The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-08-28

ferences can be reconc:sed - expert
nent.
Democrats and Populists agree that
Chinese and other oriental labor should
be excluded from the United States.
democrats and ropulists desire TO 50
enlarge the scope OF the interstate com
merce act as TO enable the commission
to protect 10th persons and places from
discrimination and the public at large
from excessive railroad Rates.
The Poput.rts approve the demand set
forth IN the Democratic platform tor a
labor bureau. with a Cabinet officer at
its head. Such an official would keep he
administrator in close touch with The
wage-earning portion Of the population
AMI 20 far toward securing such remedial
legislation as the toilers need.
OPPOSITION TO TRUSTS.
In 1896 the Populists united with The
Democrats in opposing the trusts. al
though the question at that time appear
81 like a cloud scarcely larger than 4
mans hand. Today that cloud well nigh
overspreads the industrial SKY. The far
mer does not participate in the profts or
any trust, but he sorely feels the bur
den Of them all. He is dependent upon
the seasons for his income. When he
PANTS MS 1IOp liz ~ uOL nIItLI!Fl II
will be blessed with rain or blighted with
drought: he knows not whether wind VIII
blow it down, or hail destroy il. or in
sects devour it, and the prices Of his
crops are 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 pro-
duct the farmer, pOWerlcss to protect
himself. when he sells, is plundered
when he purchases. 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 mo
nopolies?
THE fact that the trusts support the
Republican party ought to be sufficient
proof that they expect protection from
it. The Republican party cannot be relied
upon to e~xtinguish the trusts so long as it
draws his campaign contributions from
their overlooking vaults.
THE M'KINLEY PROSPERITY.
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 come into his income,
first the size of his crop, and second, the
price which he receives for the same.
- ~ l iiS I'll " tAC P~i y
in power for favorable weather and a
bountiful harvest, and he knows that
the Republican party has no policy
which insureS q permanent increase in
agricultural prices. Since he sells his
surplus in q 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
vaunted prosperity of which he has never
had his share, is on the wane in spite
Of the unusual and unnatural stimula-
ton which it has received during the
last three years. He knows that each
month of 1900 shows a larger number of
failures than the corresponding month Of
1899, and that there is also a marked
tendency toward a decrease in the out
put. of the factories. He knows also that
discoveries of gold, famine abroad and
war on three continents have not been
able to raise the price Of farm pro-
ducts as rapidly as trusts and combina-
lions 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
vet oppose an arbitrary rise in protected
manufactures or trust-made goods. There
is no conflict whatever between these two
propositions. If a general rise in prices
occurs because OF a permanent increase
in the volume Of money, all things ad-
just themselves to the new level, and
if the volume Of money then increases
in proportion to the demand for money,
the price level remains the same and
business can be lone With fairness to all,
If, however, the rise is arbitrary and
only affects 4 part of the products OF
labor, those whose products do not par
ticipate 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 products
while mOnopOlies raise the price Of what
he buys, he burns the candle at both
ends and must expect to suffer in com
parison with those who belong to the
| classes more favored by legislation.
at is sometimes urged by partisan
Populists that four years more Of Re
publican misrule would SO ~aggravate
economic conditions IS to make reforms
easier. No one can afford to aid il
making matters worse in the hope Of be
ing able to make them better afterwards
for in SO doing he assumes responsible
ties which he may not be able to remedy
No Populist, however, sanguine, believes
it possible to elect q President at this
time but the Populist party may be
| able to determine whether a Democrat OF
a Republican will be elected. Mr.. Chair
man, the POpulist convention. which YOU
committee represents, thought it better
to share with the Democrats in the
honor of securing some of the reforms
desired by your party than to bear The
odium of remaining neutral in this grea-
crisis or of giving open or seclet aid Il
the Republican party which opposes al
the reforms for which the Populists con.
tend.
Performs REQUIRE TINE.
Those who labor to improve the con
ditions which surround their fellow mel
are apt to become inpatient; but the.
must remember that it takes time /
work out great reforms. Let me illustrat
by calling your attention to the sloN
growth CT public opinion in support Q
a proposition to which there has bee.
practically no open opposition. Pres
ident Johnson. in 1868, recommended
Constitutional Amendment providing TO
the election Of United States Senator
by a direct vote of the people, but II!
recommendation met with no responst
About twelve years later General Weaver