Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-02

Governor Leslie NJ. Shaw, fresh from
his visit to the Fifty-first Iowa at San
Francisco, made one of the strongest
speeches of the campaign at Hiteman.
Following is the speech as delivered:
The recognized leader of the free
silver forces and the great chieftain of
the democratic party recently made a
numb of speeches in this state. n
many and perhaps all of them, he pro-
pounded this interrogatory, and de-
clared he would like to take it for the
text Of his speech: "Why should a
farmer be a republican," This raises
d very interesting question, and II
worth tarrying a moment to discuss.
Suppose we compare the effect of re-
Publican aud. democratic administra-
lions on farm industries.
During Mr.. Cleveland's first admin
stration the aggregate value of farm
animals in the United States as shown
by the statistical abstract published an
nually by the government, decreased
S59, 100000. This was through no slack
of integrity on the part of President
Cleveland or of his party, neither was
there adverse, legislation. Mr.. Cleve-
land believed in the doctrine of free
trade, and being a student of theory
rather than an observer of fact, recom-
mended a revision of the revenue laws,
and the enactment of a tariff schedule
designed to yield revenue, but intended
to afford no protection whatever. The
bill, after much debate, passed the
house, but failed to pass the senate;
and t~hessenate, being republican, pass
ed what isaknown as the sssenate sub
stitute," designed to yield revenue and
afford protection. Nevertheless the eff
feet of threatened evil stagnated bust
ness; threw thousands out of employ
ment, and spoiled the farmers market
to an extent resulting in a loss to him
in the aggregate value of farm animals
of $50, OO0, 900. Now note the difference
in influence. OF this loss, $50, 900, 900
was regained during the four follow
ing years under President Harrison
and the Mckinley bill. During Presi-
dent Cleveland's second administration
both houses of congress and the presi-
dent were in the hands of the demo-
cratic party for the first time in 3y
years, aud the threatened legislation,
so thoroughly believed in by the dem.
y oSAoCAS PoASJ 6ShSAoiJ was S|saNlG0s
Men had grown from unconscious
having experienced a period under free
trade. The German bill was passed,
and in four years the value Of farm an-
finals, as shown by the same non-par-
tisan authority, published under the
same supervisors and by themselves
fell off $734,0OO, 900. This was than
the farmers could easily endure, and
at the end of the peoried the free silver
advocates declared, as a campaign slo-
gan, that the farmers were in debt.
Does any one wonder that they were?
They had lost three-quarters of a bill
lion dollars during the administration.
Why, during these four years the num-
Der of horses and mules in the United
States decreased 100000 by count; the
number of cattle in the United States
decreased 100000 by count; the mum
Der of sheep decreased 6,5OO,O0O by
count;the number Of hogs decreased
100000 by count. The farmers of
this country, during these four years
wer~ actually compelled to sell the
foundation of their herds. You may
be encouraged to know that over $50,
~ 1000 of the loss was regained in two
years under Mckinley and the Dingley
bill. The third year, when the report is
published, will doubtless show still
greater gains. And this gain, like the
loss, is felt everywhere and by all.
In Iowa alone, between January 1
1897, following President McKinley's
election, and January l, 1899, two years
the aggregate number of farm animal.
increased 100000.
The report of the sales at the stool
yards give striking illustrations TO tn,
same effect. Let us compare severa
administrations so as to avoid VIVA
might otherwise be claimed as ac
cidental. During General Grants frs
administration the aggregate annua
value of all stock-horses, cattle, shee]
and hogs-sold at the Union Stool
Yards at Chicago increased annually
and in four years it increased from