The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-10-18
PROFIT
BY THE ARMY
TF -
SUBSISTENCE FOR MEN AND
HORSES COMES FROM
FARMERS. -.
No Truth in the Latest GeneraAitieS
of Bryan to the Effect That
the Army Is Depressing
the Producing
Classes.

Mr.. Bryan, in his speech accepting
the Populist nomination for presloent
made on Aug. %, at Topeka, kansas
departed from the plan followed by ms
Indianapolis speech accepting the
Democratic nomination, and discussed
all the isms peculiar to the Populists,
and, in. discussing these questions,
made many rash and false statements
in regard to the conditions which he
declares exist in regard to certain
questions. In his talk to the farmers
he laid especial stress upon the fact
that they were not benefited by the
present prosperity, and In speaking OF
militarism and Imperialism and their
effect upon the farmers, he SAID:
Looking at the question from the
standpoint Of the producer Of wealth,
rather than from the standpoint Of, the
speculator, the Populists recognize III
militarism a constant and increasing
burden. The army worm, which oc-
casionally destroys a field of wheat, Is
not nearly so dangerous an enemy to
the farmer as large standing army.
which invades every field Of industry
and which exacts toll from every crop.
If 100, 900 men are withdraw from the
ranks of the producers, and placed as
q burden upon the backs of those who
remain, it means longer hours, harder
work and greater sacrifices for those
who toll; and the farmer, while he
pays more than his share Of the ex-
penses Of the army, has no part In
army contracts or in developing COM
panies, and his sons are less likely to-
70 n tho a than the
sons Of those who, by reason of wealth
or political prominence, exert inf1u-
ence at. Washington"
This statement, especially In regard
to the farmer and his relation with the
army, is so far from the truth, and Is
so easily disproved that 1t excites sus-
picion that Mr.. Bryan, in making the
statement, uses his imagination for the
sole purpose of .deceiving his hearers,
in his wild desire to gain votes. In
the first place, Mr.. Bryan must know
that the law provides that all army
contracts must be advertised and bids
opened before they are awarded, and
that no special class is favored in give
ing them out. Everyone has right
to compete for these contracts, and
that the farmer, in fact, plays a large
part in maintaining the army. Figures
showing the expenditures Of the quar-
termaster's department from April,
1898, to and including June, 1900, make
it plain that nearly s50,000,000 have
been expended by the United States
for the purchase Of supplies and ma
terials for the army which have been
produced by the farmers. So that
when Mr.. Bryan says that the farmer,
while he rays more than his share Of
the expenses of the army, has no part
in the army contracts or in developing
companies, states what. is untrue. The
official figures of the expenditures in
the subsistence department of the war.
department show that in the purchase
Of American products during the years
1898, 1899 and to June 30, 1900, the arti-
eles purchased for rations were main
ly direct products Of the farm, such as
beef bacon, flour, corn meal, beans.
rice, potatoes, canned tomatoes, tea,
molasses,. salt, soap, pork, fish, hard
bread, baking powder, peas. hominy.
onions, coffee. sugar, vinegar, pepper
| and candles, and during that period
the subsistence department expend-
| ed $33, ,147 ,617.G3, showing that these
products came from the farms, and
that the farmer has large part to do
| with army contracts. So much for the
| subsistence department.
The quartermasters department
shows, on account of purchase of for
age, fuel, stationery, cavalry and ar
tillery horses, wagons and means OF
transportation other than railroads,
| boats, ETC., harness, clothing and
equipage, materials and manufacture
and lumber, from April, 1898, to June
80, 1900, that $4S,sO3, ,036.S9 has been. ex-
pended. OF this, forage, oats, hay,
straw. ETC.. come direct from the farm
er, while the fuel, wood and coal can
also be traced there. Horses and
mules, as well as the lumber pur.
chased, were American products, while
the many millions of dollars expended
for clothing, equipage and material,
represent the wool and cotton grown
| by the farmers in the United States;
| and instead of. as Mr.. Bryan says,
that the farmer has as dangerous an
enemy in 9 large standing army as he
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