Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-01
Condition of Farmers at Different
Periods Compared.
GOV. SHAW SPEAKS At NEW HAMPTON
During the Democratic Administration,
Shaw Gives Figures to Show, the
Farmers Received Less Than Dur
ing the Republican Administration.

New Hampton, Oct 29-Gov. Shaw
addressed the people of this city Sat
urday night. The meeting was held
in the opera house and about 500 peo-
pie were present. Much of his speech
was on the silver question. He dis
cusseu at length the condition of the
farmers under republican and demo-
cratic administrations, saying, in part:
The candidate of the allied forces for
president of the United States has several
interrogatory: What has the republican
party done for farmers?" A comparison
OF the ne two. two parties therefore may not be
During Mr.. Cleveland's first admlnistra-
ton the aggregate value Of farm animals
IN the United States. as shown by the sta
government, decreased $59,OOO,0O6 This
was thru no lack of Integrity on the part
OF resident Cleveland or of his party,
neither was there adverse legislation: Mr..
cleveland believed In the doctrine Of free
trade; ana, being student of theory rath-
er than an observer Of facts, recommended
revision of the revenue laws, and the ell
a actin of tariff schedule designed to
yield revenue, but intended to afford no
protection whatever to American indus
tries The bill, after much debate, passed
and an the senate, being republican, passed
what was known as the Senate Substi-
tute,.", designed both to yield revenue and
TO afford protection. Nevertheless the eff
rect OF threatened evil stagnated business:
threw thousands ont of employment; and
spoiled the farmers market to an extent
resulting In loss to him In the aggregate
value Of farm animals of 500, 600, 900. Now
note the difference In Influence. OF this
loss, $53,000,000 was regained during the
four following years under President Har-
rison and the Mckinley bill During Pres
ident ,Clevcland's' second administration,
both houses OF congress and the president
were democratic for the first time In thirty
two years, and free trade Legislation, so
from unconscious childhood to middle years
without ever having experienced a period
,,t similar legislation. The German
ne of farm animals as shown by the same
bipartisan authority, fell off S734, OOO, 900.
This was more than the farmers could east
y endure, and ut the end of the period the
paign slogan, that the farmers We're in
debt. Does any one wonder that they
We're? They had lost threequarters of a
billion dollars in this one item of farm an
imals during one administration. During
these four years the number of horses and
mules in the United States decreased AGO..
United States decreased 6OOO. 900 by count:
the number of sheep decreased 6,5V0.0O0 by
count; the number Of hogs decreased TO-
100000 by count. The farmers of this
tually compelled to sell the foundation OF
their herds. You may be encouraged to
know that over $3.50, 900 of this loss has
ley and the pnsleS BIZ Ths GAIN ike
the loss, is felt everywhere and by all
In Iowa alone. between January 1, 1897
following President McKlnley's election
gregate number Of farm animals increased
two and One-quarter millions or about &c
per cent.