The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-28
What the FARMERS Want.

In the July number of the North An1eri-
can RepielO there is an article entitled,
THE Farmers Discomfort" by l. L. Polk,
president of the farmers alliance. The
greater part Of the article is devoted to
comments on an article by Mr.. George f.
Waring, Jr., which was published in the
June number of the ReuietU, and President
Polk, therefore, does not state quite as COM
prehensively as he might the causes OF the
farmers discomfort. Indeed, he does not
make clear what the things are of which
the farmers complain, nor does he attempt
to show that the condition of the farmers
would be bettered by the legislation which
those of them propose who have become
members of the alliance
1t is admitted that the farmers have
grounds for discomfort. Much Of the legis-
lation for the benefit of manufacturers,
shipbuilders and bankers is burdensome TO
them. and such legislation is class legisla-
ton. 1t is legislation which grants special
privileges.
President Polk admits, or seems to admit,
that such legislation should not be en-
couraged. Indeed, one of the tenets of the
alliance is Especial privileges to none," but
in the face of this tenet the alliance is ask
ing for special legislation. President Polk
excuses this inconsistency by saying that
"the farmer has never made claim for
greater consideration than is accorded to
other classes, and only until very recently,
when over whelmed and discouraged by adj
verse conditions and discriminating legisla-
ton. has he asked for the same consideration
from national power that nearly all other
classes have enjoyed for years"
But if, according to the alliance doctrine,
special privileges should be granted to none,
why does the alliance demand the same con-
sideration from the national power that
other classes have? Why does 1t not demand
the withdrawal of the special privileges
which other classes have? Would not the
farmers be helped more by withdrawal of
these privileges than by the granting of
similar privileges to themselves They
certainly would, and besides, the alliance
would be consistent if it should pursue that
course.
For years and years the Democratic party
has been telling the farmers that the reason
they made SO little progress in accumulat-
Ing property is that the protective tariff
policy of the Republican party robs them
Of all their profits. That policy does not
enable them to get better prices for their
products, but it does force them to buy all
their supplies in the dearest market Ia the
world. They produce surplus Of wheat,
cotton, corn, bacon and various other arti-
cles. However high the tariff may
be the prices of these articles
are fixed in Europe, where the sur
plus goes. Now, if the farmers could
buy their supplies at prices which rule in
Europe they would have big margin of
profit. But that they cannot do. They
must make their purchases at home-market
prices, which, owning to the protective
tariff, are enormously high. The conse~
quence is that those who are protected by
the tariff grow rich while the farmers re-
main poor. The profits of the farmers go
into the pockets Of the protected classes.
1t is absolutely certain that the farmers
would be greatly benefited by having the
special privileges withdrawn from those who
enjoy them, while it is not certain that they
would be benefited by the special privileges
which they are demanding. Even President
Polk says that it is problematical whether
their condition would be improved by the
special privileges for which they are asking.
From President Folks own statement,
therefore, it would seem to be the part of
wisdom for the farmers to insist upon the
withdrawal of the special privileges en-
joyed by other classes rather than the
granting of similar privileges to themselves.
he says that 1.-The evil against
whlch the efforts of the alliance
are chiefly directed" is decrease of such
legisla ion as tends to operate for the
emolument of one class or industry at the
expense of another
But If this is President Folks position
how can he explain his enthusiastic indorse-
ment of the platform of the Peoples partyi
That platform certainly calls for class legis-
lstion of the most pronounced kind Presi-
dent Polk doesn't appear to be altogether
consistent.