Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-07
"Dear Boy" Letters
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


My Dear Boy-In your last letter you
say that old man Skinner, your employ
er, says that he doesn't see what q
| farmer can be thinking Of to vote for
Mckinley when the trusts are squeez-
| ing the life out of the farmers and the
country is drifting right into imperialism
every day."
You want to know how to answer him.
Well, will tell you what to say to him
and then l have a few words to say to
you.
Ask Mr.. Skinner if he remembers that
In 1896 he sold that sorrel mare that used
to work on the nigh side with old Jim
for S45. Ask him whether the sorrel
wasn't 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 80.
Gently suggest that he sold a couple Of
steers in 1896 for $3.25 per hundred, and
that they were as good as those splendid
fellows that he sold last week for $50.
The old man runs huckster wagon in
to Nelsonville and sells produce to the
miners wives. Ask him if he remem-
bers that four years ago woman would
come out to the wagon and say:
Can you let me have a peck of pota-
toes and trust me till John gets work."
Remind him that the same, woman.
comes out now and says: Give me three
dozen Of eggs and two pounds Of butter.
What are those peaches worth? I'll take
basketful of them. Give me a peck
of those tomatoes. How much does it
all come to? Here's your money. When.
| are you going to bring in some veal! John
likes veal for breakfast"
Ask him If he doesn't know that more
money has been paid out as wages to-
working men during the past year than in
any other year in the history of the Hook
ing Valley. Ask him whether 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 up for sale
he intends to bid ON that upper eighty
that joins his, and that he has made
enough money in the. last two years to-
pay for it.
And then gently suggest that he does
not appear to be suffering much from
imperialism or trusts either. Tell him
that perhaps he had better let we'll
enough alone Tell him not to vote for
WIdl Hc uOeSH want ItIi lHdt
| when trade is good and business conf
dence strong and healthful. it is 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 Skin.
ner but you, my boy, have a larger
soul. l want to say some other things
to you.
My boy, thank God that you live In
country prosperous at home and honoTed
abroad. and never so prosperous and
honored as now.
When you come to vote this fall, re-
member that the national credit has
reached its highest point, that the work
of American laborers has gained it's high
! est reward, and that the glory of Amer.-
| can arms on land and sea has been most
widely maintained under the wisc,
| thoughtful, patriotic administration Of
William Mckinley.
Remember that his administration is
| 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.
Farm Mortgages and Interest.
| In 1890 the farm mortgages of the
| State of Kansas amounted to the vast
sum of 10000, 900, much of it bearing
the exorhitant interest of - per cent,
was reduced in 1899 to less than Sal ,OOO,-
600. certainly a remarkable evidence Of
the prosperity Of the farmer. The pres
| ent rates of interest on Kansas farm
| loans are the lowest ever known.
| Prosperity Proof in Money Orders.
| Postoffice statistics are significant
| From June 80. 1895. to June 80, 1899,
there was a gain of 1000, 600 in the num-
Der of money orders issued, while their
value increased by $55,OO0,0 900, and the
average amount of each order from 500
| to $40. This is another proof of the
existence of Mckinley prosperity.
| Labor in Mic his gan.
| Labor Commissioner Cox, Of Michigan,
says in his 1899 report: Wages show
decided increase over those Of 1898, and
an average of more than 10 per cent in
| crease over 1897. The greatest gain is in
the fact that all idle labor is now steadily
| employed at remunerative wages.
| Sheep Worth Money Now.
| Sheen are higher than for twenty years