Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-30
AS THE FARMER SEES
REASONS WHY HE BELIEVES IN
AND TRUSTS REPUBLICANS.
They Have Never Deceived Nor Be-
trayed His Interests and Have Ag-
gressiveIy Favored Legislation for
His Benefit.

the fact that the farmer vote must be
reckoned with and catered to, and all
parties put forth their best arguments
when addressing the farmer. Away from
the madding crowd, untrammeled by the
prejudices and false cries OF the politi-
clan, the farmer calmly reads and thinks,
and thinks and reads, and decides the
question with discerning judgment that
leads to q decision which is honest and
right.
In 1896 1t was generally feared that
the farmer would be deceived by the
great promises made of the benehcent re-
suits to be. attained by voting for free
silver, but this was not so: the farmer
might be deceived when away from home.
but at his own Preside, with plenty of
time to weigh the question. he decided
for the gold standard, AND THE DEM
OCRATIC PARTY AND ITS CANDI-
DATES ON THE NATIONAL TICK
EFT NOW SAY THAT THE FARM Err
DECIDED RIGHT, In 1900 the cry
was Imperialism, and with his love Of
freedom it was said that the farmer
might be stampeded, but again he allow
ed common sense and calm consideration
to decide the question, and, seeing no
danger of militarism or overthrow of the
established government by the new order
OF things, forced upon us by the war
with Spain, the farmer again cast his
ballot for the Republican ticket, and
time has proved that his judgment was
good and his decision right.
CHAT viii Not Answer.
In the present campaign no new or
striking issue is presented. The Demo
Gratis arraign the Republican party, Willy
the President and hold forth glittering
generalities, but defniteness is lacking,
and what would be gained by the cleo
ton OF a Democratic President is not APP
parent A general calamity howl" is
no argument, and to secure the farmer
vote it is necessary to present more than
chaff
One term Of a Democratic President.
two years only of absolute Democratic
administration, was sufficient to prac-
tically paralyze business throughout the
nation, deprive the worker of the chance
to earn an honest living, depress values
and prices and make us the laughing
stock and subject of ridcule of the ma
tons of the world.
Mckinley was elected, Republican
Congress enacted consistent protective
tariff, industry was revived, factories
started, unemployed given work at the
highest wages ever known, consumption
stimulated. values restored. Spain defeat
ed, Cuba freed, order established I'm the
Philippine Islands and the people given
civil liberty in its fullest sense and the
opportunity of becoming a creditable part
of the greatest nation on earth. The sta
bility of the currency has been assured
by the action of the Republican admin
istration; the public debt reduced and
interest charges lowered: laws passed
that will bring the arid lands under cul-
tivation, and that, too, without tax or
cost to any person except the one di-
rectly benefited by the purchase of the
land from the government.
The securing of the route for an 18TH
milan canal, the construction of which is
now assured. is a browning triumph for
a Republican President and the party,
and no one class will receive greater
benefit from the connection of the At
iantic and Pacific by this great waterway
than will the farmer.
The opposition to the Cuban reci-
procity bill on account of the reduction
of the tariff on raw sugar, came largely
from a misconception of what the result
would be. Instead OF retarding produc-
ton and lowering the price of sugar
beets. the opposite has been the result
and the production has been stimulated
and profits increased.
Benefits of Protection.
The policy of protection which guards
and develops the industries of our coun-
try, cardinal with the Republican party,
is necessary to the prosperity of the
farmer. A tariff on agricultural products
may not increase the price il the de-
mand does not equal the supply, but a
tariff which protects American labor and
home industries insures work at high
wages, plenty OF money and increased
consumption, insuring high prices for
farm products.
The farmer is indebted to the Repub-
lican party for the rural free delivery
system. First suggested by the editor
of a leading farm paper, himself a Re
publican, the idea was reported upon and
recommended by a Republican Postmas-
ter General, adopted and enlarged upon
by the Republican party, appropriation
made by a Republican Congress for an
Investigation and trial of the proposed
system. A Democratic Postmaster Gen
eral, supported by a Democratic Pres-
0eut. refused 10 eApeuu the AppIOpFld-
tons and reported not only adversely TO
the system, but that the scheme was
impracticable. Not until the Republi-
cans were again in full power was the
system given a fair trial, and its entire
practicability, as well as the great benefit
TO be derived by the rural population,
fully demonstrated. From $4,000 APP
preparation for the trial of the system
Ii has grown to an appropriation of over
$20.00O,000 under the friendly encour-
agement and aggressive business policy
of Republican administrations. No other
one thing could have been of such great
benefit to the farmer; it has placed him
in daily communication with the world,
and from the seclusion of farm life he
emerges and becomes part and parcel
of this great nation and is not only able
TO read of the doings throughout the
world, but the facilities afforded for
frequent and prompt communication en-
able him to take part in its affairs. The
farmer is now recognized as a big. broad
minded business man, and the discovery
Is due TO the rural free delivery system