The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-18
The Farmers, Interests Ignored.

ne interests lRIlOT60.
Those who advocate the repeal of the taxes
on whisky and tobacco are in favor of the
present high protective tariff They may
say they are not, but no sincere protection
list denies that the repeal of the whisky and
tobacco taxes will prevent any reduction of
the tariff taxes Those, therefore, who pre-
tend TO be tariff reformers and at the same
time insist upon free whisky and tobacco,
are either deceived themselves or are at
tempting to deceive others.
The whisky aud tobacco consumers donot
ask for repeal of the taxes on these art-
Giles. The demand for their repeal comes
almost wholly from the protectioniSts, whose
only purpose is to save the present high pro
tective tariff
While the whisky and tobacco consumers
are satisfied TO let the whisky and tobacco
taxes remain as they are, the farmers and
workingmen are demanding reduction in
the tariff taxes on many articles which are
absolutely necessary to them Their de-
mands are ridiculed by the organs of the
giant monopolies which have been built up
by the aid of protection. They are told
that protection will so increase manufac-
lures that competition will bring about
reduction in prices. Whether there is truth
in this statement or not doesn't matter at
present, because the monopoists do not in
tend that there shall he competition.
The great manufacturing monopolists are
forming what they are pleased to call
trusts. They pool their interests and con
troll production and prices, and they take
very good care that prices are regulated so
rs to obtain the full benefit of the tariff.
All the nail manufacturers combine and say
what the prices of nails shall be, and fix the
amount Of production. The steel manufac-
turers do the same thing. Of course manu-
fatTurers who use steel form combinations to
control the prices of their goods. For in
stance, a few weeks ago the steel pillow
manufacturers formed trust to control
the prices of plows. They gave as a reason
for their action that the steel manufacturers
had arbitrarily advanced the price Of steel.
The manufacturers of threshing machines
and of reaping and moving machines have
also formed trusts to advance the prices of
their manufactures A great many other
trusts have been organized lately, and all of
them have but one object in view, viz: TO
keep up the prices of the manufactured
goods.
Who are the main sufferers from these
trusts! The consumers, of course, and the
main consumers are the farmers and work
ing people. The farmer is forced to sell his
products at prices fixed in the cheapest
market in the world, and to buy his supplies
at prices fixed in the dearest 1t is true
that the bulk of the products Of the farmer
is consumed in this country, but the sur
plus, which is very large, finds a market in
Europe, and the foreign market controls the
home market.
Is it just to the farmer while he is re-
ceiving the lowest prices for the products of
his capital and labor, to compel him to pay
for the implements and machinery with
which he makes his crops prices which, by
the aid of the protective tariff and trusts,
are little short of robbery! Not only are
these robber prices extorted from him for
agricultural implements and machinery,
but also for the nails he uses in repairing
his buildings and fences, the shoes with
which he protects the feet of his horses and
of himself and family, the blankets and
clothes which keep him warm, and the hat
which protects his head Is it a wonder
that the farmer is poor, and growing
poorer And yet some of our Georgia states
men and editors have no word to say for the
farmer, while they shed crocodile tears be-
cause the government refuses to permit a
few would-b be law breakers in the noun
tains to manufacture free whisky.