Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-12-07
THURSDAY, DEC. T.. 1905.
PROSPERITY FOR ALL CLASSES.

PROSPERITY FOR ALL CLASSES.
The Lynchburg News of the LIST inst,
had an editorial on the Prosperity Of
the Farmers. 1t quotes from the re-
cent report of Secretary Wilson which it
says "conclusively proves that the agrl-
cultural interest of the United States is
in prosperous condition. 1t also says |
that, ''the statistics cited show that
1905 is a. record breaking year, and
that the aggregate value.of the crops is
truly bewildering."
Our contemporary then quotes Of Sec
rotary Wilson's report as follows:
"The value of the whole product is
represented by bewildering figures
sc. AIS, 010, 900. 1t is calculated that If
the tide of prosperity should not recede,
it will be found three years hence that
American farmers, constituting little
more than a third of the population,
have created wealth within ten years
equal to half the entire national wealth
created in three centuries. Corn is
easily king among American agrlcul-
tural products. 1t reached its highest
value-S1, PIG, 900, 900. Next in import
ance as a wealth-producer for the farm
er is the cow. TheValue of dairy pro-
ducts reached the handsome total of
1865, 900, OOO The value of the hay crop
for the year was S6O5, 900, 900. In the
descending scale, cotton follows with an
expected yield of $575, 200, 900. The
wheat crop, though the yield was ex-
ceeded in previous years, reached rec
ord-breaking value-$525, 900, 900. The
hen does not figure in the quotations of
the speculative markets, like cotton and
wheat. but if the industry of the hen
keeps the pace the value of poultry pro-
ducts will rival that of wheat and cot
ton. Last year the hen added about
$500, 900, 900 to the national wealth,
coming within $25, 600, 900 of the record
breaking wheat total. Taking the coun-
try over, the value of farm lands is in
creasing, according to Secretary Will
son, whatever may be the situation III
certain sections in the East. Within
the past five years of prosperous con-
ditions and better directed efforts,
farm values have increased 1876 per
cent, about one-third, representing an
amount approximating Sc, 1873, 600, 600. "
These figures are not only bewilder-
ing but they ought to be encouraging
and convincing. They are a splendid
tribute to the economic policy Of our
government. The News says further;
"After reading the above, who shall
say that farming does not pay, or that
the lot of the farmer is not happy
one? 1t is true that the farmers have
their grievances; they have right to
complain of the exactions of the trusts
and combines and of the discrimination
of the tariff against them.
This is the usual argument made by
the Democrats to dissatisfy the farmers
with conditions that should satisfy the
most exacting, and with an industrial
policy that has brought such abundant
prosperity to all classes of citizens.
That the tariff policy of the Repubh-
can party has accomplished this is sub
stantially admitted by our Lynchburg
contemporary in the closing sentences
of the editorial in question, where it
says:
''When the farmers are prosperous
every other interest in the country feels
the life-giving impulse, and therefore
all classes can unite in rejoicing at the
thriving condition of American agricul-
ture."
This being true, why persist in IN
unwise effort to overthrow the economic
policy under which these splendid con-
ditions have been obtained? Why not
heed the advice of the late Mark Hanna
who said: "For Gods sake let well
enough alone?" Why try to persuade
the people INTO the foolish idea Of re-
turning to the tariff policy of the Dem
ocratic party after the recent bitter ex-
perience they had under the Wilson
German tariff law? Under that law we
all know that agricultural interests
were paralyzed and that labor was pau
perized.
The present happy condition OF all
classes of our citizens cannot be acct
dental The people should be careful
and thoughtful and not be led to re-
peating the folly of 1892 when they
made it possible for the Democrats to
again inaugurate their policy of free
trade.
Tho Woeb;noton corresnondents of the