Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-03
MA TI0NA[ ISSUES
"A Resume of the Facts and Figures on Prosperity,
the Sold Standard. Protection and Expansion
on Which the Voters Are Asked to Sup.
port the Republican Ticket.

One hundred articles are taken all the
staple products OF the farm and mill
and forest and mine. Rradstreets finds
that on the first day OF October. 1896,
the average price Of these products
stood at 56.S. On the first of October OF
this year Bradstreets took the prices
again as they ruled in the market and
found that the average had risen 10
1876. Thus In two years time the
prices of tho staple products OF this
country have risen more than fifty per
cent. and this under the gold standard.
Eut IL is rot necessary TO quo,e
figures. Every nan In South Dakota
can appeal TO his W experience and
that OF his neighbor. Every one knows
that times are better, that prices are
higher. that money is more plentiful.
: Every one knows that the Dingiey bill
has added a dollar and a half 10 every
head OF sheep in this state and has
doubled the price OF wool. But ii is
not sheep alone which have been bene-
Gtad. oYur wheat and oats and bar4ey,
and corn and cattle and hogs have in
creased from twenty-five TO lifty per
cent in price. There are more farm
Improvements being made in South Da-
kota than ever before. Since the e.ec-
tion OF Mckinley more debts have been
paid, more mortgages discharged than
in all the preceding years since the
settlement of the state. IL hard luck
overtakes the farmer, III his crop is
hailed out or his house burns down and
he has to borrow money, he can set all
he wants and can get it for three To
four per cent less than he could two
years ago.
1t would be q brave man who would
come u In South Dakota this year
ard talk calamity. No wonder tho
prophets of evil have fled. No wonder
the political confidence men dare not
discuss national issues this year. But
DO not let their silence deluie anyone.
10 not get the notion that because they
have ceased talking calamity and re-
pudiation and bourbonism, they have
ceased to desire them in their hearts.
Ii bogaiiea by this silence the people OF
the United States should lie seduced
into voting into pow6x - opponents
OF the administration the latter would
wake the welkin with their shouts OF
a silver victory. TX by the apathy OF
ogerccnadenee of the voters South La
k0ta should defeat the Republican tick
ct this fall the wires would flash the
news over every state of The Union
tthas South Dakota had decided for the
doctrine OF calamity and had returned
10 congress two men pledged TO re-
verse the splendid policies which are
bringing back prosperity 10 us and
bring on again the reign OF distrust,
dismay and hard times from which We
are just escaping
But this Is not all. Should a hostile
majority be returned to congress IL
might rot plunge as entirely into ruin.
So long as William Mckinley sits IN
the white house there win be no re-
: puliation. no dominance by the silver
Tnine owners. But the money issue
and the tariff issues are not he only
g3eat issues OF national policy which
Divide the parties. Those TWO great
policies cf prosperity have been put
: into operation by the Republican
I triumph Of 1895. Even though tho ene-
, mics OF the administration should gain
7 control OF congress the presidential!
J veto would interpose an insur.nounta-
: bio obstacle to their repeal. But an
; other great policy has come into being
7 through the Spanish war, is being rap
! idly shaped by the farseeing states
! manship OF the president and is des-
! tined IL carried out to raise the Ameri-
can people to a degree OF wealth and
{ splendor never equalled by any natica
I OF the world. Should the ~fgslonists
: control the next house Of representa-
:, tises this policy would fail. Their lead
! ers have denounced It. Their organiza-
2 ton Is opposed to IL. They cannot dis
, turb the gold standard and tariff poll
! cics which have brought and are bring
! ing us prosperity. tut they could pre-
J rent the president from putting into
! effect that other splendid policy which
means so much to this nation.
? Now that the fighting is over, nov
that peace Is in sight have these same
: people changed their course? Are they
: standing by the administration In it's
: policy OF concluding a brilliant peace?
? Their wi speeches and newspapers
: form the answer. The war is not yet
? ended. No powder Is being burnt. nc
I shot and shell are piercing the ranks
: OF our heroic troops and sending to a
swift and terrible death the brave boys
7 who went out TO project the nations
! honor. But peace has not been de-
I csered- We are merely enjoying q
: truce. we are waiting for that treaty
10 secure which cur commissioners are
now sitting in Paris. VIII they sue
\ ceedy VIII they secure for this nation
9 It's de,ncnd, freedom for the Oppressed
I and compensation for our tremendous
: outlay? That depends. Though the
, commission has been In session Q
month n~othingAhas been accomplished
The Spaniards so humble two months
7 20 are now groring irsolent. They
: are denying the proceedings by every
$ Gcbterfnge. every trick known 60 the
crooked diplomacy or Spain. What are
? they waiting For? They are oyerWhe,ln-
5 ingly beaten by cur army and navy.
They were brought to their knees and
made 10 humbly sue for pcsce. They
/. know that they can maize no leaaway
| against the united American nation.
What arc they waiting for? The an
/ swur Is plain. They have heard OF the
{ campaign raging in this country. Their
0 newspapers are reproducing the vile
: SANDERS which the copperheads in this
i country, the Pettigrews. and Leases, are
Y utterins, against the president. They
) were unable TO defeat Mckinley.
Their sole hope is that the