The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-08-11

| lot OF chilled plows ana CultlvatOrs IN
transit via New York tor Mexico and
South America, and We sell our nipple.
ments TO Australia and New Zealand.
Now, upon all these goods we have paid
protective duties on the raw materials in
them, and besides the freight to New York,
we have to compete with manufacturers OF
other countries who are not handicapped
with protective duties. We also sell large
quantities OF our plows to Manitoba and
it so happens, to pillow manufactures OF
Canada, who runs branch house at VIM
nipeg, and who also prefers our goods tor
their superior quality, though he has to
pay on them duty of 80 per cent. to the
tariff collector We thank OR eastern
friends for this (by their abolishlng reclp-
rocity with Canada).
think have shown above that tariff
hurts us as exporters and that we get no
benefit from il either directly or indirectly.
Now as to home trade. Our customers
and those who support Us entirely are
farmers. They are our only prop and sup,
port, and must be our friends. What helps
them helps US, and what hurts them hurts
us 1t IS our interest that everything they
buy they should get at the lowest price,
and that everything they have to sell they
should get 10 market at the lowest rate and
get the highest possible price for It, Now,
how does the tariff affect them? We have
shown that we are forced to sell them and
everybody our ploWs and cultlvators at an
advanced price by reason OF our having TO
pay higher prices tor raw material out of
which they are made, which IS caused by
protective duties on these materials. They
pay an average of about 80 per cent. III
creased price on everything they use and
everything they wear, even when these
things are staples such as trace chains, all
kinds of hardware and wood, screws,
blankets clothing, hats and caps and boots
and shoes. When these same farmers
come TO sell their oats, corn and wheat,
their hogs, cattle and sheep do these pre-
tectcd manufacturers pay these farmers
any more for their produce than the mar.
kels Of the world quote them atty They
do not. The only pretenCe protected mo-
nopoies have for making the farmers pay
this enormous tribute is, that they consume
the farmers produce and pay for them
far better price than The farmers would
otherwise get To show the utter iallacy
of this argument, | VIII meutlon the fact
that the protected industries Of this COun-
IL NlIlIlO1 liNo lA4oll l'Nl IShb' VI 'iAb
population employed in manufacturing;
that the employees OF protected industries
do not constitute two per cent. of the pop
ulatiOn OF the country, including and
counting their families. The farmers can
sell the produce and meat that these two
per cent. would consume anywhere out OF
this country at rs good Il price, or, if they
had to burn 1t, or even one tenth of their
produce, they would be better off, if by so
doing they could buy what they required
at half price or even one.quarter less.
Congress has no right 70 tax one section
of the country TO support another II the
farmers can raise more than they can sell,
they have to hold it or sell it for fuel. Ii
the crop does not bring enough to pay the
cost of raising, congress never comes to
the aid of the farmer with Il subsidy.
Those who run protected industries are
constantly at strife with their operatives,
and the latter are demanding some portion
of the bonuses" granted them, but rarely
get it, except temporarily. They are gen
orally in destitute condition. This mat
ter Of protection has so grown and tattened
off the consumers that the duties are de-
manded a3 right and not as gift to Il
few uonOpOlIsls The farmers are the
great source of wealth to thi, country,
They should see that they are no longer
robbed as thcy have been II they choose
to pay Pennsylvania ana Massachusetts
largely increased prices tor thcjr protected
goods, land ,h@y have to pay for their goods
Just as if they imported themJ let them
understand that they pay these extra prices
simply as a charity, and not to help tacm-
selves. If tine farmers would vote against
every prolccuonisl, no matter what his
politics, they would soon SEE Their rights
recognized. With my best wishes tor the
Free Trade league, remain
Yours truly
b y BUrORn