The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
land in Oklahoma could be leased for 10
cents an acre. as against 81 an acre in
1909 So much for beef. other meats are
dear for the same reasons.
In the meantime. the price of labor
has increased in all lines, as we know.
The cotton and WOOL schedules OF the
present tariff law might be improved, I
suppose Moreover, We Americans want
more and better food from year to year.
We are buying a lot OF things that used
10 be made at home. When a woman or
ders a pound of butter she has 1t brought
10 her back door. The cost Of doing bust
ness must be added to the prices of the
articles sold. That is perfectly clear.
Prosperity begins on our farms. When
the people of South Dakota and other
Northwestern States had no ready money
with which 10 purchase sugar. coffee. and
clothing times. logically, were bad for
the wholesale grocers and manufacturers
in Chicago and elsewhere. The pillow, as
/ have said. caused tbs hot winds to dis
appear. Then diversified farming-milk
and butter. for example, instead OF Moth
ing but gTain-brought good fortune into
regions that had been on the edge OF
ruin for years. Farmers began 10 buy
and build. When a man has money he
viii spend il on his property or family,
and a lively demand is Immediately re-
iected in current prices. The cost Of liv-
ing at present is the natural result of
national economic conditions. and, it APP
pears to me, can be easily eompre-
hended"
Were the people bitterly antagonistic
-, - a Of
business life in the West?"
"Oh. no: they wanted railways. Sur
veyors running new lines were Hospitality
received and the whistle OF the first
locomotive was music in eager and de-
lighted ears. The people then were
friendly and apprecatve But the poll
hcians began TO agitate. Prejudice was
gradually created, and the time came
whom the public demanded all kinds Of
disturbing and restrictive legislation
Having started it, the politicians kept
abreast of the growing feeling of hos
tility until il can be said, nationally and
absolutely within the truth. that prae-
ucally every member Of a State legisla-
tIIre or of Congress began, Immediately
he was elected to think up measures
making the operation OF railways I'M
profitable and difficult.
Ia FoDette Began to Agitate.
THE people and the railroads in Wis
consin. let me say by way of illustration.
were on the best of terms. When a rail-
way did anything wrong the evil was
small and easily corrected. And it was
corrected Then Ia Toilette appeared
and began to stir up the people His
motives were entirely political. After he
was nominated the first time for COVER
nor. men charged with the management
OF his campaign came TO us for money
They went to other roads as well We
told them we would contribute if assured
that we should be treated decentiy. We
asked for no favors-simply for our
rights. but nothing less. The men went
away. When they returned they said we
had nothing 10 fear, the St Paul road
would not be harassed for political pur-
poses. We gave them $5,oC0. Let me add
that the contribution was never dupIi-
Gated.
The public was stirred into animosity
against US. The pleasant relations we
had with the people were broken. Some
men seemed 70 think, finally. that We