The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-06
Plain Talk to North Dakota Voters

Maxbass Monitor: We want to say
a few words to the intelligent farmers
of this district-the thinking farmer
the one who is not led astray by dis
torted stories about the tariff or the
mistifying, bewildering, puzzIing
yarns put up by party Of disgruntled
officeseekers, who are endeavoring by
unfair means to belittle Senator Nc
Cumber before the people.
We are firmly convinced that pres
ent conditions are most favorable to
tie farmers of North Dakota. and
when we say the farmers, we prac-
tically mean the people of this state
We do not believe that they stand
to gain by the political agitation that
is now going on in the state.
Has the average North Dakota
farmer forgotten the tribulations
that came to him from 1890 to 1900?
We do not believe he has. During
that decade congress revised the
tariff three times, and there was much
political agitation accompanied by
widespread disturbance. The country
changed administrations three times
in those years with some remarkable
results upon the prices Of farm pro-
ducts. When Harrison came to the
presidency in 1889, following a demo-
cratic administration, industrial and
commercial affairs were at a very low
ebb. A republican tariff law was en-
acted in 1890 and business revived at
once, Notwithstanding the dire predic-
lions that were made as to what the
effects of the law would be. In some
respects the political agitation of that
day resembled the commotion that is
now in progress in several sections of
the country. 1t was called populism
then. The movement for a change of
administration gained such Roadway
that even in the face of better condi-
lions that set in after the Mckinley
law was passed, the republicans were
voted out of power.
Mr.. Cleveland, thoroughly commit
ted to tariff for revenue only, be-
came president in 1898, and the follow
ing year we had another revision, this
time by the democrats. Business dis
aster and commercial chaos immedi-
ately followed as a result of this re-
vision. The prices of farm products
fell to the lowest point since those
glorious days preceding the civil war.
The people soon realized and regretted
their mistake, but were obliged to
wait in patience and poverty four long
years before a remedy could
be applied. Then, almost regardless
of their political beliefs, they elected
the patriotic American, Hon. William
Mckinley, as their president. Again
there was an Industrial revival This
was greatly augmented by the enact
ment in 1897 of the Dingley tariff law
by republican congress. That was
thirteen years ago, since which time
an era of unbroken prosperity and con-
t1dence has prevailed.
All this as a matter of indisputabIe
history, and the republican policy had
much to do with it.
So, after ten years of varying ad-
verse economic experiences, with low
priced products for the farmer in the
times of political agitation against the
.ariff and under resultant democratic
policy, with ten years of living prices |
,or the farmer and comparatively bust |
ness repose under republican policy
and after two decades, the one of |
gloom and the other of hopefulness, |