Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-02
voTE(QF NFBRAsKA
Representative Mercer Thinks It Will
90 to Mckinley.
SEVERAL REASONS FOR THIS BELIEF
A Comparison of Prices for Farm
Products.
GAIN IN FARMERS INCOME

"In my opinion there is more than a fair
chance that the electoral vote of Nebraska
will be recorded this year for the re-elec-
+, ton of President Mckinley, even if Mr..
Bryan should be the opposing democratic
candidate said Representative David H.
Mercer of that state today.
my reasons for this conclusion at which
I have only arrived after careful study
OF the conditions in Nebraska, are several.
First of all comes the general prosperity
that has extended to all classes of the
people during the present administration.
Another reason is that the people out there
have seen for themselves that the free coin
age of silver at the ratio of 16 to ! was
not necessary 10 bring about prosperity.
Another reason is because farmers have
been selling their crops at much better
prices under the gold standard than they
did when the silver agitation was at Its
height. Another reason is that better wages
are being paid all over Nebraska, and 1t is
difficult to find out of work. The
advertising columns of the Nebraska pa
pers are now filled with people who want
labor. Four or five and six years ago
there We're columns of advertisements from
people who wanted work.
Corn Crop Sold at Good Prices.
"Nebraska's big corn crop has sold at ex-
cellent prices. and money has been rolling
into the banks there to the credit of the
farmers. Bank deposits in our state last
year amounted to almost s23,O00,GOo, as
compared with less than s14,OO0,000 IN 1894.
Divide this increase of s9.O00.0O0 among
| cur population of one million and quarter
people, and they cannot but feel that money
talks.
1T is not many years ago since corn
was used fuel In Nebraska and only
a few years since farmers were feeding
even wheat to their hogs; but under the
broad. expansive policy of the present ad-
ministraton the markets for American
products are increasing and the demand
for our food stuffs is becoming greater and
greater throughout the world
only five years ago when Grover Cleve-
land was President and when free coinage
of silver was being widely agitated, the
value of all the live stock in Nebraska
was $40 Cos 900. AT the beginning OF TINS
year our live stock was worth, excluding
hogs. as much as s1O2 0OOOOO This alone
added s56:D0.HH of wealth to farmers in
the state which l have the honor to repre-
sent An increase like this of considerably
more than 100 per cent is remarkable.
Mules are worth more. Horses have in
creased 10 per cent in value, while cows
and other cattle have increased nearly w
per cent in value. The number of sheep IN
Nebraska is not large. but they are worm
lust three times much money TINS year
as they We're in 1895, when American WOOL
had no protection. The wages of the labor
ing man nave increased III piopoi' ioii, s'ie
he always has a job.
Comparison Of Prices.
Now, let me give you the following COM
parison of prices at which farmers sold
their products in 1896 and 1900 The fig
ures are taken from one of the democratic
papers in state, and they represent the
difference in farmers income
Farm Prices in 1896.
at S=hN) 90
.0n bushels of corn. at 16 cents -.... 10, W.
LOCO bushels .: "ats at - cents. ~ ~.
10 1mo N md; steers at So per cwt.... aO0 90
Total 175 so
For these same products the farmer re-
ceived on April 81, 1900, as follows:
/ 900 bushels wheat. at 80 cents 5000 Ho
Loo l.she1 Of corn at 30 cents o 80" 90
5000 pounds hogs. at s4.95 per cwt...... Jas 80
10,O pounds steers, at $ per cwt..., 800 W
Here is a difference of $500 in farmers
income from these small quantities of his
products. And the figures are the actual
prices that were paid in the two years. On
the other hand what is there that the
farmer is buying for which he pays more
money? Sugar and coffee are cheaper
now than they used to be. There has been
no advance in the price of clothing or in
farm materials. and these are the principal
articles that farmers have to buy.
Gain in Farmers Income.
1.-The gain in the farmers income repre-
sents much to him and to our state. 1t en-
ables him to pay off his mortgage, or at
least pay off a part of 1t. He can. more
over, borrow money now at a lower rate of
interest He has been able also to improve
his property, and to add very materially to
the comforts of his home. besides having
| money to spare for the better education of
foot
which the Nebraska farmer has expe
rienced, and it will take an almighty lot of
talking and theoriZing offset the benefits
that have been derived under the results of
practical experience
nrx 0uara Station.