The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-07-28
CALLING ON THE FARMERS.

| forward with campaign contributions
and reminds them that many Of their
number would not miss 300 from
their cash surplus if they gave this
amount toward change of the ma
tional administration from Republic
an to the Bryan faith cure. Twelve
years ago, in the first and much the
most promising of his efforts as a
preside ltial candidate, Mr.. Bryan APP
pealed to farmers as poverty-strick-
en- class, contending with low prices
and financial evils that he said were
due to the gold standard, and that
could be cured only by reducing. the
value of the dollar one-half, regard
less of what other nations might think
or do about it. Many tillers OF the
soil thought there was truth in this
theory, and certainly knew that the
prices of farm products we're low. The
country at that time was under a
Democratic administration and had
recently been subject to full Demo
cratic control, but Mr., Bryan preached
new kind of Democracy, especially
in regard to the money standard. Sew
eral Northern agricultural states west
of the Mississippi gave him majority
in 1896, but went against him four
years later, because events proved him
to be mistaken in views and false in
reasoning. Prosperity came by TAX
ing the road he declared would be
fatal.
No longer is Mr.. Bryan offering the
farmers 50-cent dollar. He is silent
on that subject. He can smile and
smile just the same, regardless of his
large collection of played-out para
mount issues. His argument now is
that, in some mysterious way, farmers
will be benefited by his election and
that, since the gold standard has re-
plenished their cash reserve, they
should invest part of it in the latest
Bryan blind pool. The most powerful
political microscope fails to show any
tangible good for farmers in the Bryan
programme. In fact, he has nothing
worthy to be called prospective line
of action. If he were elected the SEN
ate will contine to be Republican
throughout his term. His policies, if
he has any outside of free trade, could
not take the form OF laws during the
next four years. He has had no ca
perience in craftsmanship. His brief
and onlv official service has been in the
House of Representatives. He could
name new secretare of agriculture,
but that department has been admir-
ably well managed during the last
twelve years, and it's field effectively
broadened, as every live farmer knows.
Farmers do not gather in cash so
easily that they will send share to
political committees without substan-
tial reasons. Mr.. Bryan, in his way, lis
a farmer, but has said that he must
make money otherwise to keep even.
He receivedslast year $4,000 from lee
turing and his political organ adds
largely to his income. His perpetual
candidacy advertises his lectures and
his weekly paper. He can give strong
personal pecuniary reasons for the
course he. pursues. but what is there In
itfof farmer who sends S1O0to his
campaign fund after digging the money
out of the soil? Under the last Demo-
cratic tariff sheep could not be sold
for fifty cents. Mr.. Bryan offers an
otherfree trade Democratic tariff with
a corresponding range of prices. What
else he offers no prophet can tell
though much can be guessed from the
fact that he is already up to his neck
In exploded fallacies, a subject on
which he is dumb In spite of his un-
limited facility for speech. A farmer
who sends money to the Bryan cam
paign fund must truly have super
fluffy to throw at the birds. st. Louis
Globe-Democrat."