»
Terms, $2.00 a Year, in Advance.
Bellefonte, Pa., Sept. 13, 1889.
P. GRAY MEEK, - - - Ebprror.
ee ————————————
Democratic State Ticket.
FOR TREASURER,
EDMUND A. BIGLER,
LOF CLEARFIELD.
Democratic County Ticket.
For Associate Judge—THOS. F. RILEY.
For Prothonotary—L. A. SCHAEFFER.
For District Attorney—J. C. MEYER.
For County Surveyor —GEO. D. JOHNSON.
For Coronor—Dr. JAMES W. NEFF.
—————
The Muddled Condition of the County
Affairs,
What did it profit the taxpayers of
the county to defeat the Democratic
candidates for Comniissioner two years
ago and put two incompetent Republi-
cans in charge of the county business?
That was a singular freak, and the ma-
jority that did it are now at a loss to
give themselves a satisfactory reason
for their remarkable conduct. It can
be explained in no other way than that
some times even sensible people allow
a foolish whim to get the better of their
common sense.
Two years ago the county affairs
were in excellent shape. The finances
had been so admirably managed that a
large debt had been gradually paid off,
without resorting to oppressive taxation,
and a handsome balance of ready cash
was in the treasury. This was done
without stinting such improvements as
roads and bridges that were required
for the public good. The debt paying
process was managed with a decreasing
tax rate. This showed the superiority
of the financiering that then prevailed.
Any slouch of a board of Commission-
ers might expunge a county debt by
drawing heavily and unduly upon the
tax-payers. But to do it without in-
creasing the taxes, in fact on a reduced
millage, as was done by Democratic
Commissioners, denoted careful, Lonest
and economical financiering.
This was the situation when by some
unaccountable aberration of public sen-
timent the Commissioners’ office was
handed over to the Republicans. Two
incapable incumbents went in under
the false pretense that reform was need-
ed, and since then they havé been
furnishing reform of the most unique
character. The first Auditors’ report
under their administration was an in-
comprehensible document that failed
to explain what disposition had been
made of a sum of money amounting to
thousands of dollars. HExDER=0N'S and
DeckEr’s financial comprehension will
never be able to solve the mystery of
that account. The promise of running
the expenses on a two mill tax fizzled
out ridiculously, as is evidenced by the
underhanded attempt to make good the
deficiency by increasing the valuation
of taxable property. Incompetent man-
agement is hopelessly mixing the coun-'
ty business, and even if there were
brains enough in the majority of the
board to straighten it ont, the bicker
ing and cross-purposes that are con-
stantly going on between Huxprrsox
and Decker would prevent anything
like effective action. The county
property is being allowed to fall into a
dilapidated condition, of which fact we
have the testimony of the grand jury,
and appearances point to an increase
of the county debt.
This muddled condition of affairs is
the legitimate result of the election
freak of two years ago. The majority
of the voters are responsible for it, but
the majority can correct the mistake
they then made. They can commence
the correction this year by defeating
the county ticket set up by the Repub-
can ring, and complete it by “turning
the rascals out” in a body next year.
If the New Yorkers want to
secure the Columbus Exhibition they
must set themselves about the prelim-
inary work with more earnestness and
stop the bickering that has sprung up
among them. They must also aban-
don the idea that the money required
to meet expenses will be furnished by
other parts of the country or by Con-
gress, and reach down in their own
pockets for it. People who take a
correct view of the celebration recog-
nize the propriety of its coming off in
New York, but they are becoming im-
patient with her dilatory and shabby
movements in the matter. Chicago,
which is intruding her claim with the
usual effrontery of a parvenu, is dis |
playing greater spirit and activity in
her efforts to secure the Iixhibition,
but there is every probability that the
millions which she is reported to be
subscribing are mere western bluff,
Every consideration of fitness requires
that the demonstration should take
place in an Atlantic city, and New
York is the one, but her rich men
have so far been too supine and nig-
gardly in their preliminary action.
A Tale of Two Pictures.
There is something suspicious con-
nected with the appearance of those
candidate pictures in the Keystone Ga-
zette last week, particularly that of Pro-
thonotary. How did FieprLer happen
to have them so promptly on hand for
publication ? It takes some time to
get up portraits of that kind,as they are
made in Philadelphia. The convention
was held on Wednesday and on Thurs-
day evening the handsome countenan-
ces ot FLEMING and Gray were printed
on the pages of the ring organ. There
couldn’t be any better circumstantial
evidence that the arrangement of the
ring managers for the nomination of
FreyING was so definite that FripLer
knew exactly what picture would be
required, and had it ready for insertion.
It is true, Gray had no oppositin, but
even if there had been other contest-
ants he would have been sure of the
nomination as the ring favorite, aud
his picture would have made just as
prompt an appearance. The speedy
manner in which those distinguished
portraits, especially Fremine's, burst
upon the gaze of an admiring public,
can leave no doubt that the bosses had
the ticket cut and dried. The pictures
tell the tale.
The Republicans of the county
are not enthusing in the wildest man-
ner over their county ticket. To many
it is objectionable on account of its
bearing the marks of machine manu.
facture. The evidence of its being the
production of the Bellefonte ring that
has assumed the duty of furnishing the
party with its candidates, is so appa-
rent that not a few are thinking of let-
ting the ring elect it, it it can. The
ticket is not a very large one, embrac-
ing but a limited number of offices
*but the conviction is general that if it
had included the entire list of county
offices the little clique that has assum-
ed the right to devi.le the party honors
and rewards, would have secured about
the same proportion. There is going
to be great kicking against boss rule
and ring work this fall in the county as
well as in the State. Whether it is
Dax Hasrines that sets up a county
ticket or Mar Quay that furnishes a
State candidate, the kickers are going
to get in their work in either case.
——Joux L. SuLLivan’s announce-
ment of his desire to go to Congress
and intention of being a candidate for
that position, is not so surprising as
some people appear to regard it. Tt
wouldn't be a new thing to put a prize-
fishter to such use, as that thing was
done some years ago when the late
JonN Morrisey represented a New
Yor: city district. Morrisey made
quite a creditable congressman, for a
prize-fighter, but, except as to physical
strength, he was greatly superior to the
present champion of the prize ring.
SULLIVAN claims to be a Democrat and
wants to be a congressional representa-
tive of his party, but the party could
easily get along without the assistance
which he could render it and the coun-
try in a representative capacity. There
is no telling, however, what Boston's
pride in its great slugger may lead it to
do in this matter,
A New Feature.
If Democrats will recall about six
years ago what a great hubbub was
raised by Republican leaders about the
Court House ring, they may find a hap-
py comparison of that—if such a ring
existed —with the present machine
which manipulates the things within
the sphere of Republicanism in our
county. Their last set of nominations
presents a good example of what a so-
called political ring is capable of doing.
These nominations, with one exception
perhaps, do not represent the unanimous
choice of voters, but a job set up by
some of the leaders who were better
versed in political trickery, and who
think that party success depends upon
the nominations which zkey may see fit
to make. To cast aside, with scarcely
a passing notice, a good republican, one
who has labored faithfully for the party,
for one unknown outside of his own
town, and one who has never done any
of ‘he party’s “dirty’’ work, ean repre-
sent anything but unanimity,
Democrats, whether or not we were
driven aside by the elaims of our party
being run by a ring, we can now turn
the laugh and take advantage of the po-
sition in which Republicans have placed
themselves. With unity in our ranks,
let us denounce the ring and its nefari-
ous working, and score a victory while
circumstances favor us. Take the two
tickets and which can you honestly sup-
port ? ‘Will you support one made in
the interest of the people, or will you
lend a Lelping hand to one, the product
of party bosses and ringsters ? Appeal-
ing to your good judgment we know the
; former will be your choice; let that
judgment be warped and you can hon-
estly support the latter. Personally,
nothing very objectionable can be said
against the nominees; but was not this
J means taken to keep down the howl,
and to give strength to the pretence of
unity ? Can we say anything greatly
to the credit of these products of boss-
ism? ° We fail again! - But the idea of
their being nominated by a few ringsters
should serve to make those candidates
meet with disfavor among the voters of
Centre county. We would not appeal to
Republican voters by telling them of the
inconsistencies of their own party, which
are glaring and cannot help being seen,
but if we can score one point in making
the action of our party united by setting
forth these inconsistencies, our object
will have been accomplished. D.
Bigler and Wallace.
Ringing Speeches at the Democratic
: State Convention.
After Mr. Bigler's nomination on the
4th instant a committee was appointed
t7 conduct him to the hall. When he
:eached the stage he was warmly ap-
plauded and spoke briefly as follows :
MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE CONVENTION :(—I am not accustom-
ed to making speeches, as many of you
know, and simply propose to thank ‘the
conventicn for the honor conferred upon
me without going into a discussion of
the issues of the campaign. This honor
is more highly appreciated in that I have
been nominated without the slightest
effort on my part but against my ex-
pressed wish.
As a member of this grand old organ-
ization I bow to the will of the party
and pledge myself to do everything in
my power for the success of our cause.
With us, in connection with the organ-
ization, rests the result in November.
Active, intelligent, persistent effort on
our part will bring the full Democratic
vote to the polls and ensure us the vie-
tory.
Our principles are those most condu-
cive to the well-being and happiness of
the whole people, and the bad faith and
broken pledges of the Republican leaders
will certainly cause many to hesitate
who have heretofore acted with that
party.
The experience of the last six months
ha: more firmly than ever strengthened
our fuith in the principles of the Demo-
cratic party and demonstrated the wis-
dom of our position in the last campaign,
and I firmly believe that had our great
leader, Grover Cleveland,been re-elected
we would not have witnessed the serious
business depression that has attended the
advent to power of our political ene-
mies.
The reduction of taxation through
tari reform was inseribed on -ur ban-
ners when we went down in the fight of
last year. The same inscription is on
our flag now and will remain there and
lead us to victory in 1892.
While this is not” a state issue, or a
question that is affected by the result of
a state campaign, yet it is a question that
is inseparable from our daily life, and its
proper adjustment is essential to the pros-
penity of our people.
Iam a firm believer in the Democra-
tic doctrine that a ‘public office is a
public trust,” and should it be my good
fortune to be called upon to .administer
the office for which I have to-day been
nominated, I promise to bring to the
discharge of its duties an earnest desire
to so fulfill them as will best serve the
teres of the commonwealth.
WHAT MR. WALLACE SAID.
Hon. William A. Wallace was ob-
served by some of the delegates standing
modestly at the rear of the stage and in
a nioment there was an enthusiastic de-
mand for a speech. Stepping to the
front, Mr. Wallace said :
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF
THE CONVENTION: Thera is no apolo-
gy necessary for my presence at a Dem-
ocratic convention. I come to thank
you cn behalf of the Democracy of my
county for the nomination of Edmund
A. Bigler. [Applause.]
I am but a private in the ranks of the
Democracy, yet I can say that this nom-
ination of a son of Cleartield county will
be received by our people with grateful
thanks. We thank you for the spontan-
lety with which this nomination comes.
It came to him unsolicited. He canvas-
sed no county. He asked for no man’s
vote. Not this alone have I to thank you
for but that the Democracy are to-day
united, active, earnest, aggressive and
progressive. [Applause] Mr. Bigler
comes from stock notunknown to Penn-
sylvania. Democrats. German on the
one side and Scotch Irish on the other.
Broken promises, ruined industries, de-
pressed business and suffering labor are
the melancholy results of six months of
Republican rule. ‘Our people feel the
oppression of federal power. Their in-
dustries aie ruined. They seek a reme-
dy. Canit be found under the present
policy ot our adversaries ? Their prac-
tice and their policy are alike destructive
of the best interests of the people. They
tax us to exhaustion and shut up our
markets They squander millions at the
arbitrary will of an incompetent business
man who, in the language of these en-
lightened days, is commonly called a
“crank,” [applause] and yer they fear
to check his heaulong career.
By their fruits ye shall kno= them. |
Men do not gather grapes trom thorns |
Grover, Grover, |
nor figs of thistles.
Jack the Ripper Once More.
The London Fiend again Startles the
World.
LoNDoN, September 10.--Jack the
Ripper has added another to his long list
of victims. Early in this series of awful
crimes Jack the Ripper announced by
notices chalked upon a hoard, that his
bloody hand would not be staved until
fifteen unfortunates had been slain, and
that then he would announce his iden-
tity and surrender to the authorities. To-
day his ninth victim was found, and all
London 1s wondering if he will make
good his threat and promise.
At 5.30 o'clock this morning a police-
man found the body of a fallen woman
at the corner of a gailway arch on Cable
street, Whitchapel. An examination of
the remains showed that the head and
legs had been cuf off’ and carried away
and the stomach ripped open, the intes-
tires lying on the ground. A cordon of
police instantly surrounded the spot.
Policemen pass the spot every fifteen
minutes. Those on duty last night say
they saw nothing suspicious. The phy-
sicians who examined the body state
that in their opinion the murder and
mutilation occupied nearly an hour. It
is surmised that the murderer car:ied off
the head and legs ina bag.
The murder is the worst of the whole
series of Whitechapel murders. The man-
ner in which the limbs had been severed
from the body shows that the murderer
was possessed of some surgical skill. The
woman was about 30 years old. Her
clothing was shabby and she was evident-
ly a spirit drinker. The remains have
not been identified. The most intense
excitement again prevails in Whitechap-
el. Crowds surround the mortuary in
which the body lies.
Later examination reveals that there |
was no blood on the ground where the
body was found, neither was there any |
From this it is evi- |
blocd on the body,
dent that the murder was committed in
some other place, and that the body was
subsequently placed under the railroad
arch. The trank was nude. A rent
and bloody chemise was found lying
near the body. The arms were intact
but the legs were missing. Tt is believed
that the woman had been dead for two
days. Three sailors who were slexping
under the arch next to the one under
which the body was found were taken
into custody by the police. They con-
vinced the authorities however that they
had seen or heard nothing ofa suspicious
nature, and they were discharged.
That this last crime was committed by
the same hand as the others attributed to
Jack the Ripper is evident by the man-
ner of it. The style is that of the myster-
ious fiend. The first of his victims was
Martha Turner, who fell under his knife
early in the morning of August 7 1838.
She had been stabbed thrty-two times by
some sharp instrument, supposed to have
been a bayonet. The next was Polly
Nichols, whose head was nearly severed
from her body, and the abdomen ripped
open. She perished August 31, and the
corpse was found a few moments afier
the murder, as it wa: still warm. A
week later Annie Chapman was butch-
ered at the door of her lodging house,
her throat beir.g cut,and thedisermbow: 1-
ing being more atrocious than in the
previous case.
The terror then reigning and the |
watchfulness ot the police sent the sav-
age into hiding, but he came carly in the |
morning of September 30 and killed Eli- |
zabeth Stride, cutting her throat as usu- |
al, but apparently not having time to
mutilate the body, or hastening through
with it in order to finish another ghastly |
task while the police were engaged with
the remains of Stride, as, while they
were carrying her body to the dead house
he knifed another woman not more than
ten minutes’ walk away. She was
Catharine Eddowes, and her throat was
cat and body disemboweled.
The next deed of blood was on Nov-
ember 9, when the body of Mary Kelley
was found. In that case the head, ears,
and nose were cut off, and the disembow-
eling was shocking beyond description.
After this crime there was a cessation in
the career of blood, but just as it was hop-
ed that it would not be renewed and the
terrified quarter of London was recover-
ing itscourage, Alice McKenzie was but-
chered. That was on the morning of
July 17, last, and the details of the mur-
der correspond so well with those of the |
others thatjthere is no doubt that it was
the work of Jack the Ripper. This,
with the murder of an unknown woman
during Christmas week of 1887, and the
murder just committed, make nine,
which are traced to the one foul hand.
There are others, but the evidence that
they were committed by the same hand |
is not conclusive.
Numerous arrests have been made
and various devices as the use of blood
hounds, tried to get track of this pheno-
menal criminal, but all in vain.
ious theories have been forined to account |
| for his savagry, and especially for his
malice toward fallen women, who have
invariably been his victims, but the |
theories have not served any useful pur-
pose to the police, who are as much in
how this people miss thee—with ail tiy
failings! Oh, for six short months of
Grover [cheers and applause] with his
inflexible will, his determination to do
right under all circumstanees, with his
obedience to the law as written in civii
service, und in his own proud trust. Oh
for six months of this arbitrary man to
bring our peopie back to their ancient
line of thought, practice and policy ?
Is this policy to be continued ?
The answer is for you now in the {u-
ture of this canvassin the State of Penn-
sylvania. The answer mustconmic with
unerring certainty. Are we to be sag-
fied with their promises, made to the ear
and broken to the hope by our adversu-
ries? Are we satisfied in this grand old
Commonwealth with our 5,000,000 pec -
ple and 1,000,000 of voters, and bidipe
our time for progress and reform at the
behest of a single individual, or are we
to be aggressive and progressive ? Are
we the Democracy of years gone hy?
Are we to become aggressive and progres-
sive? We can no lunger be on the de-
fensive, but let us march forward con-
quering and to conquer, Gentlemen, |
thank you for your compliment.
the dark as to his personality and mo-
tive as ever,
n——sesrrerrur————
Tanner Suspended.
It is Believed Thar He Will Be For-
mally Dismissed
Sept.
WASHINGTON,
Deputy Smith is designated to sien
mail for the office. It is believed to be
a question of only a few hours, perhaps,
before Tanner will be formally dismiss
ed. Neither he norany of the other:
officials will speak, except that Assis-
tant Secretary Bussey is quoted for the
ststement that from the papers on his
desk Leis led to suppose that Mr. Tan-
ndr Las been relieved from duty by order
of the Secretary.
in a disturbed state of mind, but will no
Toner talk,
we et etn monn
——The Philipsburg Ledger, a neu-
teal paper politically, but whose editor
1s personally a Republican, says: “Ip
nominating Hon. HK. A. Bigler, of
Clearfield, as the candidate for the hich
office of State Treasurer, the Democrats
of Pennsylvania have nominated a clean
good, A No 1 man in every respect.
Any one who knows Mr. Bigler will
say amen to this.”
ta me enc
——What is the matter with the ele-
ments ?
Var- |
11—Pension |
Commissioner Tanner 1s suspended, and |
Tanner is at bis home, |
Another Fortunate Man.
A Young Breaker Boy at Plyinouth
Draws a Prize of $5,000.
i Upon being informed that a young
| man in Plymouth, by the name of Her-
man Barney, had drawn a $5,000 prize
in the Louisiana State Lottery, our re-
: porter was instructed to interview him
| and learn the truth in regard to the re-
port. He found Mr. Barney at the East
End Store, on Welsh Hill, a suburb of
Plymouth, and about four miles from
this city. Mr. Barney is a pleasant
young gentleman of about twenty-three
years of age. After stating his business
the reporter proceeded to interview him.
Rep. “There is a story out, Mr. Bar-
ney, to theeffect that you have been
{ quite fortunate in a Louisiana State Lot-
tery investment. Is there any truth in
the report’’ was my first question.
“Yes, sir,” he replied, ‘I was fortu-
{ nate enough to draw $5,000 in the July
drawing.”
“What was the number of your tick-
et ?”’ I next asked him.
“I held ticket No. 58,607 which drew
| one-twentieth of the second capitul prize
| of $100,000.”
{ Were any other persons interested
' with youin your investment 7”
| “Yes, sir, Andrew Brennan and Lo-
' gan Harris, both friends of wine, had
. been sending for tickets every month
for some time, and last July I thought I
{ would invest & dollar and see if I could
! not hit it.
| “Which you did, fortunately for you.
| Did your friends reali-e anything from
| their venture?”
“No sir, only in this way. We made
an agreement that if either of us should
| draw anything not less than $5,000, the
| lucky one should pay the other two one
month’s wages and also pay the expens-
es of all three for a months trip to the
seashore,”
| “Did you take the trip ?”
| “Not as yet, but we may go in Sep-
| tember. But we settled our agreement
| by my giving them each one hundred
‘dollars. Now, if we go to the seashore
| each man must pay his own expenses.’
“Was this your first investment 2"
“Yes sir, however I have sent for a
ticket in the September drawing.”
{ Mr. Barney also told me that he hud
lived there all his life, and had never
worked, except in a breaker, up to last
July. Then he left, and does not in-
tend to work in one again, for he said,
“I have bought one lot with a house on
it, and two vacant Iotson which I in-
| tend building twosingle houses. When
| these are completed T will have three
dwellings that will bring me in about
fiftcen dollars per month, each, and that
ought to keep me. Besides I have kept
some of the money by me, and if I see
a good opportunity to invest to advan-
tage, will do so.”’— Wilkesbarre (Pa.)
Telephone, August 34.
Killed with a Silver Bullet.
A Story of How the British Commander
at North Point Was Slain.
Barrimore, Md., Sept. 6.—The cele-
bration next week of the seventy-fifth
anniversary of the Battle of North Point
has not culy caused a disagreement be-
tween Eben Appleton, of New York,
the owner of the original Star-Spangled
Bann or, and the Exposition Comittee,
but has also provoked a controversy re-
garding the Killing of General Ross, the
British Commander in that memorable
engagement Baltimore has always
honored the memories of Wells and Me-
Comas, the two youthfial patriots, as be-
ing the heroes of that battle. The Com-
mittee has received letters from veterans
and others contending that General Ross
was not shot by either Wells or Me-
Comas.
However, the question appears to
have been finally settled by the state-
ment of George T. Hulse, a son of John
Hulse, who was a Sergeant of the rifle-
men, the company to which Wells and
McComas belonged, and of which Cap-
| tain Asquith was commander. Mr
|
Hulse makes affidavit to the story told
him by his futher of the death of Ross.
On the morning of September 12, when
the alarm was given, McComas showed
his father a silver bullet, telling him
that be had som old silver at home and
{welted it into a bullet with which he
intended to make his first shot. Hulse
| handed the bullet back and saw him put
| itinto his nfle. They then advanced
stpageling through the woods, the two
boys taking the road until reaching the
{ spot now marked by the monument.
|
Here, when mecting the enemy, Wells
and McComas fired, and General Ross
fell. The boys sprang into a cluster of
bushes and the Briv-h officers wheeled
tand the troops fired into the bushes.
| The troops then began the retreat, tak-
i ing the body of Ross with them. Hulse!
with his comrades, secured the bodies
of his companions and had them taken
care of.
ri LT
Those ““Apothecary’s Scales.”
i New York world.
General Warner quoted approvingly
at the Grand Army Encampment Presi-
dent Harrison’s sneering reply to com-
plaints of a reckless pension policy :
Tgws is no time to use the apothecary’
cseales to measure the rewards of the
men who saved the country.”
Was it no reward to them that the
[county was saved? Did they enhst for
the money there was mn it? Is patriotis
ia lost virtue, and shall the Hessian prin-
tciple of hire and the looter’s notion of
reward animate American citizens
| who are called to their country’s de-
fonse ?
When Mr. Harrison sneered at “up-
otheeary’s scales” the taxpayers of the
country were contributing over $80,000,
000 to the annual pension list.
vear the estimates will call either $110.-
000,000 or $115,30.000 as Commission .
er Tanner boasts. The lesser amount is
4) per cent. of the total ordinary expen- |
ditures of the Government last year. It
is nearly double the total expenses of tie
Government in the year before the war.
It exceeds the cost of the combined pen- |
sion lists of all the war-making nations
of Europe.
the cost of the enormous standing army
of Germany, and $50,000,000 more than
the cost of the standing army of Great
Britain.
Is this what Benjamin Harrison
“using the apothecary’s scales?
alls
This !
It is $5,000,000 more than |
Pinching the Farmers.
Tariff Burdens Which the Soil Must
Bear.
The address of Senator Gerard C.
Brown, of York, at the recent Granger's
picnic, held at Williams Grove, was a
most powerful presentation of the ques-
tion of the relation of the farming inter-
ests of the country to the present un-
equal tariff laws. The following sum-
mary the Senator’s speech is worth care-
ful consideration:
The pertinent question now comes
home to each one of us: Do we farmers
enjoy individually our full proportion of
it? There is no need to cite the census,
which specifically shows less than 3 per
cent. income on farm investment, or to
quote the enormous lists of Sheriffs’ sales
in the best counties of the State, or the
constant depreciation everywhere of
farm values. Farming, which natural-
ly is the most profitable of legitimate
avoecations, and which until within
twenty years was accordingly honorable
and independent, has now become a
mere struggle for subsistence.
MONOPOLY, THE FARMERS BANE,
For so great and marked declension az
the past twenty years has shown in
farming for profit there must exist pow-
erful and active causes. Monopoly is
our bane. Trusts are its ripest fruit and
fullest developments. The beneficiar es
of the one are the open apologists of the
other, and do not hesitate to declare,
that ‘trusts are mere private affairs
with whom a President (or any one else)
has no right to interfere.” "Confident
in the brute force of the millions, they
have extorted from a long suffering peo-
ple, they no longer disguise their buc-
caneering projects.
In order to fatten the pocketbooks of
railroad gamblers the people’s pockets
have been depleted of hundreds of mil-
lions of dollars. So galling have been
the exactings that in some sections a
new proposed railroad has come to be
regarded with dismay rather than hailed
with joy by the farmers of the viciniuy.
It is a most significant fact that between
the years 1870 and 1880 the counties of
Pennsylvania which showed the greatest
shrinking in ‘the value of ther farm
lands were those thiough which the
main line of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road runs. Lancaster county, for exam-
ple, lost 50 per cent.
SHOULDERS THE
BURDEN.
THE FARMER TARIFF
But I am convinced that on no one
subject is there so much misinformation,
such prevalent prejudice, as on the tar-
itt’ question. How can we farmers ac-
quiesce in the kind proposition that we
shall be forced to pay a bounty to other
classes of citizens to enable them to reap
an assured profit at our expense on their
business ? This don’t seem to be consis-
tent or reasonable. They have an aver-
age of 47 per cent. bounty at present, but
are coolly proposing to increase this ad-
infinittm. There aroat least two points
on which we should demand to havesat-
isfactory information. We should be-
come satfstied that this is necessary to
and will absolutely enhance the pros-
perity of a majority of our people, and
having our own inter st in view we
should even then refuse to sanction all
measures which would unreasonably op-
pres any portion of our people or threat-
en them with disaster. The burden of
this proof, of course, rest with those who
propose this extraordinary plan of ad-
vancing the prosperity of a people by
increasing their taxes. After examining
all the claims made by protectionists as
to the virtue of a high tariff as a panacen
for national ills, after sifting all the evi-
dence offered, comparing carefully the
history of the past, investigating critical-
ly for years all the circumstances and
conditions relating to it, I for one am
forced to the conclusion that the protec-
tion which is offered by a high tariff is
conferred solely on the capitalist inter-
ested in the protected enterprise. The
theory that the farmer is’ more than
reimbursed for the extra cost of sup-
plies by the home market created for
him through its oparation isso com-
pletely rebutted by fact that argument
to prove ats falsity is unnecessary.
BARRED FROM THE WORLD'S MARKETS.
In spite of protection farm production
has so immensely outgrown the home
market that prices are lower than this
generation hasseen, in fact, on the whole,
below production. From the foreign
market which invites us, and which
would atford an immense relief, we are
barred by a resurictive tariff which crip-
ples commercial exchanges. The plea
that the tariff’ alo covers and protects
the products of the farm is ridiculous and
purposely niisleading. The wool tariff
may yield a profit to the herders of the
far. West on Government lands, but in
the end the price of clothing alone tukes
from the average sheep farmer of the
East more than it returns to h m. The
uty on cattle interferes with his ability
to secure improved stock at fair prices.
The duty on wheat is a furce in a coun-
try which has 150,000,000 bushels annu-
al surplus to export or rot at home.
That on potatoes is inoperative except
in seasons of such widespread failure and
public scarcity as to render ita grave
question whether 1t is not against the
public welfare to o. struct relief from any
quarter.
I do not believe that any agricultural
interest can be properly fostered and ad-
vanced by a tariff for protection.
NOW WANT A PROHIBITORY MARKET.
Because, after twenty-seven years of
protection, amid the general depression
In all business, including that so highly
protected, with a plant and capacity for
manufacturing for 100.000,000 of people
practically confined to the needs of 60.-
000,000, one of the great politieal parties
raises its banner for suen an inerease of
the tarigh as will make it prokibitory.
What then becomes of that derided
Joreign market which nevertheless doos
yearly accept of and absorb more than
$600,000,000 of our agricultural pro-
| ducts.
| With that destroyed how much beter
[off will our furiners be ?
Who in that case will deliver them
from the “frusts to come.
Surely we will never indorse so sui-
| cidal a policy, A high tariff Adwminis-
[ tration has already dissipated one-third
"of the surplus in its anxicty to evade a
reduction of customs dues. Theiridea is
to keep up the taxes, but squander then:
to avoid a surplus.