The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-08-31
! Dear Boy" Letters

Ny Dear Boy-In your last letter you
say that old man Skinner, your employ.
err, says that he doesn't see what
farmer can be thinking of to vote for
Mckinley when the trusts are squeez-
ing the life out of the farmers and the
country is drifting right into imperialism
every day."
You want to know how to answer him.
Well, will tell you what to say to him
and then l have few words to say to
you.
Ask Mr.. Skinner if he remembers that
in 1896 he sold that sorrel mare that used
to work on the nigh side with old Jim
for $40. Ask him whether the sorrel
wasn't better horse than that bay that
he sold to Crawford the other day for
$50. Remind him that he sold his wool
in 1896 for IA cents and that ne sold this
year at 81 cents, and kicked like a steer
because he didn't get 80.
Gently suggest that he sold a couple Of
steers in 1896 for 1925 per hundred, and
that they were as good as those splendid
fellows that he sold last week for 500.
The old man runs a huckster wagon in
to Jacksonville and sells produce to the
miners wives. Ask him if he remem-
bers that four years ago woman would
come out to the wagon and say:
"Can you let me have a peck Of pota-
toes and trust me till John gets work."
Remind him that the same woman
comes out now and says: "Give me three
dozen of eggs and two pounds of butter.
What are those peaches worth? I'll take
a basketful of them. Give me peck
of those tomatoes. How much does it
all come to? Here's your money. When
are you going to bring in some veal? John
likes veal for breakfast"
Ask him if he doesn't know that more
money has been paid out as wages to
working men during the past year than in
any other year in the history of the Hook
ing Valley. Ask him whether a consid-
cradle part of this money hasn't found
its way into his capacious pocketbook.
Remind him that he told me that when
ever the Mayhem farm is put up for sale
he intends to bid on that upper eighty
that joins his, and that he has made
enough money in the last two years to
pay for it.
And then gently suggest that he does
not appear to be suffering much from
imperialism or trusts either. Tell him
that perhaps he had better let well
enough alone. Tell him not to vote for
what he doesn't want. Tell him that
when trade is good and business conf.
dence strong and healthful, it is not wise
to tear the whole thing down by giving
the administration into untried hands.
1 think that this is the only kind of
argument that will touch old man Skin
ner, but you, my boy, have a larger
soul. l want to say some other things
to you.
Ny boy, thank God that you live in
country prosperous at home and honored
abroad, and never so prosperous and
honored as now.
When you come to vote this fall, re-
member that the national credit has
reached its highest point, that the work
of American laborers has gained its high
est reward, and that the glory of Ameri-
can arms on land and sea has been most
widely maintained under the wise,
thoughtful, patriotic administration of
William Mckinley.
Remember that his administration is
carrying out the principles and policy of
the Republican party.
Remember that the blood of four gen.
erations of American soldiers runs in
your veins, and then vote so that you
will not be ashamed of your vote on the
day after election. YOUR FATHER.