The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-23

farmer does not participate in the profits
of any trust, but he sorely feels the bur-
den of them ALL He is dependent upon
the season for his income When he
plants his crop ne knows not whether 1t
will be blessed with rain or blighted with
drought; he knows not whether wind
viii blow it down or hail destroy it,
insects devour 1t, and the price or his
crop is as uncertain as the quantity. If
a private monopoly can suspend produc-
ton and fix the price Of raw material as
well as the price of the finished product
the farmer, powerless to protect himself
when he sells, is plundered when he pur-
chases- Can any farmer hesitate to
throw the influence of his ballot upon the
side of those who desire to protect the
public at large from monopohes?
POSITION OF THE FARMER.
The fact that the trusts support the
Republican party ought to be sufficient
it. The Republican party cannot be re-
lied upon to extinguish the trusts as long
is it draws its campaign contributions
from their overlooking vaults.
1.-THE prosperity argument which the
Republicans bring forward to answer all
complaints against the administration
will not deceive the farmer. He knows
that two factors enter into his income:
First, the size of his crop, and, sec
ond the price he receives for the same.
He does not return thanks to the party
in power for favorable weather and a
bountiful harvest, and he knows that
which inSureS permanent increase in
agricultural prices Since he sells his
surplus in foreign market, he is not a
beneficiary of the tariff, and since he
produces merchandise and not money, he
does not profit by the appreciation of the
dollar. He knows that the much vaunt-
ed prosperity, of which he has never had
his share, is on the Wane in spite of the
unusual and unnatural stimulation
which it has received during the last
three years. He knows that each month
of 1900 shows a larger number of fail
ures than the corresponding month of
1899, and that there is already a marked
tendency toward a decrease in the out
put of the factories. He knows also that
discoveries of gold, famines abroad and
war on three continents have not been
able to raise the price of farm products
as rapidly as trusts and combinations
have raised the price of the things which
the farmer buys.
Our opponents have tried to make it
appear that we are inconsistent when we
desire a general rise in prices and yet
oppose an arbitrary rise in protected
manufacturers or trust made goods.
There is no conflict whatever between
these two propositions. If a general rise
in prices occurs because of permanent
increase in the volume of money all
things adjust themselves to the new lev
el, and If the volume of money then in
creases in proportion to the demand for
money, the price level remains the same
and business can be done with fairness
to all. If, however, the rise is arbitrary,
and only affects part of the products
of labor, those whose products do not
participate in the rise suffer because the
purchasing power of their income is de-
creased. If a bad monetary system
drags down the price of the farmers
product, while mOnopolieS raise the price
Of what he buys, he burns the candle at
DOIh ends and must expect to suffer in
comparison with those who belong to the
classes more favored by legislation. 1t
is some times urged by partisan Popu-
lists that four years more of Republican
m1SruIe would so aggravate economic
conditions as to make reforms easier. No
one can afford to aid in making mat
tiers worse in the hope of being able to
make them better afterwards, for in so
doing he assumes responsibilities which
he may not be able to remdy. No Popu-
IlSt, however Sanguine, believes it posi-
Die to elect PopuliSt president at this
time, but the Populist party may be able
to determine whether a Democrat or a
Republican will be elected. Mr.. Chair
man, the POpuliSt convention, which your
committee represents, thought it better
to share with the Democrats in the hon
or OF securing some of the reforms de-
sired by your party, than to bear the
odium of remaining neutral in this great
crisis, or OF giving open or secret aid to
the Republican party, which opposes all
the reforms for which the Populists con-
tend.
Those who labor to improve the con-
dftionS which surround their felloWmen
are apt to become impatient, but they
must remember that it takes time to
work out great reforms. Let me illus
trate by calling your attention to the
slow growth of public opinion in sup
port of a proposition to which there has
been practically no public opposition
President Johnson is 1868, recommended
a constitutional amendment providing
for the election of United States Sena- |
tors by a direct vote of the people, but
his recommendation met with no re-
sponse- About II years later General
Weaver, then a member of congress, tried
to secure the passage of a resolution
such an amendment but his |
efforts were futile. In 1892, the resolution |
recommended by President johnson and |
urged by Congressman Weaver finally
passed the house of representatives, but |
it has not yet reached vote in the SEN
ate, and now, after eight years more of |
public discussion the proposition for the |
first time received the endorsement of |
the national convention Of one of the |
parties.
GREAT PROBLEM SOLVED SLOWLY |
IF the fusion forces win a victory this |
fall, we shall see this reform accomplish |
ed before the next presidential election |
and with its accomplishment the people |
viii ind easier to secure any remedial |
legislation which they may desire. But |
how hating has been the progress. Hol- |
land has said:
Heaven is not gained by a single bound.
We build the ladder by which we rise.
From the lowly earth to the vaulted Skies |
And we mount TO its summit round on |
round.
And so it is with great social and |
political movements Great problems are /
solved slowly, but struggling humanity |
marches on, step by step, content if at |
each night fall it can pitch its tent on a |
little higher ground.
I have called attention to the issues
which brought the Democrats and Pop /
uliStS together, and which justifies the |
cooperation during the last four years.
Let me now invite your attention to new |
questions which would justify co-opera-
ton at this time even though we differ |
ed upon all economic questions 1t is not /
our fault that these new questions have |
been thrust into the arena OF politics; it