Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-23
Campaign
Comment.
Bryan and the Farmers.
Baltimore Americana


There are many indications that Mr..
Bryan is stalking large hopes upon VIM
ming electoral votes in the Mlduie
West. Over and over again the state
ment has been given out from one or
another Of those who are in conflden-
tial relations with the Democratic
presidential candidate that little eX-
pectation is entertained of winning IN
any state east of the Alleghanies ana
north of the Mason and Dixon line
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
none of these, and not even Mary
land, are figuring in the advance
theories upon which the possibility OF
a Bryan victory is constructed. IL is
that grea: central farming area SO OF
ten and as indefinitely referred to as
"tne Middle West which Bryan ana
the Influences that are swinging III
harmony with his plans and purposes
believe to be promising field OF en-
deavor Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa,
and even Ohio, have been Var1ouSly
mentioned by those who are booming
| the Denver ticket as states which may
be carried this year.
OF course, nobody but Bryan en-
thusiast is able to perceive any basis
for the probability that the electoral
vote of single one Of the states just
mentioned will be counted for Bryan
and Kern. A glance at the plurality
which each one of these states cast
against Bryan in 1900 should be suf-
ficient to Indicate to any ordinarily
we'll balanced Judgment that, with
irwin,
tonic opinion in that great wheat and
corn region of the country. the pros
pect Of gathering the electoral vote of
a single Middle West state is infinite
" small--next to nothing. For there
is even less reason why the farming
interests of the country should be
willing to assume the risks Of four
years of government under the applied
theories Of Bryan in 1908 than there
was in 1900
During the past eight years the
farming industries of the country-ln
the Middle West, along the Atlantic
slope and in the South-havc been con-
tinuously and wonderfully prosperous.
And iii this year, 19OS-this presidential
year when the Bryan lieutenants are
figuring out that they will gather in
the farm vote of the Middle West--the
prosperity Of the farming industries
is at the very top notch Of the high
record The financial panic Of last
year scarcely touched the farmers.
This year, Notwithstanding the fact
that crops Of cotton, wheat and fruits
and the prospect of corn yield arc
far above the average, farm product
prices continue to range high. The
farming industries of the country have
been caught by experience that their
welfare is intcrblended with the gem
eral Welfare: when the factory wheels
are kept turning and all other branch
es of industrialsm are active and
fourishing it means good times for
the farmers.
! The monetary theories upon which
| Bryan made his appeal to the farmers
| iii particular, in both the campaigns of
| 1896 and 1900 have been thoroughly
discrcdited. He preached in those
campaigns, continuously, the doctrine
that the single gold standard meant
high priced money; that high priced
money meant low priced agricultural
products. And yet, with the steady
| ing of the business of the country by
| fixing monetary values. and under the
| wise policy of successive Republican
administrations, the prices Of both
wheat and cotton are now nearly
Double what they were upon the aver
age during the last four years of
Democratic administration. Mr. Bryan
has rot a single argument, backed by
| evidence. to place before the farmers
of the Middle West, or of any other
section Of the country, which will tend
to convince them that they ought to
vote for him. The farmers of the
country have reason to regard Bryan
| AS a dangerous risk, just as the
| manufacturing. commercial and tinan-
ella. interests generally SO regard him.