Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-10-01
The REASON Why
Railroad Presidents Favor The Gold
Standard.
ssSILVER WILL CAUSE HIGH
Err PRICES FOR FARM
PRODUCTS"
Circular Letter That Tells the
Whole Story.
The REASON WHY

1t is remarked on all sides that the
big railroad companies are driving
their employees into the support of
the gold standard by downright CO.
ercion. These railroads would not
be favoring the Hanna party if they
were not already holding a great ad-
vantage over the farmers and pro-
ducers and want it continued under
Mckinley. 1t was Alexander Hamil-
ton who said, "Give man power
over my subsistence and he has power
over the whole of my moral being"
Railroads exist by right of legislative
authority and are semi-public enter
prises. They have no business in
politics and much less have they
right to tell their employees their
bread and butter depend upon their
voting as the president or general
manager directs. Fortunately for
the people the heads of these rail
road companies do such foolish things
that their cause is hurt more than
helped. For instance, President
Ives, of the Burlington, Cedar Rap
ids & Northern Railway, handed to
every employe with his wages the
following circular:
To the employees of the B., C5R. d; N.
RaiLOay: @
1.-THE doctrines of the Sfl0er party
are true, the products Of the farm are
to bring a higher price. DO you aoish
to vote to increase the price Of the sack
of -four on the meat you buy?
The rates of freight and for passen-
gers on the railways, are fixed by law
and can not be raised. The railway
company must pay you in the money
it receives and can not pay more
than now, for the reason that it will
receive no more than now, notwith-
standing the fact that it will be only
half as good.
If Mr.. Bryan is our next president
the money of the country will be sill
yer, or silver notes on a silver basis.
The railway company has to pay
the interest on its bonds in gold, and
if it has to pay premium to get it,
and thereby the interest account is
increased, there will be no way to
meet 1t except by reducing expenses.
There you have the motive of the
railroad companies. They have bond
ed the roads for gold and if silver
carries they pretend to believe they
would have to pay premium for
gold with which to pay interest
charges. If that be true it only
proves the gold policy to be a burden.
But the railroad companies want the
burden of sustaining it to rest on the
backs of the farmers and working
men rather than on themselves. This
gold debt and interest charges must
be paid by the tribute levied on the
shippers of grain and live stock. But
when it comes to helping the farmer
how does President Ives talk? Is he
in favor of his having better prices?
He does not say silver is dishonest or
unsound, or will drive gold out of cir
culation, or anything of the sort. He
speaks plainly and to the point. We
repeat what he says:
"IF THE DOCTRINES OF THE
SILVER PARTY ARE TRUE, THE
PRODUCTS OF THE1EARAL4 ARE
TO BRING A HIGHEE kRf$#. DO
YOU WISH TO N6IEHTo IN
CREASE THE PRICE OF THE
SACK OF FLOUR>ORTHE MEAT
YOU BUYw
Farmers of Henry county, how
does that strike you? The President
of the big railroad company is op
posed to silver because it will increase
the price of your grain and live stock
Is not that the very best reason in
the.world why you should vote fol
free silver? Don't you want to gel
higher prices for your live stock and
the products of your farm? Think
over these facts. Tell them to youl
neighbor Henry county farmer,
should vote as a unit for silver.