The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-05-29
FROM ANOTHER VIEWPOINT.
John Fletcher OF East Prairie in
Charleston Enterprise Calls G.
o. =. Candidate for Congress.

Inc writer recently Huu tHe pieds-
ure of listening to Speech at East
Prairie by Mr.. Thos. j. BrowN of
! Charleston, who is the Republican
candidate for Congress from this dis
trict. Mr.. Brown, 1t may be added, is
a shrewd talker and holds his audi
ence with considerable attention, and
the speech elected applause at inter
walls because of the caustic remarks.
Mr.. Brown is a personal friend OF
the writer, is an able lawyer and a
man of lovable disposition, is said to
cherish his home and family. and to
be n good citizen and neighbor. How
ever, Mr.. Browns speech was fash
toned after all other Republican
speeches. He dealt at length upon
the wreck and ruin coming upon the
country because Of the Democratic
administration. lie talked of Chi
nese eggs flooding the market until
hen nests would 90 out of fashion.
and declared that Argentine corn
would rout and ruin the farmer.
Mr.. Brown has the same right as
any other citizen to dream dreams
and prophesy if he desires to do so,
but his arguments must be consider
ed upon their merits. Were it not
these predictions in all seriousness
they might be passed ty unnoticed,
and yet Republican speakers must
hold high estimate Of the intelli-
gence Of their audiences when they
present spurious prophecies for intel
ligent arguments.
Mr.. Brown admitted that he had
not read the Democratic tariff bill,
which doubtless explains why he OPP
poses the bill, but proceeded to build
u speech upon the time-worn argu-
ments against the Wilson bill of '94
| 1.-THE speaker used '93 as the date, but
this is an error, ms the Harrison pam
ic which ended under Cleveland came
as other panics have come, under a
republican high tariff measure.) and
the speaker closed by pledging him
self for a high protective tariff, and
named Alexander Hamilton as au-
thority.
And who was Alexander Hamilton
He was the leader of those in the be-
ginning Of the country, who opposed
the rule of the people, and sought to
make this government but little less
than monarchy. Hamilton's plan
was repudiated by the Constitutional
Convention of 1887. and Jefferson's
plan was adopted. The Cannon-Al-
drich machine was then unknown and
patriotism throbbed in the breast of
the country. Republican orators
would that Hamilton ever presented
such a plan were it not for the fact
that Hamilton's papers are n matter
Of record.
Mr.. Brown is a victim of circum-
stances. He is out of joint with the
times. He has persisted in stand
pat" while the country was moving
forward. This is an age of popular
election Of senator's, the income tax,
parcel post, currency reform, rural
credits, and tariff revision downward
mot upward) and out of all this pro-
gress the speaker had nothing to say;
could see nothing but the Wilson tar
if bill Of "a, and the caIamities due
to arrive upon the country.
The speaker then referred to the
Republican party's love for the farm
err. Let's investigate. Once upon q
time a farmers organization had a
legislative committee to visit Con.
; gress to urge remedial legislation
This committee represented 5000 ,00C
farmers of thirty-three states. Taft
was president and Grow was con
gresham from that district The
writer happens to know from inside
information that this committee had
great difficulty in getting even q
hearing before the proper legislative
committees of Congress. II was said
that corporation lawyers and loby-
lists were there using the time Of the
committees, but the committees had
no time to listen to the appeals for
assistance from the farmers of the
country. Why profess an impas-
stoned love for the farmers when an
office is wanted and forget that love
after the Office is secured?
The farmers Grange movement oil
the north about thirty years age
asked the Republican party for pro.
gressive legislation. The farmers
were ignored by Republican leaders
and finally Robert NJ. ka Toilette, OF
Wisconsin, a rising young attorney
took up the fight III his own state anc
carried the fight into Congress. Ii
the House and on into the Senate
, LaFollette fought for progressive
! measures. In the Senate, on numer.
, GUS occasions when LaFollette rose
, to speak, the corporation Senators
would retire to the cloak rooms, re.
: fusing even to listen to the people.
: appeals. Republican farmers might
, profit by reading LaFollette's writ.
| ings. The reforms have come but
they came after LaFolette and Bry.
an had driven the followers of Ham.
, ilton and the worshipers of a none,
bag government from Office. La.
Toilette himself has said that the in.
surgent movement within the Repub.
lican party began among the farmers
of the north, and the rural vote was
the backbone of LaFollette's move
ment. LaFollette and Bryan have
intrenched themselves In the hearts
of the people by listening to the
pulse-throbs of humanity in its cry
for a square deal from the huge man.
ipulators Of fortunes.
And still the Republican party pro.
fesses love for the farmer. II is
written that fifty years ago the farm.