The Indianapolis journal., 1890-04-24

by, first, familiarity on the part of the farmer
himself with the market value Of that w,iich he
has TO sell, and second, better system OF Co
operation among the farmers, both In the dis
posal ef their crops and in the purchase Of their
sugplies
boards of trade, originally designed for the en-
couragement and convenience of legitimate
the grayest danger to the country at large, but
OF which the farmer, whose products are thus
made the toy and playtning OF the game, Is the
immediate and chief sufferer. The frequent and
extreme fluctuations or price accustomed by the
operation of irresponsible spectators is the
ever be served by the maintenance of firm ana
reliable market. To the allegation, not infre-
quently made, that Ii at times prices are thus
they are unduly raised, there is a simple reply.
As already asserted. not only are fuctuatfon
se sna the Sane OF the os
unduly raising or depressing prices are carefully
calculated 10 raise them when the goods are no
longer in the producers hands and to depress
ton Is needed to remedy this evil. and it should
be based on the principle that the evil Is 3 not
ton.
existence OF unlawful combinations for the ex-
press purpose OF so controlling the markets as to
lower the price of the farmers products and of
other combinations whose object Ia to raise the
price OF the articles which the farmer consumes
That such combinations exist it is impossible to
and tine results su Of their and
attending any effort to limit their evil effects
This is one of those evils so closely allied TO the
may possibly fall within the legitimate province
or national legislation. The great difficulty lies In
the close observance of that line OF demarkation
which clearly exists between combinations for
mutual self-help, protection, and the advance
ment by legitimate means of the interests of q
trusts inspired by greed. Whose Objects are un-
attainable save as they infringe upon the legiti-
mate rights OF others. In spite of these diff
an earnest demand for adequate legislation on
this subject, sustained by popular opinion, re-
ceiving the earnest attention OF our strongest
minds, Will eventually result in some adequate
means Of controlling this gigantic evil.
PROTECTION FOR THE FARMER.
now come to the consideration of one of the
gravest causes. in my opinion, of the present
agricultural depression, but which, am happy
to state. can be effectually and directly dealt
with through national legislation. Few people
realize that imports of agricultural products,
estimated at prices paid by the consumers, are
about equal to our agricultural exports estimated
at prices paid to the farmer, yet such is the
Our imports of products sold in competition with
those actually produced on our own soil amount
10 nearly $115, ZOO, 600, and as much morecould
be produced on our own soil under favorable
conditions We must surely conclude that we
haze here another cause of depression. The sub
ject Is vast that / cannot dismiss 1t briefly.
Indeed, can do no better than TO repeat here
views already expressed by me on this subject.
Or all the wonderful phases OF development OF
which the United States furnishes such striking
examples, none Is perhaps remarkable
than the wonderful increase, totally dispropor-
tionate TO our increase OF population, in our i'm
ports of products which are distinctly agricult-
ural. In 1850 the imports of such products
amounted TO $40, 600, ,O00 for the fiscal year end
ing in 1889. they amounted to the enormous sum
OF 1856 200, 900, an increase OF nearly 900 per
cent, while the increase in population during
tie corresponding period was considerably less
than 800 per cent This is all the more remark
able when taken in conjunction with the fact
that this is pre- eminenty an agricultural CONN.,
try. opening up year after year, with n rapidity
which has alarmed the producers OF the old
world, immense tracts of country to be devoted
%ban 10 .age a tme more ihr G s
cent. OF our total exports are the direct product
OF the SOIL Accompanying this extraordinary
ade, in which the greatest increase of such im-
ports has taken place, steady decrease in the
oa b he To amy
that In the line of products, with the
exception of cotton. upon which our
up well-nigh ruin0us competition in
which the labor of the peasant of Europe of the
miserable fellah of Egypt, and ofthe unfortunate
half-starved Indian ryot. working for pauper
wages, neglecting all the amenities of life in
order that women and children as we'll as men
may work in the fields. is pitted against that OF
the American farmer relying upon his own and
his sons labor. or where he employs hired help,
paying them fair rate of wages, according to
with the same food and shelter as he gives to his
own family.
Growing surplus of wheat, that surplus
whose price is forced down by the competition of
Russia and India, regulates the price of the en-
tire crop. The propuct of our vast corn-felds,
for which q comparatively insignificant foreign
demand exists, must lie utilized largely by the
farmer for the raising of cattle and hogs. The
foreign market for live cattle which exists in
lin la hny fhafn
regulations requiring slaughter at point of land
ing as to exercise little no beneficial influence
measures adopted by several of the Continental
countries in regard to American pork hasreduced
the exports Of that product since 1881 over 40
per cent annually. Under such circumstances
there can be but one cause assgnahle
for the neglect by American farmers
to turn their attention to other crops
in the lire of such agricultural products as we
now import and that is that in this they would
meet an even more overwhelming and disastrous
in the raising of cereals and live stock. Obvi-
Ously. then. the only course possible to enlight-
ened craftsmanship, is to assure TO the farmer
adequate protection in the dlversification of his
crops and the production of larger proportion
OF the articles which we now import
These may be summarized as follows: the ig-
ures given being for the fiscal year ending June
30. 1889, and the values. those at the ports of
port.
Sugar and molasses. $93, ,301 S94
Animals and their products, except
Fibers. animal and vegetable. ....... 59,45SS3e
Miscellaneous, including bread -stuffs.
fruits, hay, hops, oils rice, seed. to-
bacco. Vegetables and wines, ETC.. II, ,254 1874
For obvious reasons omit any reference here
to the ninety millions expended for tea, coffee
and cocoa, but omitting these, we have still the
enormous sum of $3.50, ,273, ,73S imports of agri-
cultural products. the far greater part of which,
amounting probably to not less than $780,
100000 or $250.OOO,OOO, could. with
proper encouragement, be produced on
our own soil. The establishment of our
agricultural experiment stations. the ener-
getic research by the Department of Agriculture
into the resources of different sections of this
country, Investigation of their soils and climate
and the application, in general, of scientific
principles 10 agriculture, all combining, make
this assurance doubly sure, provided, always,
that this diversificatiOn be encouraged and fOs-
tered by the application of the principle OF pro-
lection to the development of new industries on
culture of the protection SO beneficially extended
in the past to our manufacturing industries. In
the days when the farmers were prosperous
when good crops were accompanied with high
prices, and the value of agricultural land went
up accordingly, the farmers 10 a man stood by
the principle of protection urged on behalf
of the manufacturers who, burdened
then with the heavy load of taxation imposed
upon them by the civil war, were threatened
petition Now, in the face of the severe compe-
fition which to-day confronts the farmer In for
eign markets. duty, fairness, and, in the long
run, self-interest, demand that we should afford
him the benefits of home market for all that
he may be able to produce on our own soil. This
includes all the sugar and moasses, all animal
products. wool, silk flax and other fbers. all