The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-07-31
COLD and SOLID. FACTS.
Why the Washington Farmers Should
be for Tariff Reform.
u In 20 Their own InteFeatssHOw
the Present RuInOus system
Effects Him.

The OregOnian every now and then tries
to instill into the minds Of the farmers the
principles Of protection, says the Olympia
Standard, and tells them that II is to their
interest, and to the interest Of the ma
ton, that they should favor protection.
So far we never could comprehend how
or why any intelligent farmer could favor
that system Of protection which compels
him to pay an average Of AZ per cent. tax
on nearly everything he buys, while the
price Of everything he sells is made in the
great free trade markets Of the world /;
and after reading those monopolistic edi-
torials, We were as much in the dark as
ever.
Let us see just how the present system
Of protection effects the farmer. He rises
in the morning and puts on his flannel
shirt taxed 65 per cent, his pants taxed
81 per cent, his vest taxed 40 per cent,
his coat taxed 81 per cent, and his shoes
taxed 30 per cent. He washes his face in
u bucket taxed 81 per cent, with soap
taxed 20 per cent, and dries it on a towel
taxed 45 per cent; puts coal taxed Is per
cent. into a stove taxed 4s per cent, eats
his breakfast from a plate taxed so per
cent, off a tablecloth taxed AZ per cent.
with knife and fork taxed IS per cent,
and sweetens his coffee with sugar taxed
80 per cent, and seasons his rice taxed
ll3 per cent, with salt taxed 40 per cent.
Breakfast over, he puts on his overcoat
taxed 90 per cent, his hat taxed IS per
cent, goes out on his farm mortgaged to
the extent Of so per cent. Of its value, and
sows wheat that he must sell at prices
made in Liverpool, England, in competi-
tion with wheat raised on cheap land by
the cheapest labor in the world.
The farmers wife rises in the morning,
puts on a skirt taxed 42 per cent, woolen
dress taxed 65 per cent, stockings taxed
40 per cent, and shoes taxed IS per cent.
After breakfast she cuts q dress out OF
cloth taxed 20 per cent, with scissors
taxed 45 per cent, and makes il on a sew
ing machine taxed IS per cent, with
thread taxed 60 per cent, and q needle
taxed 25 per cent, lines It with goods
taxed 81 per cent, and trims it with but
tons taxed 25 per cent, and braid taxed
20 per cent.
When night comes the farmer takes his
horse from the plow taxed AZ per cent,
takes off the harness taxed 30 per cent,
puts him in barn built Of lumber taxed
~ per 1000 feet, covered with shingles
taxed IL per cent, puts on with nails
taxed 43 per cent, feeds his hogs and cat
tie, worth 2 cents per h., with corn worth
only 20 cents bushel under Q republican
administration then goes to the house,
eats his supper, then picks up the OregO-
tlidn, printed on paper taxed 70 per cent,
from type taxed 25 per cent, and reads
"Why Farmers Should Favor Protection" I"
II be is a good christian like the editor
OF the OregOnidR he then reads q chapter
from the bible taxed 20 per cent, kneels
on Q carpet taxed so per cent, and thanks
God that he is in favor Of home market |;
lies down on bed taxed 80 per cent,
draws over him sheet taxed AZ per cent,
and blankets taxed 104 per cent, and
dreams Of the beauties Of high protec-
tive tariff.
Finally, when bis race on earth is run,
his life having been shortened by the
hard work necessary to support his fam
lily and pay the interest on the mortgage,
he is gently laid with loving hands be-
meath the daisies, while his fate is re-
corded on marble tombstone taxed so
cents.
We don't think the farmers Of our grand
and glorious state, named after the i'm
mortal Washington, are in favor Of any
such q system Of protection. They are
getting their eyes open, as witness the re-
cent elections In Ohio and Iowa, and we
believe that in 1892 q large majority Of
the farmers Of Washington will be found
marching in democratic professions car
rying banners with Tariff Reform" in
scribed upon them, and will cast their
votes for the candidates Of the democratic
party, which has ever been their best
friend and has always opposed this sys-
TEN Of so-called protection, which makes
tho rioh richnp and the T,oop r,norar