The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-10-03
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air. Md, October Sd, 1880,
TIRE AGRICULTURAL SITUATION DIS
CUSSED.
Views of the Deer Creek Farmers.
nis and InteIlinencer

handsome residence u. y.
near Darlington. Mr.. George Il. Stephenson,
President was III the chair, other active members
present, besides the host. being MeSsrs Jon
Moores X. Harris Archer. John y. WySong, Ed
ward p Moores, VIM. D. Lee. and +. W. Baker
There We're also present Messrs: Alfred r. Edge
Caleb Emlen, b. J. Williams Gortauid W. smith
Mr.. Smiths lawn, garden ana stables were IN
spected by the club in body, ana a committee
Wysong, summed up the opinions OF the members
on what they saw: r,
Besides the garden none of it is cultivated, the
rest consisting of a beautiful lawn, kept in the
neatest manner the tri beng as close and soft as
tai trees and beds of gay-colored flowers and foli
age plants. Mr.. Smiths garden contains quanti-
ties of all the vegetables in season and he has, ALSO
agreenhouse, where exotics and other tender plant
flourish and bloom during the winter. His stables
saving appliances of various kinds. His residence
is perhaps the handSomeSt i'll the county, being
complete In all its appointments.
The topic selected for discussion was THE
Situation" from the farmers standpoint and how
it might be improved.
Mr.. Smith said that many things initiate against
the agricultural interests. He attributed the de
preston in prices TO over-production, caused by
the opening OF mlll0ns OF acres Oh ahq IN the west
by the railroads. Then again foreign nations
upon whom we have depended TO take our surplus
products, have found new fields. The enormous
specuations in wheat, for instance, which unset
tied the market, alarmed England and caused her
to encourage the growth of that cereal in her own
possessions in order that she might be independ-
ent of the United States. Only bad crops have
helped US out from time to time. Another cause
of depression has arisen from the TACT that during
our late war, when prices were high, farmers ill.,
volved themselves in debt by purchasing more
land and erecting costly buildings. The interest
on those debts is now felt with great severity
Better results might be had if the same amount of
labor was given 10 one half the number OF acres
now cultivated. The remedy, he thought, was in
cooperation among farmers. Men IN other pur-
suits combine together for their mutual benefit and
if farmers did likewise they could carry on their
business more intelligently and at greater profit.
Farmers Alliance. thought.
plish much i'll this direction If 1t can be kept out
OF politics. He also considered the new tarlH VIII
bring many artisans here from abroad, who will
have to be fed and thereby create greater home
consumption, which he thought in every way de-
South American neighborS he also regarded as a
step in the right direction. Mr.. Smith read an ex
tract from recent speech OF Chauncy NJ Depew
on the subject
John B. Wysong said farmers had long been attlIe
mercy of the people they deal with and they will
only better their condition when they have organ1
cation and cooperation among themselves. If the
Farmers Alliance could be made to embrace every
neighborhoOd it might have good effect. The
exodus of so many people from the country to the
city, if kept up long enough Will perhaps decrease
production and increase the home demand. Our
foreign exports of grain are not as large as they
used TO be. People are divided on the subject of
the tariff and reciprocity, but no doubt some means
could be devised to increase our exports of grain.
large part of our best agricultural lands are now
occupied and perhaps the limit of production will
be reached before long and then agricultural in
terests will look up.
Edward p Moores thought organization and CO.
operation among farmers, while desirable, can not
be carried out. for the reason that even a dozen
farmers only could never agree upon any one
thing. All legislation is against the farmers and
in favor of the manufacturers. For the benefit of
a few manufacturers Congress refused to put bind
ing Irvine on the free list although farmers asked
for it. Farmers, as class, are poor and down
trodden, and living so far apart it is impossible
for them to defend themselves by any plan OF
organization. Why is it, asked Mr.. Moores, that
farm machinery is sold to South America and other
foreign countries cheaper than to our own farmers?
Alfred Edge said it was because here the ma
chinery is protected by patents and in England it
is not, and if it is not sold there at lower prices
than here it would not be sold at all. farmer
here may be able to pay $50 for machine when an
English farmer can not pay more than S25 for the
same machine. Whether man is for protection or
free trade is matter of self-nterest. If farmers
would band together they would hold the balance
Of power and have an effect in shaping legislation
in their own interests There is danger, however,
in political leaders working among farmers and
running the organization into politics.
John Moores said he did not want other classes
protected at the expense OF farmers. He is Henry
Clay protectonist. Clay's idea was to protect the
infant industries until they able 10 go alone
and then let them shift for themselves. He not
benefit of the manufacturer. He had known an
iron manufacturer to begin with 80 acres of land
and under the protective tariff he soon had 5000
acres and sold iron at 500 ton, while he paid
only 80 cents cord for cutting wood.
Mr.. Wysong said he would like to ask if manu-
facturers class are not rich.
Mr.. Edge said that while some have made money
q great many have failed several times. He knew
more unsuccessful than successful manufacturers
was the readiness TO gives notes and live on the
future, and the cultivation of too much land.
John Moores said the farmer should not be the
only man in the community required to practice
economy. The lawyer, the doctor, the Storekeeper
and the manufacturer all enjoy luxury but the
farmer is expectedto live meanly and economically.
His hope of agricultural prosperity is in the wear
ing out of lands in the West In this region. where
farms are generally small, a comparatively small
quantity of produce is sent away from the farm
Farmers need free exchange OF their products.
They want to buy what they need without paying
tax on it and sell where thew can ind the best
market M n 90 w.s on tha eide oe tho f.,n,or nr.
he thought, as rule, they are succeeding as well
as people in other occupations. reproduction
he regarded as the cause of agricultural depres;,
sion but If farmers bear a steady hand all VIII
come out right after a while.
r. Harris Archer thought Mr.. Blaine had taken
wall that there must be freer exchange of our
products to have continued prosperity: He did
not think Mr.. Blaine, in his reciprocity views,
went as far as bis Judgment dictated but said as
much as his party will at present stand. While
reciprocity with South America would be good
thing it would be still better to have reciprocity
with England. because we ship and ought to ship
more grain ard beef to England than to South
America If our beef could get into England free
and unrestricted we would get better prices for it
here at home. If we produce 800 million bushels
of wheat and consume all but so millions at home.
the portion exported sets the price for all sold
The President, Mr.. Geo. R. Stephenson. said
that 25 years ago the wealth of the country was IA
billions of dollars and farmers were prosperous.
To-day it is 40 billions and fairness poorer than
they were then. referring to Mr.. DepeWS speech
he said he regretted to see so many young men
leaving the country and going to the cities. That
would imply that country life is no longer remun-
erative. History shows that as tariff charges on
imports increase the agricultural interests de-
crease in prosperity. In every section where peO-
pie have prospered by high tariff agriculture has
langushed. This is made plain in New England
in some parts of which farms have been abandon
ed He argued that these farms would have been
kept up if farmers products had not been restrict
ed from foreign markets by the operations of the
high tariff 1t is impossible to protect the farmer
by tariff because all the surplus he produces is
exported and nearly all he consumes costs about
as much as imported goods of the same kinds
The protective policy is directed exclusively for
the benefit of the manufacturer. How has the
farmer been treated? While, as they say a home
market has been created for his products the
government has thrown open the public lands to
products to be exported and thereby still further
lessen the price. As to Mr. Baine's reciprocity
treaty, he pretendS to want to benefit the farmers
by establishing commercial relations with foreign
countries, yet all that the manufacturer relnquSh-
eS in the way of tariff is to be made up by the
government in subsidies to vessels carrying these
products. Reciprocity to be fair should apply to
all countries. Ove-fproduction is fact, but it
comes from the effects of high tariff which fences
us out from so many of the markets of the world.
No man can raise too much OF what he wants to
sell, while there is anybody anywhere in the
world who needs the product. The better and the
cheaper food we have the better for all our people
Cheap food means better condition of our labor
ing classes-the ability to give more employment
to them, increased and enlarged induStries-prO-
vided the tariff is so adjusted that all the burden
does not fall on the farmer as is the case now
The remedy for agricultural depression is TO re-
form the tariff, admit all materials free DROP
the protective idea entirely and raise the revenue
by direct taxation. Let the farmer sell where he
can get the best price and buy unrestricted in the
cheapest market he can find.
A The club then adjourned.