The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-08-30
Dear Boy" Letters
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My Dear Boy--In your last letter you
say that old man Skinner, your employ
er, says that he doesn't see what o.
farmer can be thinking OF to vote for 4
Mckinley when the trusts are squeez-
Ing the life out of the farmers and tho
country is drifting right into Imperialism.
every day."
You want to know how to answer him.
Well, 1 will tell you what to say to him
and then have few words to say to-.
you.
Ask Mr.. Skinner if he remembers that
in 1906 he sold that sorrel mare that used
to work on the nigh side with old Jim
for $45 Ask him whether the sorreL
wasn't a 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 he sold this
year at 81 cents, and kicked like a steer
because he didn't get 30
Gently suggest that he sold couple OF
steers In 1896 for S323 per hundred. and
TINT they were MS good Us those splendid
fellows that he sold last week for So Q.
The old man runs a hnckster wagon in-i
to Nelsonville and sells produce to the.
miners wives Ask him If he remfIn-
bers that four Years ago n woman would
come out to the wagon and say:
"Can you let me have peek Of pota-
toes and trust me till John gets work.
Remind him that the same woman
comes ont now and says: give me three
dozen OF eggs and two pounds Of butter.
What are those peaches worth? I'll take
basketful .oftthenn Give me 4 peck
OF those tomatoes. How much does 1t
all come to? Here's your money When
are yon going to bring in some veal? John
likes veal for breakfast"
Ask him II he doesn't know that more
money has been paid out rs wages to
working men during the past year than in
any other year In the history Of the Hook
ing Valley. Ask him whether d 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 mp for sals
he intends to bid ON that upper eighty
that Joins bis, and that he has made
enough money in the last two years to
pay for 1t.
And then gently suggest that he does
not appear to be suffering mich from
Imperialism or trusts either. Tell him
that perhaps he had better let we'll
enough alone. Tell him not to vote for
what he doesn't want. Tell him that
when trade is good and business conf
dcnce strong and hcalthful, it IL not wise
to tear the whole thing down by giving
the administration into untried hands.
think that this is the only kind Of
argument that will touch old man Skim
ner but you, my boy, have larger
soul. want to say some other things
to you. VA
My 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 It's highest point, that the work
Of American laborcrs has gained It's high
est reward, and that the glory Of Ameri-
can arms on lnnd and sen has been most
widely maintained under the wise,
thoughtful, patriotic administration Of
William Mckinley.
Remember that his administration In
carrying out the principles and policy Of
the Republican party.
Remember that the blood Of four gem
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.
5sl