Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-10-18
PROFIT
By The ARMY.
SUBSISTENCE FOR MEN AND
HORSES COMES FROM
FARMERS. IN

the Army Is Depressing
y'2 the Producing
Classes.
Mr.. Bryan, in his speech accepting
the Populist nomination for president,
made on Aug. %, at Topeka, Kansas,
departed from the plan followed by his
Indianapolis speech accepting the
Democratic nomination., and discussed
all the isms peculiar to the Populists,
and, in discussing these questions,
made many rash and false statements
in regard to the conditions which he
declares exist in regard to certain
questions. In his talk to the farmers
he laid especial stress upon the fact
that they were not benefited by h
present prosperity, and in speaking OF
militarism and imperialism and their
effect upon the farmers. he said:
Looking at the question from the
standpoint OF the producer of wealth.
rather than from the standpoint of the
s~peculator, the Populists recognize In
militarism a constant and increasing
burden. The army worm, which oc-
.~casionally destroys a field of wheat, Is
not nearly so dangerous an enemy to
the farmer as a large standing army.
which invades every, field of industry
and which exacts toll from every crop.
II 100000 men are withdraw from the
ranks Of the producers, and placed as
a burden upon the backs of those who
remain, it mean longer hours, harder
work and greater sacrifices for those
who toll; and the farmer, while he
pays more than his share of the x
penses of the army, has no part in
army. contracts OF in developing COM
panies, and his sons are less likely to
fill life positions in the army than the
sons of those who, by reason of wealth
or political prominence, exert infiu-
ence at Washington" {
This statement, especially in regard
to the farmer and his relation with the
army, is so far from the truth, and is
so easily disproved that it excites sus-
picion that Mr.. Bryan, in making the
statement, uses his imagination for the
sole purpose Of deceiving his hearers,
in his wild desire to gain votes. In
the first place, Mr.. Bryan must know
that the law provides that all army
contracts must be advertised and bids
opened before they are awarded, and
that no special class is favored in giv-
ing them out. Everyone has a right
to compete for these contracts, and
that the farmer, in fact, plays q large
part in maintaining the army. Figures
showing the expenditures of the quar-
termaster's department from April,
1895, to and including June, 1900, make
Il plain that nearly $50. 900, 900 have
been expended by the United States
for the purchase of supplies and ma
terials for the army which have been
produced by the farmers. So that
when Mr.. Bryan says that the farmer,
while he gays than his share Of
the expenses Of the army, has no part
in the army contracts OF in developing
companies, states what is untrue. The
Official figures Of the expenditures in.
the subsistence department of the wal
department show that in the purchase
OF American products during the years
1898, 1899 and to June 80, 1900, the arti-
Giles purchased for rations were main,
IL direct products Of the farm, such as
beef, bacon, flour. corn meal, beans.
rtce, potatoes, canned tomatoes, tea,
moiasses. salt, soap, pork, fish, hard
bread, baking powder, peas, hominy,
onions, coffee, sugar, vinegar, pepper
and candles, and during that period
h subsistence department expend-
ed $3s. LAT. 617.63, showing that these
products came from the farms, and
that the farmer has a large part to do
with army contracts. So much for the
subsistence department
The quartermaster's department
shows. on account of purchase Of for
age, fuel, stationery, cavalry and ar
thlery horses, wagons and means of
transportation other than railroads,
boats. ETC., harness, clothing and
eduipage, materials and manufacture
and lumber, from April, 1893, to June
80, 1900, that $4s. 80s.os6.s s. has been ex-
pended. OF this, forage, oats, hay,
straw, etc., come direct from the farm
er, while the fuel, wood and coal can
also be traced there. Horses and
mules, az well as the lumber pur.
chased, were American products, while
the many millions of dollars expended
for clothing, equipage and material,
represent the wool and cotton grown
by the farmers in the United States:
and instead of, as Mr.. Bryan says.
that the farmer has as dangerous an
enemy in a large standing army as he
has In the army worm, the figures
from the war department show that
he has been greatly aided and helped
by the army, and, instead of being an
extra burden, he has been given q
market for his products. To show ex-
actly the mount Of money expended
by the quartermaster's and subsist-
ence departments Of the wal depart
faent. the following official figures are
given In answer to Mr.. Bryanss
charges that the army has not helped
the farmer, but has been a menace:
The subsistence depart
ment during the two and
one-half years, has ex-
pended for American,
farm products, for a
ions for h /. S53.147. s17.ss
me quarfernaSterS department has