Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-01-15
THE NORTHWEST
THE WOMEN DID 1T.


was one Of them "iOOl fArmsn; yea, I'll own it
Thsre vas plenty Of US fashioned on the same Pc
culiar plan;
And I've Lived out here In Kansas more than nVs-
growing poor ana poorer. as 1t certainly SppCau.
Iseldom read the pspers-I work too hard for that,
And never knew Why got lean while other men got
didn't fool with politics, had too much to do;
nut always voted a. shot, and - they told me TO.
he dsy before election, Just imagine my distress,
when tetched my wife s-readin'-nUv whatever
Afree trade publication, and, to make II wOrss. she
she'd read II regular each night before she went to
bed.
And, do you know. that wife Of mine Just faced me
That farmers slave to make few monOpolsts in
town. .
IGiways try to get around these warm domestic
spats;
But when praised protection, and she laughed and
answered, "RAts,"
Ibrstled up II kindled all the sentiments Of strife
TO think this free trade stun should be corrupn Of
quit her then and there before her argument was
As every good prOtectIOnist makes It a rule to do.
That night we had q campfire, and our congressman
We gave bin sjOhn Browns Body" when he went
wore nv Old blue uniform to spit the Democrats,
But al the time wondered what my Mary meant
by "Rsts."
Our congressman was eloquent, he made stIrrin'
Ioould slmos. see the battles smoke aud hear the
And when be bade us vote as we had shot at NAL
vern Hill
We rose with one accord and cried with one ao-
claim, ave Will"
We sang the good old war songs and we ate mess
md we passed the evsnin' pleasantly recallin'
And we took the straight out tickets and we pinn-
ed 'em on our hats,
But ali the time wondered what my Mary meant by
''Rats."
When reached home noticed that my Mary wore
smile,
which seemed to me as indicatin' storms ahead or
bile;
To head her of Isaid. "You1l call me early, moth
or dear,
For tomorrow will be the livest day free trade will
have this year."
Next mornin' just at sun up, as woke and rubbed
A kwondsriH' wha. she meant by "Rats,"1 saw to my
Ny clothes andhst and boots all ranged in order on
the floor,
And beArin each card I'd swear never saw before
My flannel shirt displayed this sign, "Ts1ed s5 pei
Ny trousers .'Taxed iOO"-so this is what "Rats'
meant;
MY vest said "Taxed 1OO" and my shoes TAXED 25,'
Ny coat and hat "9OO," with Protection makes uf
thrive"
Y
'sTaved Is per cent" Great Scott the towel said
the same.
The soap was marked at "2o." AsI dropped 1t on
IchAnced to see scuttle full ofcoal chalked ''24"
/ passed into the kitchen, and 1t gives me pain to
state
That ny wife had on wOOlsn dress stamped "Onl,
And in shooting out guinea hen she made little
dive
which showed pair of stockings with a card mark
ed ''S5."
The baby in his little bed was lynn fast asleep;
Railways held the little CHAP as most uncommon
But when saw them cards on the blanket, pillow
Grip and sheet
felt lump raise in my throat, I knew that was
beat.
No matter where went struck them pesky littl,
signs,
The stoVe the plates the knives the forks, the win
dow sash and blinds,
The scissors, needles, thread oil bore that terrible
per cent;
Bigosh didn't dare to ask what card was on th'
rent.
That was the shortest meal ever ate in all my life
And a. left the table, in remarking to my wife
That was going to the polls, she helped me witt
my coat
And said, 81 reckon John, needn't tell you how tc
vote"
Iwalked down to my votin' place; 1t looked lik
Was full Of farmin' implements which bore littl
card,
And seemed to say, from plow to spade, from
thresher down to Ak.
HGood mornin' John, and don't forget the tariff Ia
tax"
Ivoted straight, oh, yes no doubt of that; vote'
straight,
But not exactly in the way expected of my state;
And showed the boys the little cards provided b
my wife
That night our congressman took formal leaf 6
public life.
Twas one Of them "fool farmers" during hve-and
twenty years;
But I've learned little common sense, as doubtles
Low appears;
You can run and tell McKinley-and-say-
forget 10 state
That we've voted out In Kansas and we've vote
darned near straight.