Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1893 — HOW DO YOU LIKE IT? [ARTICLE]

HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?

Charley Landis, of ’ the Delphi Journal , in his favorite role of “Old Man on the Corner,” addresses the following very pertinent remarks to_ the Democratic farmers. I want to say a few words to my Democratic farmer friends. How do you like it as far as you have gone? How do you like the price of wool which has fallen from twen-ty-two cents under Ben Harrison to absolutely uothing under Grover Cleveland? How do you like the price of corn which is going down, down? How do you like the price of wheat which is dropping, dropping? How do you like the condition of the banks which are busting, busting? How do you like the # fate of the tin and iron mills and other protected industries which are closing, closing? How do you like it. * * * Last year we had a Republican president and a Republican senate who stood like a stone wall between the farmer and his sheep and the woolly coats they wore upon their backs. You elected a Democratic president, a Democratic senate and a Democratic house, pledged to place wool on the free list and wage “a war of extermination” against protected industries, and “where are you at?” The price of wool has dropped clear out of the bottom of the market, dealers in most places have absolutely refused to take it at any price. The highest price that has been paid the last five days is fifeen cents, while thousand of pounds have been sold for ten cents, some of it for five centß. Why?

Because no one knows what on earth the Democratic congress proposes to do with wool, and wool industries. The future is one of uncertainty. The only hope rests in the Democratic administration absolutely repudiating their promises. If they go ahead and wage "a war of extermination against the protected industries” of the country they will bring on such a panic and such a maelstrom of ruin and bankruptcy in comparison with which the financial distress of ’73 ’57 and ’37 will dwindle into insignificance. The danger signals are now being thrown out and the only question is whether the party in power will heed them. If the ship is sent ahead regardless of the warning, then put on your life preservers and get ready to swim in the teeth of the breakers. It is no theory that confronts us; it is a condition. The old man has been rnnning the machine for thirty years; the boys now have it and propose to run it on new fangled principles, so look out I say now as I said a year ago that the only hope of prosperity, of an escape from bankruptcy, rests in the repudiation of the very promises on which the present administration secured control. Grover Cleveland and his people must stick to . honest money. Grover Cleveland and his people must stand by the farmer and his wool. Grover Cleveland and his people must not surrender to the hungry hawks across the waters the prosperous industries, the well-fed and well-paid laborers, the happy homes that have been encouraged by thirty years of statesmanship and legislative intelligence. There is no foolishness about this question. It is a question that affects the farm, the factory, the pocket-book, the parlor, the dining room, the pantry, peace, happiness, national contentment and prosperity. Mr. Democratic farmer, have you had enough? Has the elimination of your wool market the dropping of wheat, and command pork, the uncertainty of the money market* satisfied you ? If so then let your congressman know it. Tell him to keep hands off, that you have had enough. ' But if you want more of this Democratic medicine, if you want to sail on the waters of uncertainty, of experiment, and ultimately be washed ashore and lauded stark naked, braised and bleeding on the

hard and jagered rocks of bankruptcy and distress, then tell. Grover Cleveland and his people to go ahead and fulfill to the letter the premises laid down in Jse~ Chicago platform.