The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-02-01
FARMERS AND TARIFF.

Farmers nave DeeQ SLrOuSiy appcasCo
to by protectionists and many attempts
have been made to prove that their IN
terest were subserved by a high tariff.
1t WAS not an easy matter to see how
heavy protective duty on everything pur-
chased by the farmer and little or no duty
on the articles he produced were to be
beneficial to the tjller of the soil. Pro-
lection became so burdensome that de-
mand was made which the peoples rep
resentatives could not afford to ignore.
Manufacturers were rolling up wealth
and in many instances charging two
times as much for articles as they could
be put upon the market for if the duty
was removed. Every article of manufac-
ture sold to the person who used it, paid
to it's manufacturer tax, in the shape OF
protection, beside legitimate profit.
Millions of dollars in excess of reasonable
profits were paid annually by the people
of the United States to those whose cap
itaI was invested in factories. Produc
ton was limited by artificial means, SO as
to bring prices up, the prohibitory tariff
preventing the importation of goods, and
thus leaving the field to domestic manu-
facturers who organized to promote their
interests at the expense of tho people
generally.
There is no class of people on whom
protection weighed more heavily than on
farmers. The fact that the United States
are agricultural made farm products an
article Of export and while they assisted
manufacturers by paying higher price
for everything purchased, than if the
tariff was removed, they received no
benefit because there was no competition
by foreign countries in farm products.
There were nominal duties on certain
agricultural products, but this was no
protection because these articles were
largely exported.
Lately the lake shore counties have
been giving considerable attention to the
cultivation of pease. The atmosphere OF
these counties, tempered by the breezes
of the lake and certain peculiaritles OF
soil, give the lake shore counties pre-
eminence in the growth of leguminous
products. Canada has conditions alike
favorable to these products, and perhaps
in greater degree. At any rate the
Canadian farmers have entered into
sharp competition with the farmers OF the
United States in the sale of pease, and
particularly those used for seed. Loca-
ted as it is nearer the great commercial
center of the union, it has our farmers
rather at a disadvantage. A nominal
tariff of 20 per cent has been levied on
the importation of pease, and this at a
time when competition could not be fore,
seen. Now, protectionists, that is the
manuf acturers, knowing that some con-
cession must be made to the general de-
,,and for reduction of the tariff propose
to take the duty of 20 per cent off those
pease, and leave the farmer wholly IN
protected, as a tariff on other products
of the soil not imported may be regarded
as a political joke. Twenty per cent is
not prohibitory; it is revenue tariff
Give us free trade on everything and the
farmer will not ask for the retention OF
the 20 per cent. duties on pease. Take
it off iron, coal, lumber, WOODEN goods,
cotton goods and there will be some con-
sistency in removing it from pease. The
farmer pays duty to the iron the wooden
goods and cotton manufacturer, the coal
dealer, the lumberman; why should he
have not some claims also2
All, the protectionists have pulled the
wool over his eyes SO often in levying as
sessments on him for the benefit of their
own industries, that they feel safe in 60
ing still farthersand deprive him of the
only little protection he has had. ERE
move protectioni from the farmer they
say. He wont know the difference. We
have repeatedly convinced him that pro-
lection for us was good TOR him and he
hasn't taken the trouble to look into the
matter of tariff He gives attention only
to local politics, and never thinks of pol
itical economy" And this is true to
great extent. Although an important
agricultural industry of this country is
threatened, and no compensation offered
in the way of corresponding reduction of
tariff on manufactured articles, or far
mers will give more attention to caucus
than to this matter which is of so much
concern to them.