The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-02
Addresses Strengthening the
Cause of Democracy.
CLAIM OF PROSPERITY
Not the Dingley Tariff But the Lsbor Of Our
People Give US What we Have, d.
clares Pou. Hon. A. D.
Watts Speaks.
Especial to News and observer.)

est meeting of the campaign in Iredell
was addressed here by Senator Simmons
and Hon. E. W. Pou. They charmed the
great crowd of people, most of them from
the country districts, who gathered TO
hear them expound Democratic princi-
pies. They were both in fine shape and
we're at their best Iredell Democracy
was strengthened and built up in the
faith.
The speech by Representative A. ID.
Watts, in introducing Mr. Pot, was a
warm tribute to the member from the
Raleigh district. Mr. Watts said:
Ladies and Fellow Citizens:-There
were elected to the House of the pres
ent Congress about two hundred new
members, most of them eminent in the
politics and professional life of their
States. Among them ALL gathered from
every State of our broad land. of both
official parties, no one stood higher or
achieved more reputation during his first
session than the gifted young North
Carolinian who is with US today.
In times gone by North Carolina sat
at the head of the table in the national
House of Representatives. AS We recall
the great commOners of tho past whom
our State has given to the Union, Ma
thaniel Macon, one of the greatest speak
ers, John j. Mckay, a distinguished
chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee and the Trainer of the country's
just tariff law, and other great men pass
in review. In this good year thoughtful
North Carolinians have high hopes that
Edward w. Pou will restore to the State
her pristine glory in the popular council
chamber of the nation.
Possessing the affection and confidence
of his people, to meet him is 10 ad-
mire him and TO know him is to love
him, he will be kept in Congress as
long as the State of North Carolina VIII
allow him to the people of the FoHrth
Congressional district, which ! predict
will not be for many years.
1T is now my pleasure, ladies' and
gentlemen, to present to you one of North
Cardinals best Democrats and most gift
ed sons, Edward w. Pou, of Johnston
county"
AS Mr. Pod arose and stepped to the
front he was greeted with round of APP
plause. He spoke as follows;
The Republicans claim the credit for
All the prosperity we are row enjoying.
But their claim is fraudulent one.
Whatever prosperity has come TO 1ur
Industries is the result of hard effort,
and what prosperity we have in the way
OF high prices for farm products is cue
10 partial crop failures elsewhere, or 10
the artificial demand caused by war.
Corn is high because the crop failed
last year from rain here, from drough
in the west The wheat crop is an aver
age one and the price is merely about
the average price for wheat. Horses
mules ard cattle went very high because
of the military demand in China, the
Philippines and Africa. and The supply
has not yet restored the equilibrium of
the market.
Cotton is lower today than it was No
vember LIST, 1895. the cost of making it is
more and its purchasing power is less
Returns on cotton mill investments are
less than they were in 1895. Whatever
prosperity we enjoy is due to our own
efforts and to natural causes.
None of il is due TO the Dingley +arif
or to the Republican administration. So
far from helping the manufactures and
producer who export. the Republican
party has given them no help and has
actually hindered their progress. The
Republicans talk about trade expansion,
but they cannot point out a reciprocity
treaty opening new territory to American
trade ratified since Mckinley was elect
ed Not a new market has been opened
to our farm products ar TO our manu-
featured goods. Many countries are
willing to enter into such treaties, and
these treaties would increase the de-
mand for our goods. This increased de-
mand would bring steady employment
and better wages to our laborers, better
prices to our farmers and better diVi-
bends to our mills. We all admit that
it is this foreign demand which is so
necessary to our prosperity, yet so far
as the Republican administration is con-
cerned, the man who produces on farm
or in mill is the forgotten man.
If we desire lasting prosperity, not the
high prices resulting from crop failures
somewhere, we must get our share of the
foreign trade We should act quick.
. This trade is being pre-empted by
our rivals. We need ships Republican
legislation has destroyed our merchant
marine. We need such trade relations as
will permit our ships to bring back as
we'll as TO carry a load-otherwise the
outgoing cargo must pay enough freight
10 enable the ship to return empty. In
short the outgoing load must pay the
entire expense of the voyage.
We had ships years ago under Demo-
cratic rule, but the Republicans have
driven our ships from the seas. We
now employ our rivals to carry our
goods to transship them, greatly inereas-
Ing the cost If we would have lasting
prosperity, we must conserve and in
crease our foreign trade We need ship
ping facilities-more liberal trade rela-
lions, reciprocity treaties and the great
canal.
We have outgrown the home market.
AS President Mckinley wisely said: 1--WE
have passed our period of exclusive
ness" In the contest for the world s
trade. protection is both clog and a
hardship. 1t prevents OFT getting Gus
toners and makes our prices because OF
increased eXpense) higher than our Gem
petitors charge | make this statement
after thought and deliberation. While
the Republican party is fencing us in by
its protective tariff and fostering trusts