The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-07-06
NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN,.
Hon. ID. H. Mercer Thinks Mckinley VIII
Beat Bryan.

Washington.-"In my opinion there
is more than a fair chance that the
electoral vote of Nebraska will be re-
corded this year for the reelection Of
President Mckinley, even II Mr.. Bryan
should be the opposing Democratic
candidate" said the Hon. David H.
Mercer, member of congress from that
state.
"My reasons for this conclusion, at
which l have only arrived after care
ful study Of the conditions in Ne
braska, are several. First of all comes
the general prosperity that has ex-
tended to all classes of the people dur
ing the present administration. An
other reason is, that the people out
there have seen for themselves that
the free coinage of silver at the ratio
of 16 to was not necessary to bring
about prosperity. Another reason is
because farmers have been selling
their crops at much better prices I'M
der the gold standard than they did
when the silver agitation was at its
height. Another reason is that better
wages are being paid sall over Me-
braska. and it Is difficult to find man
out OF work. The advertising columns
of the Nebraska papers are now filled
with people who want labor. Four or
five, and six years ago there We're col
umns of advertisements from people
who wanted work.
"Nebraska's big corn crop has sold
at excellent prices, and money has
been rolling into, the banks there to
the credit of the farmers. Bank de-
posits In our state last year amounted
to almost $23,0OO,OOO, as compared
with less than $14,000,000 In 1894. d.
vide this increase of 100000 among
our population of one million and
quarter people, and they cannot but
feel that money talks.
at is not so many years ago since
corn was used as fuel in Nebraska.
and only few years since farmers
were feeding even wheat to their hogs.
But under the broad expansive policy
of the present administration, the
markets for American products are in
creasing, and the demand for our food
stuffs is becoming greater and greater
throughout the world.
only five years ago when Grover
Cleveland was president, and when
free coinage of silver was being wide
ly agitated, the value of all the live
stock in Nebraska was s45, 65S,000. At
the beginning of this year our live
stock were worth, excluding hogs, as
much as $102,O00,0O0. This alone add
ed $50, 500,000 of wealth to farmers In
the state which / have the honor to
represent. An increase like this OF
considerably more than 100 per cent
is remarkable. Mules are worth more.
Horses have increased 60 per cent in
value. The number of sheep in Ne
braska is not large, but they are
worth just three times as much money
this year as they were in 1895 when
American wool had no protection. The
wages Of the laboring man have in
creased in proportion and he always
has a job.
Nov, let me give you the following
comparison of prices at which farmers
sold their products in 1896 and 1900.
The figures are taken from one of tho
Democratic papers in our state, and
they represent the difference in a
farmers income:
FARM PRICES IN 1896.
1000 bu. of wheat at so cts. IS 10000
1000 bu. of corn at 16 cts. 80. 10000
1000 blu. of oats at Is cts. $50. 10000
5000 lbs. hogs at s2S5 per cwt. $3.50
10000 lbs. steers at So per cwt. 10000
Iotal ................... l,lI5.oO
For these same products the farm
er received on April 81, 1900, as fol-
lows:
1000 Blu. Of wheat at SO cts. Us 10000
900 bu. of corn at 30 cts. 80. 10000
1000 blu. of oats at % cts. ..... $4,000
5000 lbs hogs at $4.95 per cwt. 1850
10000 lbs steers at IS per cwt. 10000
lotal .................... 81 ,678.60
Here is difference of $500 in a
farmers income from these small
quantities of his products. And the
figures are the actual prices that were
paid in the two years. On the other
hand what is there that the farmer is
buying for which he pays more
money? Sugar and coffee are cheaper
now than they used to be. There has
been no advance in the price Of cloth
ing. or in farm materials. and these
are the principal articles that farmers
have to buy.
"The grain In the farmers income
represents much to him and to our
state. 1t enables him to pay on his
mortgage, or at least pay on part
Of 1t. He can moreover borrow money
now at lower rate Of interest. He
has been able also to Improve his
and to add very materially
% the comforts Of his home, besides
having money to spare for the better
'ducation of his children. All these
hings are facts which the Nebraska
armer has experienced, and 1t will
axe an almighty lot OF talking and
haorfzfnO IN offeat the han ate fhof