The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-20
FARMERS SHOULD SUPPORT
WILSON.

feel in especial concern IN the success
of Democracy, for it is TO Democracy
that they must look for legislation
which will treat them fairly n Just
Is. and relieve them Of the exacdons
under which they labor because of an
tagonistic Republican legislation,a fact
which is being recognized by the
farmers throughout the country.
The Republican party has held up
to the farmers as a blessing the pro-
tective tariff, While the truth is that
it is a curse to them. When the farm
er goes to purchase for his farm and
for his family he finds that the pro-
| tective tariff has forced up the prices
that he must pay, that he must pay
tribute to the harvester trust. the
steel trust, the shoe trust. to a horde
Of trusts big and little which grow
fat in preying upon the consumer, and
that when he zoe to market his prin-
cipal crops he finds he is in a market
where he has to compete with tho
rest Of the world, with prices fixed
for him, and that there is no protec-
ton for him in his efforts, that it is
all for the other fellow. He is al
lowed by Republican legislation to
act as the horse that pulls the pillow
but there is no fodder for him.
And now comes along the Repub-
publican party. and in the face Of the
fact that the tariff is the chief cause
Of the high cost Of living, attempts
to g. SSIa Tho on tha ~, Tha "a ct
is that in the advance Of price Of
farm products the farmer is not the
real gamer. except in cases where he
deals directly with the for
the higher costs IF his products is
caused by the middlemen, the factors
led. Each Of these must have a prof
it, and it is added and added, SO that
while the consumer is the victim the
farmer is not the real beneficiary.
1t is the purpose of the Democracy
TO equalize matters and to give the
farmer such legislation AS will be to
his interest. to nave no Favored class,
but to divide the burdens Of govern
ment SO that they will rest on the
shoulders of AL people alike. That
Governor Wilson is the ideal man to
lead in such a campaign none can
doubt. His declaration that prices
climb faster than we can push our
earnings up goes TO the root Of the
matter, and shows that his position
is one to eQualize prices and earnings,
to do justice to all.
In this connection the reasons why
those engaged in agricultural pur-
suits should support Governor Will
son for President are strongly set
forth by Senator Obadiah Gardner, of
Maine, in an address to farmers. He
is a practical farmer, one who farms
his own farm and who knows what
he is talking about, for he perhaps
keeps in closer touch with agricultural
conditions than any other man in pub
nc lie. He has not long been in the
Senate having been appointed a little
less than a year ago on the death Of
Senator Frye, who had represented
Maine in the United States Senate for
thirty years. In that body Senator
Gardner has already made a most
creditable record, devoting particular
attention to the welfare Of the great
rural population Of the country.
In his address, which has just been
Issued to the farmers Of the United
States. Senator Gardner says:
, Being one Of you n for the
greater part Of my life having
been engaged in the practical
everyday duties of my own
farm, having been for twenty-five
years past officially at work
through cards Of agriculture
, and the national and state
n having served four
years as second officer of the ma
+ tional grange and as master OF
the Maine state grange ten years.
during which time the order in
Maine added 35,545 membe
and attained a mower and in