The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Mr.. Bynum and the Farmers.

"a aao Ia n att
70 the Editor OF the IndianapoIis Journal.
Mr. Bynum. in his speech on the Mills bill,
delivered in Congress on the 18th Of last April,
IN page 10 makes these extraordinary state
msnts:
With rs the raising of sheep is not for the wool but
for the meat. Farmers will raise sheep because a
certain number can always be ~pro6tably kept upon
any farm. The profit in raising sheep, except where
the climate Is mild aud pssturage is abundant, is not
N the wool but in the mutton. In countries where
the profit Is IN raising mutton the demand for mutton
will control and regulate the number of sheep. In
countries where wool can be grown az comparatively
little cost, and the profit 70 the shepherd IS not In
slsuyhtering but in shearing his sheep, there the
WOOL VIII be grown TO clothe the people IN the colder
climates; and to exclude the same from our ports IS
not only destruction 10 orr wooden mills, but Is .
serious blow TO every other industry, and 10 every In
clv1dual throughout the whole country.
II this statement means anything 1t does mean
that no farmer in this Seventh congressional
district. nor in the State Of Indiana. has any
business raising sheep for the wool; that he
should not expect to make money by selling the
wool, and that he should be content to raise
sheep for the mutton. Any farmer knows very
well that il does not paw him to raise sheep
simply to slaughter; that sheep are exceedingly
hard on the farm, and II he cannot make any
money on the shearipg that he had better not
attempt to raise them at all But Mr.. Bynum
takes the extraordinary position that this in
dustry Of raising sheep FOR the wool belongs to
another class of people altogether. and not to
our farmers. The fact is, Mr.. Bynum is talking
In the interests of New York importers, in try
ing Co convince his farmer constituents that they
have no business raising sheep for the WOOL The
sheep raising IN this congressional district is no
small thing. I have q brother who is q
farmer and has q flock Of sheep. / ksked HIM
the other day If he made any money of Of them.
de replied that he did with the present tariff on
wool. but that If wool was put on the free list
he would be forced to sell his sheep and 20 out
OF the business. Our farmers have TO work
hard for what they get and why should they not
Dc protected and their interests carefully
guarded What right has our Congressman TO
stand upon the floor Of Congress or go over the
country and tell his farmer constituents that
they have no business raising sheep to make
money on wool. that this industry belongs to an
other class Of peoplel What else is this but ad-
vocatine the interests of South American wool
growers In the interests Of the New York import
erx i understand that Colonel Matson. the
Democratic nominee for Governor. has made
the statement that there are not enough sheep
in Indiana TO hurt the farmer by putting
wool on the free list" his Is
''eold comfort indeed. for our farmers.
Mr.. Bynum further says in his letter 10 the
editor OF the indianapolis Journal: 1--WE tariff
reformsrs insist that the people would be bene.
flied bv being able to obtain everything that
grows free" The Mills bill. for which Mr..
Bynum voted and for the passage of which he
made his speech, puts on the free list ~"vegets-
bles." When we put on the free list everything
that grows this touches the interests OF the
farmer most directly and personally. He is
forced in contact with the markets OF the entire
worl d in the sale or everything he has. Pota-
toes, by our existing laws, are protected just
enough to prevent Canada and other countries
shipping them into our country and breaking
down the price. Every year the farmer thinks
thss the price which he realizes for
hfa r0%afnaa onA nthsr ra1afahIaa n dtaeroco-
ingly low, and yet Mr.. Bynum Is perfectly
willing that the present prices should be broken
down By putting potatoes and other vegetables
on the free list. and allowing Canada and other
countries to ship them into our ports. and let
the poor farmer take care Of himself as best be
can. Mr.. Bynum has . great deal to say about
the farmer getting cheap clothes by admitting
wool free. suppose the average farmer buys
farmer gallo by having the price of his vegeta-
bles broken down, and his wool industry taken
from him in getting ia suit OF clothes afsw dollars
cheaperl II the farmer adopts Mr.. Bynumis
absurd free-trade theories, he will nay an in
creased price for bis clothing. The farmer now
has money TO buy with. but IL We le. Mr.. Bynum
have his way he could not get for the little
which he would have TO sell any price by which
be could make q profit. Instead Of trying to
break down our farmers interests, we should.
By every means possible, encourage the farmer
and protect his interests and rights. so that he
can become thrifty and accumulate money.
L cannot see now any FARMER IN THIS congress
eional district can vote for 3 man like Mr.. By
mum. with such absurd views of public policy
as are so constantly expressed and contained in
his public speeches and ~letters.s
Mr.. Bynum, at the close OF his letter in the
Sentinel, warns the editor of the Indianapolis
Journal in the following bombastic language:
II am somewhat like the 'good-natured prize
fighter who was never worth anything in .
mill until he was 'riled.' i am not worth much
in q campaign ull / am 'rilsd.'" When the
votes are counted in November ! think MIR.
Bynum will wake up TO the fact that his won
derful record as Congressman has somewhat
.'riled" his constituents. W. II. II.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. Is