The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-31
THE FARMERS FRIEND
A Comparison Between the Policy
of the Republican and
Democratic Parties.
LEGISLATED FOR AGRICULTURE
John M. Stahl Tells Why the Farmer
Should Stand by His
Friends.

John NJ. Stahl. n practical Illinois
farmer. and land owner in Missouri,
Kansas and Nebraska, who is the editor
Of the Farmers Call, Quincy, and also
secretary Of tho Farmers National Con-
gress, Is a man who has made his way
from poverty 20 afiluence by the use
of his own head and hands. Ills promi-
nence in the Grange, Farmers insti-
tutes and all movements calculated 10
better the condition of American agri-
culture, gives weight TO his judgment
and makes his VI VS. on all public ques-
tons Of value.
In n recent interview he discusses the
relation OF the American farmer to the
two great political parties and points
out the fact that in legislation the Re
publican party has always kept the in
terests Of agriculture in view, He says:
1T must be said 10 the credit OF the
farmers of the United States that they
have never asked for more at the hands
OF Congress or lesser legislative bodies
than they were ready 10 have granted
20 others, or for legislation that they
did not believe would be OF benefit 10
/ furnished by the tariff, which has been
the most persistent political question In
/ our history. No other question has been
nm important issue in so many cam
paigns. The second act passed by the
| Congress Of the United States was n
tariff act. The bill was introduced and
| discussed before Gen. Washington was
| inauguratsd President and the bill was
/ enacted into law two months before the
| 20 a tV n POE tftI pa
department. Tariff for protection and
tariff for revenue, ad valorem duties
| and apecifc duties, etc, were thorough
ly discussed while the first tariff bill
was pending; and there have been few
years since in which these questions
did not engage the lively attention OF
the American people. IL was inevitable
therefore. that the tariff should have
the frequent consideration of n repre-
sentative agricultural body meeting Il
discuss proposed legislation and 10 rec
ommcnd 10 the favorable consideration
of legislative bodies such measures M
are deemed worthy Of that recommends
ton. Such n body Is the Farmers Ma
tional Congress and at It's last annua
meeting IL adopted the following reso
lution:
Whereas. n Ia an established princip
with both OF the great political parties TIM
a tariff on imported goods adequate TO NEE
the expenses OF the government should b
Resolved that we demand the same meas
IRE OF protection for agricultural industrie
that II given 20 other Industries.
AZ the meeting referred 10 there wer
delegates from states In which are NOR
than four-ffths Of the farmers Of Oh
country, from California 60 Florida an
from North Dakota 90 Texas. The reso
luton was adopted without one dissent
ing vote. AS the honorable gcntlema
who has been master of the Nations
Grange for eight years past and man
other prominent officials OF the Grang
: were present as delegates. the resOlt
ton may justly be taken as cxprcsEn
the sentiments Of the Grange also Get
tainly the Farmers National congress
being composed of farmers. should M
have demanded less: and. as Il Is MOI
political and bipartisan, u could not cor
: sis.cntly say more. Similar resolution
! have been adopted nt previous meeting
, Protection Under Mckinley Law.
! The Mckinley law gave 10 agriculture
4 industries the same measure of prote
? ton that IL gave TO other industric
y Horses hay, potatoes, onions, eggs, ba
\ ley, fruits, wool and other products
our farms. the producers Of which d
rive direct benefit from n protect,
q duty on those articles, were given ju
Z and satisfactory protection and thus n
4 Mckinley law met the proper wishes at
: the Just and reasonable demands Of q
n farmers. As soon as they had the powe
g the Democrats fastened 20 remove Il
! duties on farm products or 10 remo'
them altogether, and the Wilson law do
not give the same measure OF protectit
!, TO agricultural industries that Il gives
y other industries. Wool n n striking O
i ample OF this. The Mckinley law ga
q Il proper protection. and while that In
was In effect only a very short time.