The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-12-29
rllE FARMERS PLUNDERED.
Trusts am Protected Interests APpro-
priated S7oo, ooo, 900 More
Than Just Share.


There were about 100000 votes
cast for candidates Tor congress al The
the last election and as there are IN
the United states more than 5.5ooVVV
farmers and 100000 agricultural la
borcrs. besides stockTaiscrs and herd
ers. dairy man and market gardeners,
more than half OF the voters must have
been obtaining their living through az
riculture. Yet this important class of
voters. upon whose efforts and prod
ucts the whole country depends. have
not a single republican representative
In congress. There are some few re-
pull llcan members who may call them
selves farmers. but their votes show
they legislate 10 farm the farmers in
stead OF the soil.
The republicans are boasting OF the
large crops raised this year, impiously
indicating they are backed by Proyi
dence in securing the bounties Of ma
ture. The worthy master OF the Ma
tonal Grange. Aaron Jones, OF Indiana,
IN his annual report last year told the
members OF that organization that the
trusts and corporations plunGerel thu
farmers Of over 100000 600 over and
above the rightful dues for profits and
transportation.
Has The Grange. or any other organ
.zation OF farmers. done anything to re-
lisye their members from that enor-
nous drain on their resources? Il
would seem not. The trusts have null
tipiiel and The railroads are eNtOrting
unreasonable rates and the republican
representatives. in congress have not
+ passed a single law that has accom-
pnshei any relief from the plundering
I corporations.
The democrats in congress intro
I duced bills 10 control trusts and 20 re-
wise the tariff which alone plumbers
I the farmers OF a large proportion Of
I the enormous sum that the master OF
I the Grange stated. but the republicans
who controlled the last congress re
fused 10 even consider the bills. Sim
\ liar bills have already been introduced
\ by Mr. Williams. the democratic leader
In this congress. but they will not he
/ considered.
The republican leaders have deter
mined TO stand pat and the balance OF
she republican members. like a flock
OF sheep following the bell-weather.
vote against remedial legislation.
As the farmers are not protected by
the tariff except a few sugar and beet
growers and very small number OF
tobacco raisers in Connecticut who pro-
duce wrapper" tobacco they are in
terested in reducing the protection the
tariff gives the trusts so that what the
farmer buys will be reasonable In price
and the greater part Of the above men
toned $500. oo0 900 saved to them.
Yet the farmers elect representatives
term after term in some districts who.
with railroad passes in their pockets
and trust Doodle behind them. misreD-
resent the great agricultural interests s.
How can these republican representa-
tives vote for remedial legislation when
they RELY on the corporations for sue
cor and in return are bound 70 80 the
ist. The republican bosses smile
AMI the trusts and protected in
terests laugh and grow fat at the
way they fool the republican farm
ers But the signs % the times point
n an awakening and the late elections
are an indication of what Is 10 follow
Even The long suffering farmers are be-
4 ginning ~ see that cool crops may net
Y last forever and THAT it Is time % pro-