Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-20
Protection for the Growers.

''The tobacco growers Of Wisconsin
have had an influential freud in Wash
ington, tobacco grower of Horse
heads, N. T., writes to the Wisconsin
Tobacco Reporter. Congressman La
Toilette fully believes in the new policy
of extending the benefits of tariff pro-
lection to the farmers of the country
The ways and means committee, OF
which your congressman is an infiuen-
tial member, will unquestionably estab.
lisb thoroughly protective duties upon
such foreign products of our American
farmers. The farmers of Wisconsin
not only but of the whole country will
be under obligations to Mr.. La Toilette
for the work he has done and is doing in
the ways and means committee and IN
congress. 1t is no disparagement to the
worthy chairman or the rest of the COM
mittee to award especial praise to Con-
gresham La Toilette. for on him has
been placed much of the active work of
the committee pertaining to the farm.
After very careful and patient hear
Ing on the subject of an increased tariff
on foreign wrapper tobacco, we have
good reason to believe that the commit
tee will recommend 81 per pound. This
is as little as could be trusted to mate
rally protect the domestic grown. The
importers and manufacturers assured the
committee that nothing less than 50
would be really protection, but they
asked that the present rate be reduced
instead of increased and were opposed
to any protection to the farmer. The
tobacco growers claimed that they were
willing to take their chances with 81,
although it was comparatively much
less protection than was afforded the
cigar manufacturer. Now, without
stopping to argue this question or fur
Their explain what has been done in
Washington, | want to ask every Wis
consin tobacco grower who reads this
paper, to write to the United States SEN
ators to stand firm by this rate of 81 per
pound on foreign wrapper tobacco. /
want to ask them to write letters of en-
to the ways and means
committee and to their talented and
faithful young Congressman. Let them
show to congress that the farmers in
Wisconsin are in earnest in ask
ing protection for their indus |
tries. Let them show their APP
probation Of what has been done and is |
being done in the way of establishing a |
farmers tariff for not only tobacco |
growers are receiving consideration. but /
all farmers whose products are interfered |
with by the products of cheap foreign I
labor are interested in the work of the /
present congress. Stand by your friends /
Let them hear from you by letter. Write |
the senate finance committee. Tell them /
what low prices you are getting for |
your crops, compared with what you |
received before the introduction of SUI |
matran tobacco in this market. Two dol |
lars per pound duty will help hold the /
market for our domestic growth, but it |
win not prohibit the importation of |
Samaritan tobacco, which has got firm |
hold on our market on account of the |
low duties, which we could not get |
during former congresses. Do |
not fold your hands and expect your
friends in congress to protect you with
out even word of approval or assist
ance. The opponents of the farmers
flock to Washington in large numbers I
aDd use plausible arguments, and are
persistently working against us. Farm
ers cannot afford to go there in large /
numbers and explain their needs and
desires. but they can at least write let |
tiers to every congressman and senator
they know and to the finance committee
of the senate and the ways and means
committee of the house. We owe it to
ourselves and our friends to speak out.
Write every congressman of your state. /
and its senators. Do your utmost to
make your needs and wishes known in
congress"
After reviewing the article The Re-
porter says editorially: 1T is crafty
ing for Wisconsin constituents to learn
that the work of Congressman La Fol-
lette is so highly appreciated by people
outside his own state. That the farm
ers have a friend on the committee on
ways and means in our Bob is at least |
gratifying, and we earnestly hope he
may be able to carry through the to-
bacco tariff demanded for the relief of
the gro yers of the country.