The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-01-10
THE FARMER AND THE TARIFF.

from the I%nterocean telling how the
farmers OF America were protected dur
ing the last fiscal year by q duty OF
something over $4,000 900 collected
on imported agricultural products.
That item vas gotten up and sent out
by the protection tariff league to throw
dust in the eyes OF farmers. Why did it
not tell the whole story? Why did it
not say that the American farmers paid
$167, 35O,77 in order to be protected
$19.OOO,OOO worth? Why did it noten-
large on the great benefit, the duty on
Bemuda vegetables, was to the western
farmer? Why did it not proclaim if it
had not been for the few hundred dol
lars collected on the flour imported all
Touring mills in the country would have
had to shut down? Because it would
have been too palpable. The most
thick-headed hayseed in the country
would have seen at a glance that it does
not pay Or is not sound business policy
to give S167, 100000 for $4,000, 900
worth OF protection. And yet the ma
jority Of American farmers say that is
the way to get out Of debt. Whom does
| the tariff protect? The American
ufacturers, about $4,000 in number.
Against whom, or whose product does
it protect him? The hired stump-speak-
err will tell the farmer that it protects
him against competition with the pau
per labor OF Europe. But he lies. 1t
protects him against competition with
the surplus products OF the 100000
farrnersi in the United States. II VIC raise
no surplus to export, we would have no
imports rs payments. The imports are
\ the payments we recciyeiO our exported
surplus. And it is, this payment, this
product OF the American farmer that
the mill-owner is protected against. Is
, it justice and fair play to take 80 pei
cent OF the earnings OF $780, 900 worker
and give to $4,000 owners OF work
u shops? And yet 1T has been doneior til
- last 2S years and the end OF it is yet t
be seen.
I will attempt to give a plain illustr;
ton OF how the tariff effects the farmer
VI Suppose your market town was su
II rounded by walls and that the gate
> were guarded by keepers, and furtht
that the city government was controlle
~ by the few men who owned the manufa
4" turing establishments in it who mac
io such goods as you needed, OF such quail
. ty as they could make the most prof
SC on, to be sold to you at prices thu
t. suited their whim.
" The instructions to the g%ate-keepe
nc would be to let all produce OF the far
pass in free OF toll, but toll on goot
~ obtained in exchange for farm produ
y. e 80 per cent OF it's exchange value.
The reason for such toll is that
would enable the owners OF those man
featuring establishments to pay high
wages to their laborers. But, bear
mind, the gates are open to all lab
which seeks entrance. Laborers fro
~ all over the world are invited to con
and enter into competition with tho
supposed protected laborers. Also bel
" in mind that the rates oflabor employt
~ to the farmer that is tolled, is one
eight. That is, all that eight farme
-. can produce is tolled 80 per centin ord
=: to make higher wages for one Lahore
That is al illustration Of how a pr
8 tective tariff effects a farmer. It max
no difference whether he exchanges Il
own product in his nearest town by tt
" wagon load or his agents exchange it
the worlds market by the shipload, Il
goods he receives in exchange for Il
~ products OF his labor is taxed 80 p
~ cent for the alleged benefit OF the labor
;" employed in American factories.
Some readers of THE UNION will Sc
y "that is not a. fair illustration" othe
y will fatty contradict it. I challenge co
" tradiction. Other conservative reade
! will, perhaps, think The UNION is
democratic paper because it allows an
~ thing in conflict with the policy Of the
=: o. p. to be published in it's column
:" Do not be alarmed. The writer undo
= stands The UNION is devoted to 1.-THE
y. terest of the producer and laborer. '
;! want to find out the truth for the benel
of all DENNIS.
1