Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1900 — REPUBLICAN FIGURES [ARTICLE]

REPUBLICAN FIGURES

They Are the Official Figures of Trtif and Prosperity. Two drummers were discussing tbe Issues of the campaign in the corridor* of a hotel. We will call them Smith and Jones. A group of Interested listeners gathered around, and the conversation became more and more animated. Every little while Jones would ask, “Can you prove that?” and Smith would pull out from his pocket the Republican campaign textbook or the "Tariff Facts” of the American Protective Tariff league, and every time he did so Jones would take a tack. Finally, after Smith had proved aO hie assertions and Jones was left high and dry without an argument, a bystander said: “Jones, what is your textbookT~ Where are your figures? Why don’t the Democratic national committee furnish you with ammnnition? You are handicapped in an argument withSmith and all his figures." Jones said he had sent for some; while Smith said: “Gentlemen, these figures I have here belong to Jones as much as they do to me. If the Democratic committee had a textbook, it would contain the same figures that my tpxtbook contains. These are the official figures of the government, of the commercial agencies, of different authorities on the subjects named. There is only on* set of such figures. The Republican textbook contains the platforms of all parties. It contains Mr. Bryan's speech of acceptance as well as Mr. McKinley's. The simple fact of tho matter is that the Republican strength lies in publicity of the accomplishments of the past. The Democratic strength lies in promises for the future. If my friend Jones had a book of figures and tables, they would bo Identical with my own if they were honest, official, authoritative figures. The figures of the government, of trade and industry for the past 10 years are and can be nothing but a Republican argument. They are Republican figures simply because they are favorable figures. Had the Democrats been In power in 1890-2, tho Republicans from 1893-T, and the Democrats since then, and the same figures prevailed, then Jones would have a textbook in every pocket, and the Republican party would expect to be defeated in this campaign.” Tbe argument was complete, and Jones had to retire to be ready for aa early train.