The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-10-08
Bryan and the Illinois Farmer

In one of Mr.. Bryan's speeches to the
farmers of New York. August %, he
delivered himself OF ~. following
sentimental wall over =. condition
of farmers in his UntfNs staff
met n farmer in IUinci> Lc WIS :.
lege graduate. He il :, man u: "Nem-
plary habits. honest. frugal and indus
triOus. He had his three children with
him In the ROOM, and the tears rolled
down his cheeks as he Told Inc that II
conditions remained as they were 1t
was the saddest thing he had to con-
template that he could not give to those
children the education and advantages
he wanted TO-"
1t happens that the Dane OF This
farmer is known. and the sequel will
detract largely from Mr.. Pryan's jer-
emiad. The gentleman 10 whom he re-
fers is William Conover. who ives on
his mothers farm near Virginia. Cass
County, Illinois. He has a brother
who has written a letter concerning
this particular case to the Illinois State
Journal. Mr.. Oscar Concver j. a Re
publican. and he says thar hit parents
were well-tO-dO farmers. who had ac-
cumulated sufficient proptr!! 10 ena-
BILE them to give to each of their sons
and daughters when they started out
In life for themselves. either 81 good
farm worth ten thousand dollars. or
it's equivalent in money. His brother
William. Mr.. Bryan's friend -'inli not
like farming. Oscar avs that When
a jolly, toddling boy. he had rather
hunt humble bees nests with his ia
vorite dog than TO help make hay.
He took a college education, engaged
in pursuits more hazardous than that
of farming. and lost his foriune. Tho
crime of 1873 was not in amy SENSE re-
SponSiblc for this loss. n"r TIE kepnt-
lican administration. Dor the financial
policy of the government. nor tho gold
standard. Mr.. Oscar CoUoref con
cludcs: We farmers have been yer,
prosperous until 1898. yet Nj. kryh1i
says these gold men have been corner-
ing the market for twenty years. spend
ing money in buying foreign titles for
their daughters. and that the picture
he draws of the Illinois farmer ~ only
one in ten thousand. All we want Is
Mckinley and protection
This is a typical CASE il point. MI.
Bryan's illustration is about ar pert
ZEN as most Of his other illustrations
and instances. The cry for fres aud
unlimited coinage of silver conner, sTr
from the unsuccessful in life, mOs of
whom have no n to bla me for their
misfortunes except their own inca
pacity. They would be equally inca
pable under any financial system. The
idea thai they would make mOucy i.
money We're cheap is ali iEnAtratiUn.
They are like a certain farmer ant
Stocktiealer in Central Illinois who vas
nj one time worth $100.Ut0 or more, bat
lost it by speculation in grain in II
bucket shop. He is now on the street
spending all his spare time. Of which
he has a great deal. in d~enouneinp the
crime of 1873 as the cause of al his bad
luck. Mr.. Bryan's picture o. the M
nois farmer gives a very erroneous i'm
preston of his actual condition. Ali
of Mr.. Conover's brothers and sisters
have added Ia the fortune left titem by
their father except this OH. and with
the exception of William, al OF them
are for Mckinley, protection and SOUND
money.