The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-09-22
COCHRAN AND FARMERS
Bourke Cochran, in his speech in 6

Bourke Cochran, in his speech in Chi
cago q few nights ago. succeeded in
eliciting wild applause from large au-
dience by his eloquence and wit, which
he knows so well to use effectively.
This was to be expected. His audience
was composed of persons in full SYM
pathy with the gold-plated plutocratic
utterances of the distinguished New
York lawyer and politician.
During his political Grafton Mr.. Cock
ran professed deep interest in the well
fare of the wage-workers and the farm
ers Of this country, who, he predicted,
would be ruined by the election of Bry
an, should such Calamity" happen.
OF the latter class the speaker said
IT believe that the American farmer,
whom no force could conquer. would
never submit to the passage of corrupt
legislation"
This bit Of taffy for the plowholder
kindly offered by the New York bond
holder was not heard by very many
farmers. The population Of Chicago
does not contain large percentage of
men who till the soil for living, though
a few hundreds are engaged in that oc-
cupation within the limits of the big
city, where they pay rent to landlords
for using a few acres of Gods earth
which the Owners" are holding vacant
for speculation. But Cockran's flatter-
ing words have been printed in Chicago
daily papers and doubtless read by a
great many working farmers.
The American farmer has submitted
to a great deal of corrupt legisla-
ton" Not because he liked it or ap-
proved of it. for the average American
farmer is both honest and intelligent.
He wants good laws for himself and for
others. He believes in justice and econ
omy in all governmental affairs. But
the farmer, as rule, is not versed in
political methods. He mingles but lit
tie among legislators and other pubic
officials; he struggles along with his
team (and his mortgage, earning liv-
ing by persistent toll. learning what he
can, by reading and otherwise, of what
is going on at the national capital, and
trusting much to the supposed integrity
and wisdom of public functionaries for
the right kind of legislation. While the
farmer is. thus engaged, however, the
man, the plutocrat in the garb of
philanthropist and the monopolist dis
guised as sympathetic friend of the
working classes, are legislat ting or con-
trolling legislation in ways that tend to
rob the industrial classes-the real
wealth producers-of most of their earn
ings. This is what has been going on
for many years. and at last it is about
to receive a check. The farmers. as we'll
as other industrial classes. now have
their eyes fully open to the inquities
of just such oppressive legislation as
Mr.. Goldbug Cochran is championing
1t is presumed that by the term Cor
ruHt legislation" the Mark Hanna
Democratic" orator meant the free
coinage of silver. But in all
his long, carefully studied speech
from which we quote, ne ut
terly failed. as every other speaker
on the gold side fails, to prove that the
free coinage of silver as proposed by
the Chicago platform would be cor
rupt legislation" or anything but the
incorporation of justice into the laws
of the land. Plainly stated. and with ali
verbiage brushed aside, the question is,
Shall silver be restored to its former
status of equality with gold? All sup
porters of the Chicago ticket believe
it should, and to that end they are
pushing this fight against organized op-
preston with degree of ZEAL energy
and courage that must result in sue
cess. Since the Cockrans, Palmers and
Buckners will not join the grand pro-
equal rights, the next best thing for
such disgruntled politicians to do is to
get out of the road and thus avoid