Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-04-10


An economic student and Democratic
Senator were asked the came question
What is the cause of agricultural dis
tre.-?" Mr. Edward Atkinson re Dlied II
venture 10 question the exls'ence of any
general distress among the farmers, or of
any excessive and Widespread burden of
mortgages" But senator Vest replies :
The high tariff has depressed agriculture, ="
Which tells the truth? Mr. Atkinson is a
weli-known advocate of Free Trade, but
he has q reputation To sustain as "a student
Of facts Hr. Vest lAbored under no such
embarrassment. and It was easy for him 10
assert. The tariff has depre 'sed sgri-
culture
Mr.. Atkinson reasons that the increased
production Of farm products. uotwithstand
ing their low prices, contrsdIcts the ih-ory
of general distress, as does the port of
mortgage and loan companies, which affirm
that farm mortgages are being readi met
and paid off. The crop of corn in 1884 was
nearly | 500, 600, 900 bushels aud the aver
age price on farms was 50 . cents. but the
farmers went on raising more, ard last year
produced ans, 900 900 bushels, and the
average farm pri re is reported AZ 2S 3 cents.
The crop of wheat went over 5l2 900 900
bushels in 1884, and the farm price dropped
TO 645 cents per bushel. Last year the
yield was ago, 900 900 bushels. and the
average farm price reported is 60 8 cents.
These facts 10 not entirely support Mr..
Atkinson's views for there has been a
shrinkage in the area sown TO wheat. and
apparently because in parts Of the country
its production has ceased to be profitable
l.. ll,.,
been encouraged by the power of market
iugit with profit In the form of hogs, and
the price this year may be low enough to
cause a shrinksge IN area hereafter. Nor
are there such public records of the mort
gage loans made and paid as to render the
comparison Mr.. Atkinson suggests entirely
convincing
Itisa fact that many farmers suffer FIR )m
other causes. to which Mr.. Atkinson also
refers; failure to keep pace with the times
in Improvements and the use and care of
tools. aud want If wisdom in adapting their
crops to the state of the markets. Mr.. Vest
admits eren more they can diversity
their crops. and b, that means make their
calling much more profitable" But that is
true only where manufactures or other in
dustries have provided market for
other crops besides the great staples.
Yet Mr.. Vest curiously asserts that manu-
features have been unduly stimulated. and
that, instead of fewer tillers of the
soil, we need more Mr. Atkinson 8
remedy has much more sense; farmers do
need more careful and scientific methods,
and can do much to smelorate their own
condition. Yet the fact remains that farm
products are selling at exceptionally low
prices; corn lower than ever on the farms,
wheat about cents per bushel above the
lowest average on record. aud beef at lower
prices han in any previous year except
1879. II would be strange if there were
not some depression.
The obvious and natural remedy 10 the
one which Mr.. Vest for political reasons
refuses to admit. He is like the pstien
who. being fanaticslly inclined toward one
school of medicine preferred to die rather
than TO be cured by any other. The farm
ers of this country need a larger body Of
consumers for their products, not across the
ocean, but in this country, and therefore
they need more manufacturers, more min
ing, more liberalization of industry. than
has yet been obtained. Protection has doue
wonders in that direction. But the arrival of
millions of fsrm-w orkers from Europe and
the sales of millions of farms through tn
building of rev railroads during he last fe y
years have in part neutrslixed the advantage.
What MIR Vest sfhrms is the exact opposite
of the truth Manufactures have no, been
unduly or upressonsbly stimulated. The
farming communities need, not suppression
OF manufacture, or less encoursgems Mt for
ersihcstion of industries, but more Anne =
lean consumers, to render the farmers more
Independent of European markets Neic
York Tribune.