The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-16

possible but probable when a monopoly
controls the market
factors In our national life. Some one has
said to him, The hand that guides the
plowshare feeds the world. He is not a
stakeholder in any of the trusts. but he
feels the extortion practiced by them all.
l am not farming on large scale, but the
misleading reports which nave been circu-
lated concerning my oat crop justify me
In making reference 10 my own expert
ence"
Mr.. Bryan here gave his own experience
as farmer to prove that the agriculturist
could not prosper. Continuing. he said:
According to Henry Clews * CO., the
average prices received by farmers for
oats, during the seven years beginning
with 1898. and ending with 1899, were as
follows: 1885. 29.4: 1884. 32.4 1895. 1876; 1896.
Isl; 1897. III; 1885, 25.5; 1899. 2i9. According
TO these figures oats averaged % cents a
bushel during the four years of Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration, and only "A cents
per bushel during the three years of Mr..
McKinley's administration-the present
year is not yet complete, but oats are at
the present time below the average
According to the same authority the
average prices received by the farmers for
corn, were as follows: 1893, 36.5: 1894, 45.7;
1885, 264 1885, 21.5; 1897. 26.3; 1885. Isl; 1899,
1913. making an average Of about 800 dur
ing the four years of Mr.. Cleveland's adj
ministration. and Isl during the three
years Of Mr.. McKinleys administrations
corn is at this time above the average.
Wheat, according TO the same authority.
brought to the farmers the following
prices: 1898, 53S; 1894, 491; 1895 500; 1885,
726; 1887, sos; 1898, $50; 1892 5S.4, showing a
higher average during the last three years
than during the four preceding-the fourth
year is not complete, but wheat is now
above the average.
According to the same authority cotton
planters received the following prices: 1893,
sos; 1894, as: 1895, 49, 1896, &c. 1897, 5; $685.
4.15; 1899 rs, showing higher average dur
ing the four years of Mr.. Cleveand's adj
ministration than during the three years of
Mr. McKinley's administration-the fourth
year is not yet complete, but cotton is now
above the average price.
Taking these four staples of agricul-
ture 1t Will be seen that three out of four
have not, on the average, brought as much
return to the farmer, under the present ad-
ministration, under the previous admin
istration, and the fourth product. wheat. is
more Influenced than any other farm prod
uct by foreign conditions.
OBJECTS TO HIGHER PRICES.
when. however. the farmer attempts to
use his income in the purchase of the net
cessaries of life he finds that the trusts
have raised prices. He must pay more
for lumber, nails, wire, harness. hardware,
stoves and agricultural implements. More.
also. for OIL sugar, clothing, furniture, ETC.,
and in addition to these drains upon his
income he must meet an increase in federal
taxation.
Let the parent calculate how long it
Will take a farmer TO become Independent
under present conditions; let him contrast
the lot of the farmer with the lot of the
man who profits by governmental favorit
ism and grows rich by the explorations
of his countrymen through the instrument
tally OF monopoly, and then let him an
Swer the question, rs young man, Absalom,
safe" Has the farmers son, or the farmer
himself any reason for giving support TO
the Republican party?
Next TO the farmer in point of numbers
and Importance come the wage-earners.
What is the trust doing to increase the
wages, shorten the hours, improve the con-
dition, or protect the rights of the laboring
man? is his present prospect an inviting
one? Is he receiving a fair share of the
proceeds of his toll? And, if not, why not?
has full dinner pail. 1 ask, in the first
place, whether full dinner pail is all that
a laboring man needs? 1t is an insult to
the wage-earner TO say that his thoughts
are entirely conferred upon his physical
wants. Republican speakers and editors
assume that the laboring man Is all stom-
ach. They act upon the theory that he
complains only when he is hungry, and is
happy whenever his hunger is appeased.
IF a full dinner pail were the only thing
desired, and if every laboring man had
plenty TO eat, IL would still be necessary
Tor the Republican party to show some
connection between Republican policies and
the labOring mems food supply. If bounti-
ful crops come to the farmer he does not
thank the Republican administration. If
famine abroad raises the price of farm
products here the farmer does not thank
the Republican party for bringing the
famine. If an unexpected and an UNI
promised increase in the gold supply gives
any respite from financial stringency can
the Republican party claim credit? The
question is not whether the laboring man
is able to exist under present conditions,
but whether he is enjoying his share of
the blessings of the country and of the
protection of the government. Compare
the laboring man with the trust magnate,
and see which fares the best at the hands
or the Republican party. Inquire also
whether the laboring mans income has
increased as rapidly as his living expenses.
But even if every laboring man was
prosperous, and even If that prosperity
could be traced to Republican legislation,
still the laboring man is a citizen, and must
look at political questions from the citizens
standpoint. He cannot afford to barter
away future security; he cannot afford to
sleep while his industrial independence is
being destroyed. Neither can ne be enticed
into an Imperialism trap, no matter how
we'll the trap may be bated with food.
During the last campaign laboring men
were threatened with idleness by en-
ployers who desired TO coerce them into
the support of the Republican ticket.
Many of them were told not to return to
work unless the Republicans were success
full at the polls. After the election some
of these employers closed down their shops
and others reduced wages. If advances
have been made in any branch of industry
since 1896 remember that some advance
was necessary to compensate for the re-
auctions which occurred after the last cleo
ton