Evening journal., 1892-03-14
THE FARMERS INTEREST.
The Judges are Unable to Arrive at
Verdict OF Joint Debate.

FAULKLAND, March a. The rivalry be-
tween the Forest Oak Literary and De-
batting Society aud Falkland Lyceum has
led to joint debate on the question. Re
solved. That Wrong Legislation is the
Cause Of Agricultural Depression Fri
day evening was selected for the discus
sion and large audience was present in
cluding many from both organizations.
Prior 10 the debate vocal aud instru
mental music by Mr.. aud MrS James
Brown and Miss Lizzie Brown was rem
deted and Miss Amy r. Piser read Sc
lestion on the Farmers Mortgage"
Charles G. Dempsey, Joseph Derrick
son and Albert Bedford were the de-
baters for the visitors. while DR.. l. n.
Ball. Rev John D. Blake and Isaac Finn
defended the local organization r W
Crook, Lemuel Crossan and Watson
Brackin we're appointed judges.
Albert Bedford opened argument for
the affirmative. He spoke OF the condi-
tion Of the roads In this country and
what the government had done to sup
port them, which was very little in pro-
portion TO the amounts expended by the
governments Of France and Italy He read
in part, the report of Secretary Of Agri.
culture Rusk as to the condition OF the
farmer In this country 10 comparison
to that OF European countries. he ex-
planned the tariff on wool and how the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company had i'm
posed on the farmers Of Delaware, in
carrying produce of Maryland farmers TO
Philadelphia and Eastern cities at l)wer
rates than those charged to the local
producer. Isaac Finn's speeches were
brief and his opinions were expressed in
few words
Mr. Derrickfon for the visitors ad =
justed his spectacles stroked his beard
and made dive In his overcost pocket
and brought forth an encyclopedia He
complained Of the delicate health of the
Forest Oak people and said that he had
the hoadache and could not read much,
nevertheless he devoted the larger part OF
his time in reading Governor Pattison's s
non- political speech delivered at Harris.
burg I'm the interest of tbs farmer and a
speech OF ]. b. Price Then he ex-
planned how the Homewood farm was
sold for 827, 600 during the civil war, and
that the price had decreased to
IS 200 few years ago, on account
Of wrong legislation; that he could
not express the silver words used by
college graduates aud speaking from ex-
perience that they had and would often
get lick Of the blather-stone: that
there were $4,000 tramps in the
United States and $4,000, 900 persons
would work II they could get anything
to do; hat there was property to the
value Of 800, 600, 900 in the vicinity Of
Pittsburg owned by four capitalists and
If the President OF the United States de-
sired to receive the income alone. from
this large amount, his wife would be
compelled to take in sewing and washing
at the White House; that Old 'Hutch, y
the millionaire grain dealer of Chicago
was Of no use to this country.
Rev John ID. Blake explained the
amount OF tax paid. namely, that the
farmers owned one-ffth OF the real es.
tate of the country and pay but one.
tenth Of the tax derived from the whole.
Western cities, he said, had been built In
the very midst OF the agricultural dis
tricts and we're in prosperous condition.
Grasshoppers and other pests were in
furious to farmers and these were not
caused by wrong legislation that CO.
operation was In existence among labor.
ing classes and mechanics and that they
demanded and received their prices This
was not the case with the farmers, in-
stead, they are working against one
another. Until something was done In
this direction the farmers will not sd
vance their interests and cannot blame
wrong legislation for their own folly.
Mr.. Dempsey came up smiling. De
was surprised that the gentleman that
had Just seated himself had devoted over
one-nalf Of his time ia talking Of krass-
hoppers 81 am very much interested
in this question and will talk of the
wrong legislation in our own state and
not roam over the world. That is the
reason came here this evening" EN-
phasis WAS put on the last sentence and
was said Ia such a way that there was
continued applause on part OF the audi.
ence. The patent system was an imposi.
tion on the farmer aAd be explained bis
views He was so interested that be con
tinued his speech after time had been
called by the president.
Dr.. Ball explained that the ofics hold
ers were to blame and net the law; the
percentages In supply aud demand; fin
ished that part OF Secretary Rusk's re-
port that Mr.. Bedford tried to explain
showing It was the secretary's object tC
advance the interests Of the farmer and e
tfat end the Office had been created; and
why London ruled the prices of grain.
He pleaded hard for the negative side. anc
In concluding caused considerable laugh
ter when he used the words MY Deal
Judges"
| The judges we're likely embarrassed In
their new duties, so much that one was
afraid and the other dared not Instead
Of giving his opinion as to the best argu-
ments, one judge began to discuss the
question ana finished BY saying that there
was no legislation. The question is al
far from being decided now as it was be-
fore the discussion.