able to give facts about his
establishment which will encourage
people to deal with him. To state such
acts clearly in a newspaper is the prin
cipal secret of successful advertising.
The Idea that it takes a numDer or.
mnressions to make the average ad
vertisement effective Is not new. Forty.
veara aeo an English advertiser said
to the publisher of the Cornhlil Maga
zine: "We don t consider tnat an ad
vertisement seen for the first time by
a reader is worth much. The second
time It counts for something. The third
iimo tho reader's attention Js arrested;
the fourth time he reads it through and
thinks about it; the fifth makes a pur
chaser of him. It takes time to soalt
In."
Good resolutions don't cost anything,
but they are hard to keep.