San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-08
AGENTS FOR THE LIGHT.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 8, 1888.
PROTECT AGRICULTURE.

NJ En- OHI'
The opinion of the agriculturists of
the United States, SO far as can be as
certained, concerning questions Of tariff
and free trade as affecting their indus
try, is Of particular interest at this stage
OF the discussion. The free traders claim
and long have claimed that the con-
sensus OF agricultural opinion is opposed
TO free trade. The farmers have always
been set down as opposed to measures
of protection and as fayoring free i'm
portatIons, because 1t was to their inter-
est TO purchase goods in America as
nearly as possible upon a European
basis. The changes have been run
upon the idea that the farmer wss not
benefited by tariff imports, that he was
directly Interested in securing this
entry OF all his articles Of consumption
free Of duty as securing him more reas-
enable prices, and that his own produc-
tions did not need protection. This has
been the assumption concerning the
position Of the farmers, by the free
traders, and the protectionists have been
waiting for the agricultural classes
to speak for themselves. Even the
free traders admit that the imposition
OF tariff duties on manufactured pro-
ducts will benefit the manufacturing
classes, but they assert the numerical
inferiorlty of the manufacturing class
as reason for not leglslating for their
benefit, contendlng that the greatest
good OF the greatest number is to be
considered.
The agricultural classes have come to
the front at last. A mass OF documents,
several thousands In number has been
collected from prominent agriculturists,
agricultural societies, grange and sllI-
snoe associations, and these documents
have been committed to committee to
examine and report. The report will be
forwarded to congress in the shape of a
petition "for the more efectual protec-
tion OF agriculture" This sounds strange
for an Industry that needs no protection
In the mind OF the free trader. The petit
tion proper is lengthy, and the report
accompanying ii sets forth In extenso
statistics Of farm and manufacturing in
dustries during the past fifteen years. 1t
sets forth the fact that the tariff regula-
lions, imperfect as they are, have con-
tributed largely to the growth and well
fare OF agricultural interests; represents
that greater safeguards are needed, as
several important products OF American
labor are being driven out of market in
this country by competition with the
underpaid labor Of other countries. The
complaint is made that the farmers have
never been directly protected, only in
directly, and the demand is made that
farming should be as completely protect.
ed as any other Industry Of this country.
The petition proper is as follows:
ITO the Speaker of the House of Representa-.
tives:
The undersigned respectfully pray
that agriculture may be more effectuai.
Iy protected.
"By preventing fraudulent importa.
lions OF cattle on the pretense that they
are for breeding only.
NY duty Of 20 cents per bushel on
barley, with prOpOTtIonRte increase
OF duty on malt.
"By duties Of 20 cents per bushel on
potatatoes and onions: So per hundred
on cabbages; 50 per ton on hay; 10 cents
per pound on hops; 20 cents per pound
on beans and peas; 8 cents per dozen or
eggs; 30 per cent on fowls and poulry
and vegetables 10 their natural state oil
IN salt or brine not otherwise provided
for, with no removal or reduction OF du.
ties on market and garden products now
dutiable.
"By such increased duties on flax ant
linen goods as will effectually encourage
the preparation OF the fore and To,
manufacture Of goods.
by ab0lishing all duties On sugar
with a bounty to home producers.
BY preventing imports OF leaf tobao
GO suitable for wrappers at the duty i'm
posed on other leaf tobacco, and repeal
Ing all internal taxes on tobacco.
by restoring to wool growing tn
substantial protection enjoyed under III,
tariff of 1867, so modified as to meet IA,
later forms Of foreign competition"