Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-04-22
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THE ASSAULT ON THE FARMERS,

THE ASSAULT ON THE FARMERS.
The St. Louis Live Stock Exchange
makes a protest against the Under
wood bill which proposes to place on
the free list meats and many other
things which the farmer produces.
This action by the meat raisers, re-
marks the St. Louis Globe-Democrat,
is just what ought to have been ex'
pected. They get 80 or 40 per cent
less for their products than they did
last November. That was the month
in which the Democrats won their big
victory, by which they have gained
control of the House of Representa-
tives and have reduced the Republican
lead in the Senate to a very small
figure. The reduction in meats began
a little earlier than November, for
Democratic success was forseen prior
to the election. But the election sent
prices down faster and farther.
And now the Democrats have
framed another assault on the farm
'ers. The bill to put meats and scores
of other articles on the free list, many
of which the farmer produces, will
further diminish the agriculturists's
income. The bill will pass the House
by an immense majority, and it may
go through the Senate. A measure
on these lines. but probably much
more sweeping will be sure to be
enacted should this one fail in the
Republican Senate or by a veto of the
president if the Democrats should
carry the country in 1912. The DEM
ocrats last fall made their campaign
on free raw materials cry, and as
they won the election they naturally
inferred that they had been given a
mandate to carry out that policy. Un-
der Republican sway the farmers OF
the country had paid off their mort
cages and had become Independent of
the money changers. They rolled up
big balances in the bank, bought au' !
tomobiles and dressed and housed
themselves better than they had ever
done in the past. But the Democratic
wave which swept the country in 1910
also swept away large part of their |
profits, and they have more difficulty |
in making ends meet than they have
experienced since the panic of 1893,
which began when Cleveland entered
office the second time, and which did
not disappear until the Republicans
resumed sway in 1897.
Now what do the farmers think of ;
the fairy tales which the Democratic !
politicians told them in 1910? The
Democrats raised the cry Of high cost
of living and declared that this
would be reduced if Democratic |
Congress were chosen. They pre- |
tended that the farmer would have !
cheaper shoes, clothing and every !
thing else which he had to buy, and !
at the same time that he would re.
ceive the existing high prices for what
he had to sell. And sufficient num- |
Der of farmers believed this tale to
turn the scale in the election. In the |
agricultural districts of the North and
West, where the Republican party had
its chief strength heretofore, enough
votes we're turned to the Democrats
to give them the ascendency. And
now the inevitable has come to hand.
The farmers have been injured In.
stead of benefited While some Of
the things which they buy have been
lowered in price, the reduction is
trivial compared with that which has
taken puace in the articles which the
farmer raises and sells. His condi-
ton is far worse than it was pre-
viously. His market has been mar
rowed to the extent in which mills
have been closed through fear Of de
structive Democratic legislation. All
the legislation of the past half cen
fury which has benefited the farmer
in any important degree has been