Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-19
TAXES AND, RECIPROCITY

The Burden of Granger Orators ut Mt.
Gretna-some PsssimistIe Remarks Not
Enthusiastically Reosived - The Big
Guns Expected Disappoint tho Crowd
Assembled There.
FROM STAFF CORRESPONDENCE
Mt. GRETNA, Aug. 18-Five thousand
visitors gathered on the farmers oncamp.
ment grounds to-day. Governor Pattison
had been expected to deliver an address
during the afternoon, but was unable to re-
turn from his trip to Montrose in time to be
present As consequence there were many
expressions of disappointment from those
who came mainly to see and hear the chief
Executive Of the State. The majority of the
time Of to-day's guests, therefore, was occu-
pied in inspecting tho extensive exhibits Of
agricultural machinery and kindred dis
plays.
Tho principal speech at the auditorium
this afternoon was delivered by j. T. ALL
man, lecturer Of the State Grange. Mr.. All.
man dealt largely with political topics, al
though not expressing any particular parti-
san preference. In the course Of his re-
marks he said: "All our demands have
hitherto been ignored in Pennsylvania.
There rs remedy for this state Of affairs
right at our hands. Let 10000 or even 10000
go to the managers of that party and tell
them that the interests of the grangers
have been trifled with long enough. Tell
them that you have read their plat form,
and that it won't do. Point out to them the
changes that must be made and what you
will do If they are not made, and your wishes
will be obeyed."
State Taxation Declared Uuequal.
'For instance" continued Mr.. Altman,
"taxation in Pennsylvania is at present out
rageously unequal. Real estate, the farms
from which we have sucn hard work wiring.
ing bare existence, is taxed q, ywhere from
to 10 mills, according to the section. The
average is mills. Personal property, which
includes bank stock and the vast corporate
interests, pays less than mill. know It is
suppo ed to pay mills, but it doesn't. have
thoroughly examined the records In the
office OF the Secretary of Internal Affairs at
Harrisburg, ard the comparatively absurd
figure have named is correct No wonder
The average profit of agriculture in Pennsyl-
Fania is only per cent, and that on bank
stock to 10 per cent, and yet the farms have
the latter No Wonder % eanisal d does not seek *
investment in farms"
The speaker then urged that all farmers
should make it a rule to secure explicit
pledges from members of the legislature as
to their policy when elected, and should see
that those pledges were faithfully executed.
Very Sore Over reciprocity.
Mr.. Altman appeared to have a particu-
lar grievance at reciprocity. as he concluded
his speech thus: II want to expose one
political sham before leave the platform.
We are being told that our export trade has
increased largely under the influence of the
new reciprocity scheme. That is a gigantic
falsehood. have here the figures from the
Treasury Department showing the exports
for the II months ending May 81. They
show an increase of $l26, 600, 900 in round
numbers over the previous corresponding
period. This increase has all been attributed
by designing politicians to reciprocity. An
pletely refutes this assertion. The increase
OF the exports of wheat and corn alone
amounts to over $l26, ,0O0, 600, showing that
this wheat went to Europe because Of the
failure of the crops there while our harvests
we're abundant. 1t was q matter controlled
by Providence and not by laws or treaties.
We sent wheat and corn to Germany be-
cause there was famine in Russia. the
usual source of GerInanys supply, and that
brings out the point wish to make plain.
1t is that the American farmer must COM
pete with the but recently unmanacled serfs
OF Russia and the fabulousy cheap labor of
India and Egypt while paying artificially
high prices for the articles he consumes,
and furthermore, these Treasury Depart
ment figures hold in my hand show that
our exports to the countries with which
reciprocity treaties have been negotiated.
have actually decreased during the past
year. SO much lor that sham"
Another Dissatisfisd Granger
Among the other speakers pressed into
fractions was D. P. Forney, OF Adams
county. Mr.. Forney is evidently not
pleased with the lot of a farmer, as may be
judged by one extract from his remarks.
He said: Il have heard agriculture
referred to by gifted orators as tho
chosen occupation Of our first
which they were driven as a punishment
And ever since that time the farmer Las
been earn ng his bread from the soil in sor-
row by the sweat OF his brow, while others
live upon the fat of the land"
Mr.. Forney contin Ied in q most pessimis-
tic vein, making many predictions of dire
calamites that would overtake the country
unless some startling changes were speedily
made. But the farmers who listened to his
dreful address more or less attentively did
not have poverty-stricken appearance by
somewhat weary OF the unpleasant prophe-
cies wandered out on the grounds 10 ar
range with exhibitors for a few hundred
dollars worth of improved machinery to
harvest future crops and gave unmistakable
evidence that agriculture in Pennsylvania
is not in every instance entirely unprofr-
able.
It's Like q Big Picnic.
Over thousand persons are now occupy.
ing tents or cottages in the spacious grove,
and propose to stav during the entire en-
The remainder Of the guests
change with each passing day, coming in
from early morning by railroad, in vehicles
of all descriptions and on foot. Tomorrow
will be devoted to a farmers institute under
the auspices of the State Board Of Agri-
culture, and variety of subjects Of practi.
cal interest to the granger are to be dis
cussed at length.
Tonight the veterans had possession of
the encampment and held q campfire
Reminiscent X speeches of war times were
made by General J. P. s. Goblin, Captain
OF York county, and Prot. Landis
OF Otterhein University, Dayton, o. Citizen
George Francis Train was heard from again
to-day. He is q little afraid his sentiments
will be too radical for peaceful Keystone
farmers and promises to surprise them. He
announces that the topic of his address next
Tuesday will be ''red-hot public events"
Efforts are now being maoe to secure the
presence of General Weaver and Jerry
Simpson on Peoples Party Day, in addition
to the sreechcs already scheduled. the
and Democrat committees have
also been urged to provide the best available
orators for their respective days
STUDYING A NEW STAR