The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-10-08
IS BRYAN THE FARMERS
FRIEND.

In his speeches Mr.. Bryan often
refers to his record. In his public
career he has been off1cially identi-
fed with only one important meas
ure. and that was the Wilson-Gor-
man tariff Act of 1894.
AS a member OF the House Com
mittee on Ways and Means during
President Cieveland's second admin
ishation Mr.. Bryan assisted In pre-
pairing that measure, and In its COM
pleted form It bore his unqualified
approval. His advocacy OF the bill
drew sharp and clear dividing line
between the Democracy Of Bryan
ism and the Democracy OF Grover
Cleveland. Mr.. Bryan pronounced
the measure just and honorable.
President Cleveland denounced 1t as
1.-The creature of perfidy and dishon-
Or" refused to sign 1t, and it be-
came a law without his approval
Inasmuch as Mr.. Bryan Is posing
this year as the special friend and
champion of the farmers, 1t Is worth
while to point out how their inter-
ests were affected by the only i'm
portant law he ever helped to create.
The WiIson-Gorman Act repealed
the duty on wool. On January l,
1898, two months after President
Cleveland's second election, the
sheep in the United States, accord
ing to official statistics, numbered
47,273,553 and were valued at
5,909,254. At the close Of Mr..
Clevelands second term. thanks to
the baleful influence of the free
trade act upon the statute book, the
number of sheep in the country had
fallen to 36,818,643, having a value
of $6O,020,942. In other words, the
sheep herds had suffered a loss OF
more than 100000, or nearly 25
per cent, and the wool clip of the
United States had declined in value
about $58,OOO,OOO, or nearly SO pei
cent, all through the operation Of 6
law which found one of its most ar.
dent supporters lin the person oi
"the farmers friend" William ]
Bryan.
In 1893, under the fostering care
of tariff protection, the wool of thu
country amounted to 3O3,0O0,O0(
pounds; IN 1895, under the blight
ing effect of free trade, it fell tt
5000, 100000 pounds. In 1891, will
the tariff restored, it rose to 302,
100000 pounds and to 6,00O,00t
pounds in 1902. During the fou
years Of President Cleveland's sec
ond term the measure which he de
nounced as 1.-The creature of perf1d
and dishonor," but which Mr.. Brya1
nevertheless enthusiastically endors
ed, saddled the American wool grow
er with losses conservatively est
mated at $400,O0O,00O.
But the wool growers were no
the only victims of the Wilson-GoI
man-Bryan perhdy. Every branc
OF American industry suffered.
lowered the duties on imports G
manufactures and thereby forced th
closing of important native indus
tries and drove their employees int
edleness. Wages in every branc
Of industrial activity declined, tn
demand for every variety of farl
products fell off, and the working
men of the country were subjecte
to universal hardship and distress
The operation of Mr.. Bryan's pt
measure robbed the farmers, brougf
hunger and misery to the wag,
Garner and bankrupted the Treasur,
1t was indeed, as Mr.. Cleveland sail
"a. creature of perfidy and di
honor"
William Jennings Bryan stand
to-day. as he stood in 1894. for FIRE
trade and all that it means to Amer
can labor and American enterpris
He cannot get away from the recor
and there are no indications tn;