Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-31
PROTECTION Foa FARMERS.
A Clear Statement showing How They
Are Benefited by It.

A Clear Statement showing How They
Are Benefited by It
A committee OF gentlemen who con-
sented to assume the task Of examining
several thousand letters addressed to The
New York Tribune by citizens and organ
izations interested in agricultural pur-
suits, discussing the tariff question, has
prepared a long and interesting report.
1t gives the conclusions reached as re-
CARDS the general tendency of sentiment
manifested in that mass of correspondence.
The outcome Is strongly indicative Of a
belief on the part of vast majority OF
the farmers Of this country that the pro-
tective system, as developed in the impo-
: sition OF customs duties upon imports,
has been of great value in promoting the
welfare of agricultural as well rs other
industries.
And the views thus expressed are veri-
fed not only by theory and common OBJ
servation, but also in the form Of official
statements. For example, the last census
showed that the increase in area of Guilt
waited lands in ten great farming states of
the west between 1890 and 1880 was 100
per cent, involving, of course, CORE
spending volume of agricultural pro-
auctions.
This would have created disastrous
giut If no ready means of consumption
had appeared But owing to the encour-
agement afforded to enterprise In all di-
rections by the protective tariff the hands
employed in manufactures increased Pol
per cent, the wages paid them S03 per
cent. and the material they used $50 per
cent.
The wages these manufacturing opera
tives had to spend averaged 81. 10 for each
improved acre of land in 1860, and had
advanced to 81. II In 1880. The materials
purchased for manufacturing uses, mainly
from farms, which averaged only $4.02
for each improved acre in 1860, had
reached an average of 81. IS in $780,
But for this augmented consuming
power, derived from manufacturing activi
ties, tillers of the soil could have disposed
Of only q small portion, comparatively, Of
their products, and their industry must
have suffered ruinous depression. Agri-
culture was sustained and made fairly re-
munerative only by the prosperity of man
ufacturing interests which naturally be-
came tributary to it.
1t appears from the tenor of many of the
letters that the writers, while approaching
the value of protection to manufacturing
industries, are DESTROYS of extending the
system in such way as to cover more
completely products OF the soil, and hence
the committee has included considerable
information in its report concerning
specific points in respect of which changes
may be desirable.
These are enumerated in the subjoined
draft Of q memorial to congress, which
farmers are recommended to forward
either through their senators and repre-
taft x-aa ,r ruh The HNr{hrtxa or
PETITION FOR MORE EFFEcrUAL PRoTEc.
TIoN OF AGRICULTURE.
To the Speaker OF the House of Repre-
sentatives:
The undersigned respectfully pray that
agriculture may be more effectually pro-
tected, by preventing fraudulent importa-
tons of cattle on pretense that they are
for breeding only;
BY duty of 90 cents per bushel on
barley, with proportionate increase Of
duty on malt;
BY duties of 25 cents per bushel on
potatoes and onions, So per 100 on cab
bages, So per ton on hay, 10 cents per
pound on hops, 20 per cent. on beans
and peas, 5 cents per dozen on eggs, 30
per cent on fowls and poultry and on
vegetables in their natural state or brine,
moval or reduction Of duties on market
garden products;
BY such increased duties on fax and on
linen goods as will cffcctually encourage
the preparation of fiber and manufactured
goods;
BY abolishing all duties on sugar, with
u bounty to home producers;
BY preventing imposts of leaf tobacco
suitable for wrappers at the duty imposed
on other leaf tobacco and repeating all
internal taxes on tobacco;
BY restoring to wool growing the sub
stantial protection enjoyed under the tariff
Of 1867, SO modified US to meet the later
forms OF foreign competition and Of eva
sion.
The committee which has had this
matter in charge consists of gentlemen
who are well known throughout the coun-
try Us friends Of agricultural enterprise,
and most Of them are or have been con-