The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-12-29


work In all seasons like mulc-makinl
himself, in addition, a haid taskmaster 4
his family eating what he can't sell anC
wearing next to nothing. he will, before
he dies, be able to build q barn at cost o.
say $500 and frame house ut twice thai
amount. Why, the fencing alone IS get
ting to be greater burden than he can
bear. II the farmers of Ohio, under the
present regulations. were called upon &c
rebuild the fences they have they would be
bankrupted. 1t could not be done, and
vet these fences must be built every ten
years"
ITO what do You refer when you speak
of present regulations
THE TARIFF AND THE FARMERS.
II mean the monopoly given lumber
men and dealers IN iron by the govern
ment. Every year timber gets scaroer
and, Of course, more valuable Bsrbed
wire, the only article to replace wood, IL
held by monopoly made by the govern
ment. 1t is so arranged that Il farmer
shall buy all he needs to buy under protec
ton and sell under tree trade. All wear
all need in lay business, from tin pan
to mirror, is forced up by law to twice
its value, while all nv products sold a,
home or abroad have the price fixed by
competition in Europe. This is free trade
to me. Talk 'of pauper labor. Why, my
wheat, for example, at Liverpool, where
am forced to sell, il | sell at all, comes in
competition with that of the Baltic, where
laborer WORKS for SIS a year and goat
skin coat; or with the wheat of Egypt,
where the man labors tor bare subslst-
cnce. This is our system, and it is unjust
to the industry OF our country"
DOES THE FARMER GAIN ANYTHING?
But it is urged the system builds up a
home market that takes the place of tins
unfair foreign one"
mo, sir it IS impossible. We cannot
consume a, home our surplus If We
could there would he no surplus. But
taking a man from the field and adding
him to workshop does not add to the con-
sumption; 1t only cuts off supply. And
we are forced to remember that 1t is not
the manufacturers we feed In Europe; 1t is
the millions back of the manufacturers.
"Iou think we could not consume our
surplus:"
impossible, sir Why, you can rec tor
yourself Take, say, the surplus of six
States; then count the number Of people
protected; and each one Of this last lot
would have to eat six barrels OF flour a
day, Il tun of beef, like weight Of bacon,
and chaW up hOgshead Of tobacco. IL is
nonsense We have been waiting nearly
thirty years for this home market, and we
are further of from 1t than when we be.
gan"
with these opinions the republican
farmers Of OHIO should vote with the dem
ocrats."
Eyes, but they say they don't see that
the democrats offer any relief IN this di.
rect,on"
What is the relief they suggest?'
"To Qul, lying and humbugging about
the business. To put all raw material on
the free list and drop duties so as TO put
the mines and manufacturers Oh an equal
footing with those of Europe"
"I'his would place wool on the free list"
mo matter have always maintained
that the wool grower-and | am one--lOst
m 0le on his protected shears than he made
on his protected wool. The late reduction
of duty on that staple proved this. Wool
did not drop in price mOre-or indeed as
much--as wheat, corn and tobacco. No,
sir; if | could get my wool carried by the
railroads to New York at a fair price tor
transportation would undersell the South
American wool grower ard make profit
There's where the shoe pinches. This
railroad monopoly is harder on US farm
ers than protective tariff.
Are those things affecting the farmers
politically, mean"
"Of course The republican party has
been at some pains and expense 10 con-
vince the farmers that the late prosperity
was OWING to its wise measures and eXer-
lions. 1t is natural, then, that the farmers
should hold them responsible for the hard
times that are on us. My State of Ohio
went democratic on this account, and will
again"