The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-07-20
The Two Farmers.
A CLEAR EXPOSITION OF HOW THE TARIFF
DEALS WITH THEM.

| raTmeT CiInple uVeQ on mountain
which afforded excellent pasturage fol-
cattle, and in the small valleys he cut
an abundance of grass to feed them
during the winter. The soil was hard
to till, and he could lot raise grain
without great labor.
Farmer Grub lived on rich bottom
land, peculiarly adapted to the pro
duction of corn. He could raise on an
acre twice as much as his neighbor
Simple, and with less labor.
The neighbors lived for years in
great comfort and harmony, Simple
exchanging his cattle for Grubs corn,
and both were getting rich.
One day Farmer Simple said to his
boys, (and he had four of them) 81
have been thinking it would be better
for us to grow our own corn and save
the cattle we now give for it. We
shall then hav plenty of work and be
more Independent"
"Father," said John, 81 think we
should have harder work and get less
for it,
A'W pOS ooleA otnPlC.
"a good COW is worth 1924, and corn
is worth 80 cents a bushel. For one
COW we can get 80 bushels of corn,
and we can raise two COWS with the
labor it will take to raise 80 bushels of
corn on our hard land. For these taoo
COWS neighbor Grub will give u, 60
bushels"
"Never mind" said the old gentle
man, 81 don't like to be dependent on
my neighbors; l am in favor of home
industry"
$50 am |, father" said John, ''but
l want to make home industry as
profitable as possible. If by selling
cattle TO neighbor Grub, we can get
twice as much corn raised upon his
land as we can raise with the same
labor on our own, l think We had bet
ter stick to raising cattle"
81 don't know how it is" said
Simple, "but / am IN favor of home
industry, and l intend to petition the
Legislature to lay tax of 40 cents a
bushel on all the corn neighbor Grub
sells us, that We may be induced to
raise it at home"
"Why don't you give Mr.. Grub 40
cents bushel more than he asks
for his corn, which would be better"
"How, you blockhead, give a man
more than he asks for thingi'
"You might as we'll 40 it coluntarily
as to get the Legislature to compel You
to do it: besides. if it wpra done
volunts' lily all the money would stay
among the farmers, whereas if it come
in the shape of tax it will be eaten
up by the officers Of government"
"How you talk. john" said the old
man; ''but I am in favor of home in
dustrv, ANYHOW
So he petitioned to the legislature to
impose tax of 40 cents on every
bushel of corn sold to him by his
neighbor, making it cost him Sl.2O in.
stead of so cents. But that was moi
sufficient. He still found it cheaper
to buy corn of his neighbor at that
high price than to raise it.
Saws John 10 his father one day
"don't you see that we have to sci
three COWS now to get as much corn al
we used to get for twoi'
"How sof' said Simple, 81 see NJ
such thing"
"When corn was 80 cents a bushe
two cows at 1924 each would buy 6(
bushels. Now, when corn is $1.2O ,
bushel, it takes three cows at 1924 t.
pay for 60 bushels"
"7hat is because the taa is no
high enough" said Simple, "I'H hav
IL raised to 80 cents a 6,lshel, and the'
zoe can afford to raise IL ourselves."
Sure enough, he got the Legislature
to raise the tax to 80 cents, and thel
he could not afford to buy it of hi
neighbor at all. His best pastur
lands were plowed up to raise corn up
on, the number of his cattle was great
ly reduced, and what he had to sci
were no longer bought at the sam
good price; for neighbor Grub, not be
ing able TO exchange his corn for cat
tie, or find purchasers for it at tha
high price, was compelled to Law dow
his fields in grass and raise his owl
meat. Farmer Simple and his boy
had plenty of "home industry an
"well protected" too, but instead o
getting richer every year, as formerl
under the system of free trade wit
his neighbors, he could scarcely keel
his house in repair or get comfortabl
clothing for his wife and children.
| Farmer Simple was HIGH TAR
IFF MAN.