Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1890 — How High Protection “Benefits” a Kansas Farmer: [ARTICLE]

How High Protection “Benefits” a Kansas Farmer:

[Northampton (Pa.) Democrat.] Near Topeka, Kaa.,) Jan. 24,1890. \ Mr- Rditor: I often wonder how your Northampton farmers get on on our high old protection laws. Out here we suffer pretty badly. Let me give vou something from my own experience. Just before Christmas I drove into iopeka to get some olothes for myself and a dress for my wife. 1 bought an entire ready-mad suit for myself for S2O; an overcoat for SLO; derby hat $2; worsted shirt and cotton stockings, $2; cotton shirt and cravat, $1.50; total, $35.50; woolen dress for my wife, $10; total, 45.50. 1 made a bargain with the merchant to take his pa\ in corn at its market price on January 2,1890, delivered to him in Topeka I living four miles out of town. Well, yesterd t y being th* day fixed, 1 went in town to see h'w much corn I mnst deliver for my clothing bill of $45.50. I was told that the price was 15 cents per bushel, and that I must biing him sof merchantable corn. 1 was somewhat surprised, but as my nei bbors, who hadn’t Indulg’d in any new clothing, were burning their corn for fuel, I boie the news cheerfully, and went home to arraEge about gettirg the corn delivered. Last night, however, I took my Philadelphia Record Almanac, which I had just received, and which had a tariff bill in it, Sand thought I would just see how much of my corn had gone for “protect tion” and the support of Ihe Government. 1 found the duty as follows: On my ready-made suit, oosts2o, duty 66 per cent., $11; on overcoat, 55 per cent. ($10), $5.50; woo’lem shirt and cotton socks. 75 per cent. ($2), 1.50; derby hai, $2, 85-per cent. $1.50; cotton shirt and cravat, $1.50, duty 44 per cent., 66 cents; on my wife’s dress, cost $lO, duty 70 per cent., $7. Amount payable to protection and the Government $27.1 6.

Then I soon discovered by a very simple division that protect tion cost me 181 bushels of corn tor a modert te suit of clothes for myself and wife, whilst the whole cost to me, without protection, would have Deen only 122 bushels of my com, and I would have h d the other 181 bushels to sell and help pay off the remaining mortgage on my farm. But your mo> nopolists in the East won’t permit it, and 1 am sorry to see that so many farmers in my old State haven’t got their «yes open yet But the time is coming. I see in your papers farms advertised at sheriff’s sale. You die’n’t used to see that in old times; but times are chang’ng. Blizzards blow hard ard strong, but they have never blown strong enough to blow these mortgages off our farms, and 1 do not believe they will ever blow hard enough to do the same in old Northampton. So let your farmers look oat when the bell rings. The monopolistic managers of our Government are having their own way, and after awhile they will have all onr towns, and we will be but a duplication of Old Ireland, with her riots and murders and her persecutions. This advioe is to my old friends from way back, they better take it and down humbug protection. Yours, A. W. Brunner.

The Democrats of the West Virginia House of Delegates put themselves on record by passing he Australian ballot reform bill. It was afterwards sent to the Senate, but the Republican majority in that body refused to take it up. The Republicans continually flowl, for effect, for “honest elections and a fair count,” but when an opportunity is presented to enact laws that would secure these much desired results they kick like wild steers. Laws to insure “honest elections and a fair count’,

will destroy the occupation of the Republican bosses. Miss F&nnte Sinclair, from Chicago, has taken the management of the Opera House, and will play first class attractions only. Miss Sinclair comes to us highly recommended, and w# feel assured she isT worthy of our patronrge. She will play the Chicago World's Fair Specialty uompany March 12th and 13th. The best company that Rensselaer has seen for a long time. In 1860, after fourteen years of a “free trade tariff,” corn sold in the New York market for 64 to 95 cents. In 1887, after twenty-seven years of high protection, corn in the same market ranged from 35 to 65 cents Oats bi ought 37 to 47 cents in I 860; in iBB7 only 30 to 39 cents Wheat fetched $1.35 to $1.70 in I 860; in 1887 the lowest quotation was 78 cents and the highest 97 cents. These figures are from the “American Almanac” for 1889, and are absolutely accurate. They give a very correct idea of the value of the “home n arket ” to obtain which the farm ers have beet paying such enormous taxes for nearly thirty years. Cone’s Boss over alls, best in the world, can always be found at the Chicago Bargain Store, the only place they are now kept in Rensselaer.

What is known as the “census question” will be a rather da»gerous argument for the Republicans to use in seating contestants from southern districts. They propose, it is said, to prove by the census that in a given district there are more colored than white voters, and then on the assumption that every colored man is a Republican and would vote for the Republican candidate if he had a chance to do so, the Republican is to be declared elected. This sounds line a ruling of Speaker Reed. It greatly simplifies matters, but would be a rather awkward method of ascertaining results. if the Democrats when they come to cower should decide contests in a similar way, giving seats to Democrats in all districts having a majority of white voters. That the Republican assumption is false can be abundantly disproved by the colored people themselves, although there is not much doubt that some colored votes are intimidated, kept away from the polls, or tricked or forced to vote the Democratic ticket. This evil cannot be corrected, however, by an arbitral y abuse of power in the other direction Philadelphia Ledger, (Rep.).

B. Fersythe, of the Chicago Bargain Store, was in the city last week attending a clearing sale of boots and shoes and he is now prepared to furnish you with some of the best standard brands at less than actual cost. Come early. ... ■ " 9 ■ On Thursday, March 20th, 1890, at his residence, 3| miles west of Rensselaer, on Bunkum road, A. O Panooast w:ll offer at public sale 8 brood mares m foal, 2 geld' ings, 2 yearlings, 2 suckinglcolts, 10 milch cows, 5 yearling heifers, 6 steer cal ves, 12 fat hoeer, 25 ewes, 15 bushe s timothy seed, farming implements, harness, etc. Under $5, cash, Nine m nths credit on sums of $5 and over, purchaser to give bankable note at 8 per cent, interest from date, if not paid when due. Auctioneer, Simon Phillips. Sale to com mence at 10 o’cloek, a. m. Handsome lace curtains, 3 yards each, only 60 cents per pair; best $1 to $3 per pair. bicfigo Baigain Store.