Renata: Bryan Gives Stunning Speech Against Gold Standard: As the presidential

election of 1896 approaches, farmers must find a candidate that matches their needs.
However, their search might be over. The democratic party has recently nominated
William Jennings Bryan as their presidential candidate, who made a very powerful
impression at the Democratic National Convention. At the convention, Bryan gave a
truly inspiring speech, the best one by far in the campaign, perhaps better than any other
candidates in history. Bryan is the youngest man ever nominated for presidency by a
major party, being only thirty six years old.
The thirty six year old is a Jeffersonian agrarian, meaning that he believes that
independent farmers are the backbone of the American republic. Bryan argues that the
national government should buy large amounts of silver and issue silver-backed money.
This would continue the 16:1 silver-to-gold ratio. The use of silver-backed money will
have a profound impact on farmers. The current use of gold-backed money is being held
in national banks, most of which are in the East. These Eastern banks are the cause of the
problems that farmers are having, with the gold not reaching areas in the West and South.
A monetary issue like the gold standard, will divide the East from the West and South, as
it has already begun dividing. The use of silver-backed money would allow for
circulation of money and would aid farmers in paying their debts caused by Eastern
banks. The use of silver-backed money will prevent the corruption of big businessmen
and help the average farmer.
There are some who support the gold standard, these people are known as
goldbugs. These goldbugs believe that bimetallism, the unrestricted currency of silver
and gold, will cause people to refuse silver and hoard gold, depleting the national gold
reserve. Goldbugs believe that the elimination of the national gold reserve would
decimate American prosperity at home and destroy its strength. This, however is
unlikely, and is an excuse to keep benefiting the rich who live in the East. The gold
standard helps big businessmen and the rich become richer. The gold standard focuses on
selling products in international markets and to attract foreign investors, disregarding the
needs of the American people.
Bryans speech gave a glimpse of a hope for all farmers, using powerful words.
He earned a demonstration at the end of his speech from the public that lasted half an
hour. This was because of the incredibly dynamic conclusion to his speech. Bryan said,
we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press
down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns; you shall not crucify mankind upon a
cross of gold. Bryan finished with spreading his arms out, representing Christ. The
audience went into a frenzy, praising Bryan. With a presidential candidate like Bryan,
there is no doubt that farmers will be well represented and though of. It is the best hope
for the farmer population to elected a man such as William Jennings Bryan.
Works Cited:
 - Jaycox, Faith. The Progressive Era. 2005.
- Tompkins, Vincent. 1878-1899. Detroit, MI, Gale Research, 1997. American
Eras.
- Bryan, William Jennings. "Bryans Cross of Gold Speech: Mesmerizing the
Masses." 9 july 1896. History Matters, historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5354/. Accessed
24 Oct. 2017.

Maddie: City Living: The Wests Industrial Counterpart

More and more farmers are moving East into cities towards the promises of industry.
Should you?
Lets face it. The era of new age farming and the hopes and dreams of the Wild
West are over. Weve all settled down out here in the barren fields and empty lands with
the promise of finding prosperity in farm life and it hasnt done us much good. We have
been self reliant and stood strong in the face of economic despair. But crop prices have
fallen, deflation has plagued our businesses and industry is rising up in place of the old
ways of agriculture. Because of this, thousands have abandoned the West and are
returning to the cities to find money and success. But for those of us still out here, we
wonder what the city is really like and if it is worth this major shift in Americas values.
Here are the goods and bads of city living that are worth considering if youre doubting
your future in farming.

Streets Paved With Gold?

For many the city holds dreams of money and prosperity. Immigrants come with
the hopes of gold and success around every corner and there are many jobs opportunities
in the big city, promises of money. Farming is a rough way to get around. We must
constantly rely on the incessant weather and pray we will be able to sell some of what we
have toiled over for months on end. In the city, factory jobs provide security. You will
get that paycheck at the end of the week no matter what. Workers in factories,
manufacturing clothing and food and everything that we make our livelihood on, can earn
up to $500 a year compared to our meager wages.

Or Piles of Garbage and Dirt?

While the city offers many promises of success, it lacks the space and beauty of
the countryside. So called tenements, large apartment buildings, are cramped and dirty.
A man who moved to New York City in 1880 reflects on what the city is like. Four to
six stories high, with four apartments on each floor, they held two or three families in
each apartment, all with no elevator or indoor plumbing. We used cesspools and
outhouses for sewage. And people just threw their garbage in the street. The streets are
crowded with noise and clamour, a constant fear of being trampled by some horse and an
angry man in a carriage. What would you rather have? Rolling hills and days out in the
fields? Or sloshing through trash everyday to work in a boiling and dangerous factory?
The city is a place of dirt and sin and most who go there will only end up in the garbage
filled streets.

You may be out West with little in your pocket, but its good enough compared to giving
up the glory of the West for a square mile of metal and dirt, without knowing if you will
succeed or fail. The city may bring hope and for few and money, but what will it do for
you?

Work Cited:
"City Life in the Early 1900s." Eyewitness to History.com,
http://eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpim2.htm .Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.
"The Gilded Age: America Moves to the City." Khan Academy.org, College Board,
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-history/period-6/apush-gilded-age/a/ame
rica-moves-to-the-city .Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.
Image:
http://www.maggieblanck.com/NewYork/ImagesNYC13/Sept1013NY6.jpg

Obituaries:

Gilson, Sarah H.
Born 1816, Died July 1896
Sarah, the old crone down at the state Peach Market, died this Saturday. She was walking
down Main Street when she was suddenly attacked by a malicious rogue crow. Nobody
has sent anything in commemorating her life, and no one even knows who her family is.
Good bye Mrs. Gilson. We wont miss your constant spitting and jeering.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Old_woman_in_sunbonnet_by_D
oris_Ulmann.jpg

Heath, Edwin J.
Born Jan. 1862, Died July 1896
Family and friends of Mr. Heath, the best orchard farmer in the state, mourned his sudden
loss yesterday around noon. He was out in the fields, picking grapes, when he collapsed.
The body was found decapitated in the dirt with his head lying a few meters from a
bloody axe. Local doctors suspect the cause of death to be heat stroke. A funeral service
will be held on Friday.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9d/2e/e5/9d2ee56ac7eec8d63c9fb318b41b5166.jpg
Kruger, Herman A.
Born Sept. 1854, Died July 1896
The gruesome death of Herman Kruger on Wednesday marks the 19th tractor accident
this month. Before he was run over by his assistant Thomas Peebles, who is currently
being tried for murder, this state had gone a record number of 5 days since a tractor
accident. But were back on the counter with 1 day since a death, so well keep you
posted.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/d8/24/db/d824db8de387cdec94213c374a083a76--vintage-farm
-agriculture.jpg

Millard, Caroline E.
Born Mar. 1881, Died July 1896
The tragic loss of Caroline, who passed away at only 15, has brought rain clouds over all
of our heads. Ms. Millard was sick for many weeks with a case of diphtheria. She was a
sweet girl, and her family misses her dearly. Their house is being knocked down this
weekend to prevent the disease spreading to the rest of the town.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5a/b7/62/5ab762d68e22d0d20d8c7aa21e44961a--vintage-farm
-vintage-ladies.jpg

Maya:
Farming Flops
Everyone knows that farming is terribly difficult, but that fact still doesnt prevent city
kids from coming out into the great American West and trying to make their way in the
world. Your parents, friends or even you probably immigrated to the West not too long
ago or was descended from Indians. At first the frontier seems romantic: a humongous
land teeming with rivers and healthy soil that sells for close to nothing! Soon after
immigrants leave their Eastern lives reality sets in. The harsh winters, plagues and effort
required to maintain and live off the land turn some away and others harder and smarter.
Though most people learn the best way to farm over time, accidents are commonly
contributed to by pure stupidity!
Some of the most common farm flops include misuse of fencing, mainly barbed wire.
During the nations push to introduce barbed wire, many farmers didnt process that the
fencing was as sharp as it was advertised as. This ignorance contributed to a slew of
wire-related injuries that inflicted both farmers and their livestock.

In addition to gruesome and bloody injuries, farmers also had to deal with the financial
side of farming. Keeping a farms books or managing finances requires a surprising
amount of brainpower: something that uneducated greenhorns surely don't take into
account! Many farmers fell well into debt within a few years of the creation of their farm
and many regions therefore became quite economically oppressed. Opposingly, while
some farmers suffer, others prosper. Many farmers are currently making it big on the
agricultural scene and producing an abundance of crops. Such a supply of food adds up
over time, and contributes to a phenomenon known as overproduction. Overproduction
happens when people are too successful at farming: an occurrence that doesn't seem too
horrible at first (who doesn't love extra food?) but can prove toxic for the economy. For
example, the price for a pound of cotton fell from 15 cents per pound to a mere 6 between
1873 and 1894! Who knew that being successful could make your farm flop?

Always remember to be alert on your farm, whether you're making a new fence or
planning how much to plant in the spring. Alertness is the key to avoiding failure and you
can prove yourself as a reliable client and farm owner by keeping your head in the game
to avoid pointless disaster.
Works Cited
- Hughes, L. Patrick. "Agricultural Problems and Gilded Age Politics." Austin
Community College, www.austincc.edu/lpatrick/his1302/agrarian.html.
Accessed 24 Oct. 2017.
- Van Duyne. "Homesteaders Settle the Plains." Mr. Van Duyne, 2013,
www.mrvanduyne.com/west/2013/Homesteaders2013.htm. Accessed 24 Oct.
2017.
Advertisement:

Nina:

Looking Back to 1894 - How It Relates to Today

It was about two years ago when the Wilson-Gorman Tariff was put into place,
much to the dismay of most Republicans and even many conservative Democrats. The
Wilson-Gorman Tariff introduced a wage tax, which many people protest. The
Wilson-Gorman Tariff is directed towards a small group of Americans rather than all
Americans as a whole. The Wilson-Gorman Tariff mainly affects people that had very
high incomes, as the tariff is set at two percent of incomes over $4,000. The average
income for most people, such as farmers, teachers, government employees, and other
people that earned wages is $411, so the Wilson-Gorman Tariff affected less than five
percent of the population at that time. Taxes have only ever been placed on wages in
times when it was absolutely necessary, such as during wartimes, which caused many
people to protest the new tariff.
Tariffs were, and still are, a very controversial topic. Many farmers support
tariffs, because they believe that they will gain more wealth from consumers buying their
products; however, farmers that have big foreign markets prefer lower tariffs because
they believe that having lower tariffs will cause foreign markets to lower their custom
prices on American products. Other industries that depend on foreign markets for their
income also support lower tariffs. Many workers have opposing views on tariffs. They
believe that high tariffs helped them eliminate foreign competition. They are afraid that
lowering the tariffs would cause them to be driven out of the American market.
The controversy on tariffs is very important today to the agricultural world,
because many farmers are suffering through poverty and are in desperate need of
economic stability. Many farmers are still struggling to even feed themselves. When
production for farmers is down, farmers make a significantly smaller amount of money
which leaves them in poverty until the production increases again. For a lot of farmers,
high tariffs would greatly benefit them; however, high tariffs would also impair a lot of
other industries. Even two years after the Wilson-Gorman Tariff was issued, tariffs are
still a very relevant and controversial issue.

Sources:
- United States History. Tariff of 1894, www.u-s-history.com/pages/h794.html.
- 1894 Income Tax and the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act. Major Acts of Congress,
Encyclopedia.com,
www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/18
94-income-tax-and-wilson-gorman-tariff-act.
- The Progressive Era (Page 70-71)
- American Eras (Page 198)

Simran: Three Farming Tools That Will Change Your Farm

Forever
 As more Americans start moving to the West, more and more technologies are
coming into light. Items such as barbed wire, the steel plow, and scythe have started
becoming famous out here in the West. Have you used any of them yet at your farms? If
not, heres your guide to learning all about them!

Barbed Wire
Barbed wire is a fairly new invention that has been primarily used in the states of
Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. There are other states using it, but these three are where
barbed wire is getting used the most. Made by Joseph Glidden, barbed wire has been used
since 1874, when Glidden got a patent for the new and improved fencing. Ever since,
barbed wire has been placed on many different farms to contain cattle. With so many
cattle on a farm, some have started to trample on the land that is used to grow crops. And
plus, there has been a major surplus in beef, making prices go down. With more than
enough meat to be sold, the prices of beef has gone down in a major way. This is when
barbed wire comes into play!
The use of barbed wire is able to help farmers by closing off pieces of their land.
Specific areas of land are dedicated to just cattle grazing, so that they dont come onto
your crops and destroy them. But, barbed wire is not just used to contain cattle, it is also
used for herding cattle. Ever since 1866, millions of cattle have been herded from Texas
to Kansas. Barbed Wire is used to keep all of the cattle on the path to Kansas, and not
having any of them just walk off, not to be found again by any of the cowboys that were
with them on the journey North.

Steel Plow
The steel plow has been used ever since 1837, when John Deere invented it, so it
would be quite the shock if some of you dont have it yet. It makes life much easier for
all farmers to break up tough soil without any of the soil getting stuck to it. The soil out
here in the West is certainly different than the soil back in the East, so the normal, old
wood plows wouldnt work with this new type of soil. Wood plows were breaking from
the the tough soil of the West, so John Deere decided that enough was enough.
Something had to be done, so the new steel plow was patented and finally invented in
1837. Since then, Deeres company has been making over 1000 steel plows every year.

Scythe
Harvesting grain isnt always the easiest job, especially if a farm only has hands,
and no tools to help to help farmers out. Tools are always going to have to help a farm
out. A scythe can help you do just that! Harvesting grain has never been easier with a
scythe, a sharp curved blade at the end of a pole. The tool will be able to cut through
grass and wheat and grain to get you the precious grain that you will be able to sell at
markets all around the West. No matter what farm youre on, a scythe will help you and
your farm out. And this is no new tool. The scythe has been around since 500 BC, but
even before that the sickle was used to cut crops on a farm.
Well, those are the new technologies that have been buying out in markets all
around in here in the West. There are many, many more, but these three have seen to be
the most beneficial on farms. Have you seen any better tools that youve used for your
crops? If so, feel free to send in a letter, so we can add to our list of the best farming tools
in the West.

- Homesteaders Settle the Plains. Homesteaders Settle the Plains,

www.mrvanduyne.com/west/2013/Homesteaders2013.htm.
- Finegan, John. The Steel Plow. The Steel Plow,
www.iwest.k12.il.us/schools/thawville/projects/1800/index_017.html.
- Farming in Early 1800s & Early 1900s. Arago: Exhibits, Smithsonian,
https://arago.si.edu/exhibit_445_2.html

Who Should be Our President?

The two major candidates for the upcoming presidential election are William Jennings
Bryan, born on March 19, 1860, and William Mckinley, born on January 29, 1843. As the
election draws nearer, citizens of our nation need to choose who to vote for. Today, I will
examine which candidate would be best to lead our country based on their horoscopes.

William Jennings Bryan is a Pisces with the life path of one. Based on his star sign, he
would make an outstanding president. A Pisces, however, would have some trouble
leading a county. Pisces often crack under pressure and can get distracted very easily.
Pisces also have trouble saying no, so if Bryan because president he would likely have a
lot of trouble vetoing bills. Pisces also tend to be very emotional, so dealing with the
pressure of a presidency might prove difficult. Pisces, however, have a very active
imagination and tend to be very dreamy and imaginative, which could help in thinking up
ideas to help the nation. Pisces are also very good at collaborating with other people, so a
Pisces would not have any trouble working with others to think of ideas or putting ideas
into action.

William Mckinley is an Aquarius with the life path of one. Aquarii tend to be very
independent, so Mckinley might have trouble working with others. Similarly, they dislike
using ideas other than their own, which could also prove to be a problem during
presidency. Aquarii are also often sarcastic or rebellious, so they might go against the
rules of others in order to follow their own ideas. They are also emotionless, which could
prove an issue, since the president needs to form bonds with people in the nation and
within the government. Despite these issues, Aquarii are very imaginative and clever.
They are very good at thinking of ideas to solve problems, and they are also incredible at
thinking of inventive and original ideas. It would be very easy for an Aquarius to think of
original ideas to help the nation.

Both William Jennings Bryan and William Mckinley have one as their life path number.
This life path number represents good presidential qualities. Those with a life path
number of one are natural-born leaders. They are very good at taking initiative of
situations and getting people to listen to them. They are also very courageous and are
ready to rush into any situation head-on with no fears. Because of this, they are extremely
talented at overcoming any obstacle in their path with ease. A person with this life path
number would be an outstanding president because of their determination, ambition, and
ability to focus.

Because both presidential candidates have the same life path number, they would both
make extraordinary candidates just based off of the life path number. However, the
candidates have different zodiac signs, so the final decision must be made by the star
sign. Considering all of the factors, a Pisces would make a much better president than an
Aquarius. Pisces are very good at thinking of good ideas, and they are very personable,
which would make them a great president. Although an Aquarius may be better of
thinking up ideas and taking initiative, their emotionless and stubborn personality would
impair their presidency too much.

Your Daily Horoscope!

If today, July 27th, is your birthday, then you are a Leo! Leo is the fifth zodiac
sign and is a fire sign. Leos are very ambitious and strive to be the center of attention
whenever possible. They like to think of themselves of the leader of whatever situation
they are in, which makes sense because the lion, the king of the jungle, is Leos symbol.
This can be a good thing; however, it can also be hurtful because it can cause Leos to
appear arrogant or egotistical. Leos also tend to be extremely creative and dramatic,
which makes sense because they love to be the center of attention. Leos are also
natural-born leaders, so they are quick to stand up and take control over a situation.
However, Leos also struggle with egoism and selfishness, so if youre a Leo, make sure
to watch what you say and do! If you are a leo, your planetary ruler is the Sun, your
birthstone is a ruby, your flower is a sunflower, and your color is gold.

People born on this day have the life path number of 4. This means that they are
very practical and realistic. They are also very hardworking and you can always depend
on them when you need them. Those born today value organization and everything
having a place. They are also very good leaders; however, they can also be very stubborn
and over-cautious. Overall, a person with the life path number of four is a great leader
and a great person to have around to talk to or get advice from. If you have the life path
number four, your ruling planet is Uranus, your colors are blue and gray, and your
gemstone is a sapphire.

Come back tomorrow to read about the life path number five!