Smyrna times., 1891-01-21
For the Smyrna Times
The Farmer in Politics.
To THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES :

I N@AA1 LIZA Ut AhE LINES
Since discussing the farmer in poll.
tics and the reforms he proposes, your
paper has become unusually interest
ing to me. In fact, all periodical liter
ature has freshness and a vigor that
it did not have before the advent of
our friend, "hayseed" upon the ros-
trnm of politics. 1t gives the newspa-
pers, ct al something to talk about
that is really alive in the United States.
1t is something they do not have to
pull out of dark holes into the light.
With an energy all its own it is thrust
ing its face into the door Ofeverv farm
house and demands recognition every
where.
l assume that it is the farmers busi-
ness to be in politics That it is his
right to advocate any reforms in gov
ernment he pleases, whether they are
right or wrOng-goOd or bad.
He is part of the American people,
and l shall consider it no great calam-
ity If he lets them know it. He might
have done so some time ago without
regret. That you oppose his idea of
the government (by which 1 mean the
politicians in ofiee) loaning him money
the in name Ofthe people am not at all
surprised. But this is a matter of
your own business. So long as YOU
give brother "hayseed" a chance to
dednd himself and to read both sides
OF the question, he has no right to
complain at your hands.
Whether it is right or wrong for the
government to 60 into the loaning bus
iness do not presume to decide. But,
if it is wrong, why does the govern
ment do it? If it is right, why should
it not loan to the farmer?
National Bank corporations on de-
posting U. S., Bonds with the Secre-
tary or the Treasury have issued to
them 80 per cent of the face of those
bonds in currency. If this is not
loan of nine-tenths of the face value on
those bonds, what is it? Certain am,
the farmer would take an issue of the
same kind'on his mortgage.
The government issued bonds to
loan to the Union Pacific Railroad Co.,
which still draw interest and are still
unpaid. Why can it not issue bonds in
order to loan to Othe farmers.
The government has deposited
Qoaned) over sixty million of dollars
dividend in several banks, without Sc
curity and without interest. Why
does it not deposit some with the far
mer in the same manner and on the
same easy terms?
The Mckinley Bill subsidies the
sugar industry at the rate of two cents
for each pound. Why not subsidize
the farming industry?
Several of our honest and ablest
are now championing a sub
sidy to the South American Steam
ship Company. Why do they not
champion subsidy to mortgaged
farmers =?
The farmers, some of them. have
sensed this policy and Justly demand
it shall likewise be applied to them in
their hour of need. Whether they
accomplish their purpose still remains
TO be seen, but whether they fail or
one of two things must, and
one OftwO things will be done before the
snow Ofmany winters fall. Thegovern-
ment will go out of the loaning busi-
ness altogether or it will loan in rea-
Sonable amounts on good security to |
any one who may demand it. One of |
these will rise or both will fall whether
the government is Socialistic, Alliance,
Prohibition, Democratic or Republican,
for the cry has gone forth, Especial
privileges to none equal rights to alp |
and ultimately the fttest will survive.
AS ever yours,
MAY MAYEX