Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-01-11
Mr.. Benedict is Right.

MI. benedict is right. It is but fair
to our fellow citizen Mr.. Benedict in
the controversy which an article of his
i'll the Wichita Eagle brought forth,
that his answer be given to our people
along with the rest. The plain intent
and meaning of Mr.. Benedict's first let
ter was evidently misconstrued. and to
his injury. Mr.. Benedict is man of
good sense and good heart, a valuable
citizen and a thorough farmer, but
we let him below speak for himself.
MEDICINE LODGE, Dec. "a.
To the Editor of the Eagle
A happy New Year to all.
The article in your issue of Dec. %.
was from some one who IS too much of
a coward to sign his name, but uses as
a substitute Another Farmer" and
not western farmer at that, will
venture to say.
Inasmuch as he has given the readers
of the Eagle my pedigree. which is said
TO injure me, may have space for an
explanation; and as you headed my ar
ticle of Dec. 8 with "Some Blnnt
Truths" L feel that 1 am not altogether
in the enemy's camp.
This writer is trying to make out that
/ am working against the sugar interest,
and have tried to deceive Uncle Jerry
Rusk, which is false. Uncle Jerry
Rusk knew l was an alliance man the
first year he appointed me as superln-
tendent of the station here; also the Sec
ond year, and it is true he wanted to
make it success, as he knew l had ex-
perlence in farming here. I did not ask
for the positIon.) Now if your readers
will take and read the Congressional
Record of March 6, 1892, vol. %, No. 60
on page 1867. you will see what Jerry
Simpson said. If it had not been for
his influence and remarks we would not
have gotten the money to put out the
crop OF 1872, as no money had been ap-
propriated. This wise writer tells you
the Democrats are going to take the
bounty all off from sorgum sugar.
which is not so. This industry is in it's
infancy and not a full success yet. The
bounty on cane sugar may be taken off.
AS for tariff on sugar. was it not taken
off, and did it not come down in price?
Now let the tariff be removed from the
old and successful manufactures.
Some few years ago 1 hired
young Engllshman just over, he
brought trunk full of clothes. Pants
he paid $500 tor there would cost $500
to 700 here. We pay this first to protect
our manufactures. Gang plows cost as
here $500; sulky plows $4S, which
should not cost US farmers over SAG and
S25; but we pay it just to keep up the
manufactures. Binders, harness and
everything else according. But boys,
we farmers pay these kind of prices to
keep up the factories which 1 claim we
farmers were not protected. 1 was
raised republican, but my business,
which is farming, made me change my
vote. The only relief we will get is
through our votes. If England or any
other country will make us better pric-
es either for our grains and meats, or
for their goods, let them come. This
tariff writer thinks the United States
will 60 to the dogs if the tariff is taken
off. Our monopoly will not make us
pay such robber prices for their goods,
but they will go right on manufactur.
ing just the same as we farmers do.
Wheat is fearfully low in price, but we
go right on raising it just the same
But, if we could buy our goods somuch
cheaper, if the tariff was taken off.
just as sugar came down, we can afford
to sell our meats and grain cheap, as
we do now land do well. 1t will be a boon
for the west. but if you are an eastern
manufacturer talk tariff. 1t IS time
our balance in trade was increasing ev-
cry year, but the tariff does not affect
that; they are simply buying more of
our grains and meats and they would
buy still more if we let the bars down
and load the ships both ways. But as
long as we are bied by eastern manu-
facturers who combine" and we foo,
the bill, just so long the west will feel
sore. Let our grains go to Wichita to
be graded, and then on to Galveston
Let our goods come back that way if
the prices are cheaper, and the west
Will be in it. Yours very truly,
ELI BENEDICT.