The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-07-10
The Farmers Interest in Protection
BY c. d. LAYTON.


In discussing the subject of tariff, there is
a tendency to place it in the light of antag-
oniZing the interest of farmers; to tacitly as
sumo that the practical working of this
principle of protection TO home Industries
has a tendency to cripple the farmer, TO
place an additional burden upon his shout
ders. In other words, that the so-called pro-
lection of American manufacturers, must be
accomplished at the expense of the farmer;
that protection diminishes the farmers
profits by exactly the amount which he pays
for his necessary wares, i'll excess of what
they would apparently COST were it not for
the restrictive duties.
If farmer were a capitalist in the sense
of always possessing a bank account and of
having to simply draw his check for the
amount of his purchases, his sole interest
then might be to depress prices on every ar
ticle which he required, regardless of where
il was manufactured.
But in point of fact, the farmer is prima-
rily a producer, and is dependent on the
manufacturer as O customer for his products
Before the farmer can procure the neces-
sary implements for his farm, manufactured
goods, groceries. etc. for his family, he mast
! find customers for his own products in order
to obtain a medium of exchange; that is, in
order TO pay for his farm tools, dry goods,
shoes, sugars, ETC., he must first sell to some
one his butter, eggs, pork, potatoes, grain
etc, that he may obtain the money to buy
with; and his ability to purchase is governed
by his income, by the amount of his sales
Just IN proportion as he possesses a profita-
BILE market for his products, is he able to
provide himself and family with the neces-
saries and conveniences Of life.
The value of his farm, the success and
prosperity of his calling, are dependent
upon his market, upon the number and
! financial ability of his consumers. If he has
an accessible market, where he can readily
dispose or all he can raise on his farm, at a
good price, he will be in a condition to
prosper, TO surround himself with the COM
forts of life, to acquire information, to in
terest himself in public affairs, and to edu-
cate his children.
To be successful the farmer must have a
ready and profitable sale for his products
must have consumers who are ready to pur-
chase his surplus, and to pay him for it.
Thus it is greatly to his interest to be stu
ated near thriving community of consum-
ers, near a town where are prosperous manu-
featuring interests, where are employed
numbers of well-paid workmen who thus be-
come the best of customers for whatever
! the farmer has to sell.
II is far better for the farmer that the
consumer of his products should be located
near his own door; for whatever may be the
cost of transportation to convey his products
TO the hands of the consumer, is Just so much
reduction of the price which he will receive;
all the rates and commissions occurring be-
tween the producer and the consumer must
be paid by the former.
1t is far better for the farmer that the
manufactures of the articles, which he is
required by his necessities TO produce, should
be located as near as may be to his own
door, where he may proftably supply those
engaged in such establishments with the
products of his farm and thus save the cost
and risk of transportation, not only of his
own products, but also of such as he re-
quires that are made near his own home
1t is certainly very far from the interest
of the farmers of this country that the cot
ton of the South should be transported to
England, to be sent back in the form OF
cloth, mourning the cost of two journeys
across the ocean, which, directly and indi
rectly, must be paid by the producers and
the consumers here, in addition to the cost
of transporting from the grain fields of the
West, the wheat, the beef and the pork to
supply the operatives engaged in this manu-
facture.
The better policy is to secure the immigra
ton of their skilled laborers, to our shores
where the raw material exists, as well as food
in abundance for their support, that is
bring the producer and consumer, the far
mer and the manufacturer, the tiller of the
soil and the maker of fabrics, together; their
interests are Complementary; each is essen
tial to the existence and success of the
other, and neither can be thoroughly pros
porous when the other languishes.
The farmer realizes good prices and is
prosperous, in proportion as manufacturing
interests flourish, in proportion to the mum.
Der of well-paid operatives 20 consume his
products.