Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-07-20
TALK AT THE RAILROAD STATION,

COngrcss--thats what's the matter
The Government is run by the man
ufacturing monopolists and the lrol
lords, and the people have to pay 70
it. The farmer pays them tax o.
his hat and his coat. and his boots
on his shovel and hoe, on his cradle
and grayestone-there amt anythin!
he buys that isn't burdened with tax
es for the benefit of somebody else
on the pretext of paying duty to the
Government, and what does the Gov
ernment do for the farmers ? Moth
ingl Now 60 for fair divide.
want bounty of fifty per cent or
every bushel of wheat | raise, Just tc
make things even. I am an infan,
agriculturalist and l want protec-
ton"
''Ha ha ham roared the whole
crowd. That's the talk Go for
him, 10 p
The man who had fallen into this
dispute with a native orator. at a
wey station on a Western railroad,
dfd not appear a whit dashed by the
zest with which his opponents argu-
ments were received, and the loung-
ers crowded around to hear his re-
ply, with the interest which Western
people always take in public dis
cusslon, OF any kind whatever.
"You would hardly have said as
much,n said the stranger "if YOU had
known that l am an iron manutac.
turer 7"
mo offense was intended" said 10;
"But truths truth, and I'll stand to
it l don't blame you for taking care
OF your own interests, and in your
place / would do the same
Stranger. I'll not agree that we
have any rivalry of interests whatev-
er, or that my business has been one
half as well and persistently cared
for by the Government as yours.
Will you allow me the Yankee priv
llege Of asking you question or two?
10. As many as you please.
Stranger. What Is the amount OF
capital with which you started into
business ? I mean, what did you pay
for your farm?
This question elected movement
in the crowd, and with visible reluct-
ance 10. answered: "Well, the fact
is, stranger, took my land up under
the homestead laws"
Stranger. Then the Government
made gift of the capital to start you
in business, while had to scrape and
save and borrow money to buy my
furnace property. That is a differ.
ence in your favor in the outset.
What right had the Government to
give you land for nothing that be-
longed to the people? Up to this
time, at the rates shown in the last
report, I estimate that it has given
away about sixteen millions OF acres
to needy farmers, which would have
sold for twenty millions Of dollars,
and this created just so much OF q de-
ticit in the Treasury that have been
obliged to make good by paying
stamp tax and income tax, and tax on
sales. to the general government.
Jo. Well, the land wasn't worth
much to tie Government or anybody
else when l rot it, and wouldn't be
now if the railroad hadn't come along
and opened up the country.
Stranger. How much stock have you
in the road? You ana your neigh
Dors must have been taxed pretty
heavily to build 1t.
10. Wall, no; It didn't cost me :
red cent.
Stranger Any Of the neighbors
stock hol4ers?
10. believe not. l don't know OF
any. In fact, like all other roads
through the west, it was built by q
government subsidy.
Stranger. Any factories or furnaces
along the route?-any manufacturers
to be benefited?
10. Not any.
Stranger. Well, it strikes me that
for infant agrlculturalists you have
been sucking away at the Treasury
pretty strongly. Nearly the whole
amount Of land grants for railroads
and other internal Improvements are
bonus to agriculture. Two hundred
millions of acres of the public do
mains, worth at least two hundred
and fifty millions OF dollars, have
been given away in this manner, and
vet you say the Government does
nothing for the farmer. l will ven
ture to say this very road, built by
the Government, has added fifty per
cent. to the price Of every bushel of
wheat you raise, and you have big
ger bonus than any manufacturing
interest ever received from the Gov
ernment. What do you say to that ?
10. Wall, I don't know, stranger.
There's something in it, but the Gov.
ernment gets it all back again in the
increased prosperity Of the country.
Stranger. Take care what you say.
you are getting around to the tariff
argument and will be a Protectionist
before you know it. Here a laugh
arose from the crowd, and 10, who
had been shifting uneasily from one
foot to another, was audibly advised
to "cheer up "Never say die" etc.
Stranger. lContinuing]. In addition
to the lands appropriated by the
Government, there has been money
spent and credit loaned to open up
the country for you. Some of your
Western roads, in which not single
manufacturer was, as such, directly
interested, have received not only
the odd-numbercd sections within ten
miles of their line, but also Gov.
ernment loan of from sixteen to forty.
eight thousand dollars per mile q
road. This IS not the end Of the
matter, either.
10. You're drawing it pretty strong
already, l think.