Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-09-18
THE REPUBLICAN FARMERS ARR
COMING OVER TO HELP US.

THE REPUBLICAN FARMERS ARE
COMING OVER TO HELP Us.
The leaders of the Republican
party are waking up to the undenia-
BILE fact that the farmers are thor,
oughly dissatisfied with their high
protective policy and that something
must be done If they are to keep
that class of citizens from going
bodily over to the Democratic party.
True to their policy of shaping leg,
islation for the benefit of the manu-
facturer at the expense of the agri-
cultural interest, when they are at
last compelled to concede something
to retain, if possible, the votes of
the tillers of the soil, who III some
sections have acted with their party,
they place on the free list an article
that is an insignificant item in the
expense of the farmer, in the hope
that they may be able to bind him
to his own interest for little long
er.
In considering the tariff bill in
the Senate the Republicans, to show
their great interest i'll the welfare of
the farmer, have put binders Irvine
on the free list. When the differ
ence between the cost of the binder
which cuts the grain and the Irvine
which ties it into bundles is consld-
cred, the extent of the interest of
the Republican party for the farmer
as against the manufacturer is appa-
rent. If the Republicans were at
all sincere in their assured intention
to enable the farmer to harvest his
grain as cheaply as possible, they
would reduce the present exorbi-
tant tariff on iron and steel, which
enter largely into the manufacture
of the binder which cuts the grain,
and is now owing to the excessive
duties, the most expensive piece of
machinery the farmer uses. In fact
nearly every implement used in ag-
riculture is partly if not wholly com
posed of metal. A substantial re-
duction of the duty in this direction
would materially lessen the cost of
production and increase in the same
ratio the profits of the producer
But this action would bring a bowl
from the manufacturers of all agri-
cultural implements, as their profits
would thereby be reduced to some
thing like fair return for the CAPT
tai invested, and this of course the
party cannot afford to do.
The contract made by which the
"sinews of war" were furnished for
the election of Harrison must be
carried out. The STAT" that was
fried out of the manufacturers in
1888 must be returned by the farm
er. He in the end must foot the
bill for the purchase of the "blocks
Of FIVE" While some show of re-
gard for his interests must be made
if the Republicans are to retain
their agricultural votes, DO real re-
lief can be given this class of citi-
zens until the debt incurred to the
manufacturer is paid to the utter
most farthing. That this move was
not made because the party in con-
.rol believed that this liue OF goods
should go on the free list is demon
3trated by the fact that they refused
% put jute hagging made cut of
he same substance) CT an equality
with Irvine. Bagging is used exclu
sively in the Southern States,
which are hopelessly Democratic,
while Irvine is used in the Western
States, where the Republicans have
strength. This sop
thrown to the Western farmer in
The desperate attempt to quiet his
,lamoring for relief will not have its
effect. The whole thing is
100 apparent. If the Republican
party wishes to tie the farmer to it,
t will have to use something better
han a piece of Irvine.