National Republican., 1888-05-10
4 CoMMoN-sENsE SPEECH.
Representative IIouk states Facts That
Cannot be Controvcrtcd.

cannot be COntrONcrtcU,
The House of Representatives was yestcr-
day treated TO one of those vigorous
speeches that everybody can understand
and every protectionist can enjoy and the
author was the Hon. J.. G.. llouk, of Ten
nessee. lie is good speaker and always
commands respect. lie entered and en-
rhasized the solemn protests of the people
he represented against the wreck Of the
material prosperity, which had just begun
to dawn Upon the new south, by the enact
mcnt of the presidential message into law
An especially good point was made on the
question of paupcr labor, which, Mr.. lIouk
said, both parties united in keeping out Of
the country, hut here came the great Demo-
cratic party with bill that proposed to
house pnupcr labor on foreign soil aud allow
IT to ship its fabrics free into the United
States.
Mr., lIouk then rccitcd very amusing
and instructive cOllOquy which took place
at l.oudon, Tenn, during his last campaign,
in which he and Mr.. Hall, prominent
Democrat and leading farmer, took part.
The speech had turned ON the relative prices
Of articles under the Walker tariff of 1916
and under the present protective tariff and
Mr.. lIouk suddenly addressed his Demo-
cratic friend with
"Say, Jack; how much did you get for
your corn under the Walker tariff ~
"FrOm l0l to II cents bushCl,n was the
reply.
'.And how much do you get for the same
kind Of corn now?'
"Wcll, GO cents at the hcap.n
GLOW much did you get for wheat IN
those timcsY' the congressman wont on.
"FrOm % cents to 3j cents bushcl."
"WhHt do you get for the same grade of
hau rufgaI In np,n fam, l,ttt ,1,,p
this roscally protective policy?"
"Oh, anything from 50 cents TO Sl.25 Il
bushol."
"Wlot did they pay you for hogs in those
days, Jackgn
"From . TO 3 cents pound.n
"And the same Kind of hogs will fetch
Lowyn
"From to cents"
How much could you get for good
pony horse under the Walker tariff, and
how much will one fetch under this Repub
lican policy2"
I'VE never got more than $50 then, hut
now they are worth from Sl2j TO $40
apiece"
"Jacl," continued Mr.. Houk, "what
was the most you could sell good COW for
under that 1916 tarifr?r
"About Sl2 from - to Sl2.n
GLOW much now? ?" s''E
"From S25 to S45.n
"What was sheep worth then ~
"Fifty cents, if he was Il good one, but
now ! can get from Sl.50 to So "a voice
in the crowd: "Yes, and $3.50 II he's q
"Did you sell any butter in those days,
Jack p
"Well, we made good deal" was the
reply, "but we sold very little, and that never
fetched more than siXpence pound"
"Do you sell any butter now, under this
rascally Republican policy?"
"Ohl, yes; the old woman sells a good
deal.n
GLOW much do you get for it9n
"Wcll, we have standing contract at p
cents pound all the year round. and for
all we can make.n
''Jack; did you ever sell any eggs in those
daysY
dozen for . or 3 cents dOzen.m
"Do you sell any ~
"Yes; at least the old woman docs, and
she never gets less than % cents DOZEN
"liow much did you have to pay for
calico to make the old woman Sunday
dress under the old Walker TARIFF"
"From one shilling to % cents yard.n
"And what can you buy the same calico
at now, Jack ?"
From 4 to S cents yard"
Snow, you're farmer,o continued the
congressman, 'what did you have to pay for
trace chains under the tariff of 1916 ~
1.-TWO dollars pair for anything like
good oncs.n
"What do they cost now?n
'Sixty cents pair-for good ones"
"When you wanted a Sunday wool hat
then, what did you pay for 1t ?n
"Anything from $3.50 to 81
And what can you get the same quality
of hat for now sh
''From 80 cents to $l25.'
The conversation was repeated in the
speakers inimitable style and was much en-
iOyed.
Mr. 1Iouk said that on another occasion
when addressing an audience of farmers,
and commenting on the fact that under the
Walker tariff corn sold at 10 cents bushel,
an old citizen whom the congressman had
known for years interrupted him, and said,
'1lOld on there; let me say word. Under
the Democratic tariff of 1916 ! hauled fifty
bushels of corn across the river there
(pointing), and put it in Emmett Munday's
crib to pay for one pair of boots-S5 for the
boots and 10 cents bushel for the corn"
"Jakc," queried Mr.. lIouk, chow many
people would fifty bushels of corn shoe
now?f
"By Georec,n was his response, ''it would
furnish shoes and boots for family of 4
dozen people for at least two years.
"The Democratic PLATFORM Mr.. HOuli
"ShVohi cunning puSh W thc iiouoc' lau ht'
two ends to 1.-THE protection end and the
| freetrade end. The gentleman from Pennsyl-
| vania Mr.. Randall) had ridden on one end of
| the rail, while Carlisle, Morrison, and the
rest had ridden on the other end. But now
they were all going to get ON one end of the
platform, and that would make 1t easy sail
ing for the Republican party in Tennessee.
The pending bill would put out every fur
mace, close up every marble quarry, and de-
stroy every coal interest in that statc.n