Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1890-09-29
A coNeREssMAN's VIEWS.
Mr.. Springer Discusses the Condition OF
Farmers. Especially In New York.

\
Congressman William NJ. Springer, Of
Illinois, who was engaged few weeks
ago in joint debate at the county fairs in
New York state, says that he found that
the farms throughout that state had de-
preciated in value on an average fully
one-half Of what they were worth ten
years ago. He also found that the farms
were heavily mortgaged, and that where
farms were sold under mortgage they
did not bring one-third. and in some in
stances not one-fourth, of their value a
few years ago. In many other instances
the farm was actually not worth the
mortgage: the mortgage had to take the
farm for the money he had advanced
on it.
'This condition of the farmer" said
Mr.. Springer, has naturally aroused
him to the serious contemplation Of his
desperate situation. He is looking for
relief, and he welcomes any discussion
of the situation which may enlighten
him as to the cause of an effect which is
running him. In my debates with Mr..
Horr l endeavored to elucidate this
cause, and think that succeeded. The
cause of agricultural depression in the
United States is that the farmers pro-
duce more than can be used at home.
This surplus must be sold abroad. The
price at which the surplus is sold abroad
fixes the price Of the home product. The
farmer sells at the price fixed in New
York, less the cost Of carrying the prod
uct to New York and less the commits
sions
1.-The New York market is fixed :, Une
Liverpool market, which is the cheapest
free trade market in the world. There
the products Of the American farmer
come into competition with the products
of all the world, including the products
of the pauper labor of Europe. But
when the farmer buys he has to buy
here in the dearest market Of the world.
If the farmer should take his products
abroad and sell them. and should buy in
foreign markets the goods he needs. in
bringing~his purchases home he would
have to pay on an average $50 tariff
on every hundred dollars worth of
goods he bought abroad This reduces
the purchasing power Of the products of
his farm one-half.
''If the farmer takes the other course
open to him, that, of approaching the
American manufacturer, who is pro-
tected, he finds this manufacturer charg-
ing the foreign price with the tariff
added. Thus it will be seen that in
either case the purchasing power of
American farm products is reduced one
half by the tariff. This condition is
gradually wearing out the farmer. After
twenty-five years of protective tariff,
sustained chiefly by the suffrage of
American farmers. the farmer finds his
situation more desperate than ever. 1t
is no comfort to him to know that few
favored individuals have accumulated
fortunes of from 100000. 900 to $50. 000,..
GOO under protective tariff.
''None of this vast wealth has come 10
him. and he finds himself growing p,or-
er and poorer every year. The farmers
should be permitted to purchase in the
same market in which they are compel
led to SELL Otherwise the farms of
this country will soon pass into the
hands of capitalists. and be consolidated
into baronial estates. private parks or
other vast tracts controlled by individ-
uals. Then the farmers will be compel
led to emigrate to the uncultivated lands
of the far west or seek employment in
the factories OF the great cities, or to
wander homeless in the streets. Wash
ington Special in st. Louis Republic. !