The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-12-16
THE FARMERS BENEFIT.
WHERE UNCLE JERRY RUsK AND
THE TRIBUNE DISAGREE.

High rariu ON Farm Products as a REM
edy for Low PrIees-The New York Tri-
bune Exposes sIeIziniey's Hambus Pro-
teetion Tor Farmers
When Uncle Jerry Rusk took charge
of the department of agriculture he felt
sure that something could be done for
agricultural depression on protection
lines. Prices for farm products thrown
upon the market in 1889 We're unusually
low. and good old Uncle Jerry thought
that some hig:l tariff hahn could be
found for the farmers discontent.
And Uncle derry had remedy. He
is not one OF those Uncle Jerry IS
MOTTO point ont distressing state Of
things and then ask. What are you go
ing to do abnut il He was ready to
undertake u cure all the ills that farmer
flesh is heir IT,
But his remedy, Let the gods on high
Olympus hold their sides II was higher
duties on farm products
la the spring Of 1880 be addressed a
general letter to American farmers on
the subject OF 'Agriculru-,sl Depression
and Its Causes lie hal had 50 many
letters from farmers asking what is the
matter. that he printel this general let
ter for circulation among them, and to
prepare them for the high Mckinley
tariff that WIS then ia course of incuba-
ton.
In the course of that letter he said:
"One glance 1T the comparative rates Of
duty levied upon agricultural rs COM
pared with other products. one glance at
the free list. the greater portion of which
consists of agricultural products. either
grown or which couid be grown upon
our own soil. ana . comparison OF these
figures with the average rate of duty
levied northumberland articles ought
to be sufficient TO silence forever any op-
position TO the demand | have made on
behalf of the American farmer in my
annual report. namely, that by a wise
application of onr admirable protective
system all the benefits of our home mar
ket be secured TO him for everything he
may be able to produce
Well, Mckinley came along in due
time with higher duties on these com
peting farm products which Were ruin
ing our FARMERS. Barley was raised
from 10 cents bushel to 30 cents; corn
from 10 cents 10 10, cornmeal from 10 to
20. oats from 10 to 10. wheat from 20 to
%. flour from 20 per cent. to % per cent.
butter and cheese from cents a pound
to cents. hay from 50 to 81 a ton-and
SO on to the climax of absurdity in a
duty of . cents 4 gallon on cider
This SO called s.farmer;s tariff has
now been in force one year, and after
this short time here comes the New York
Tribune and shows up the humbug char
acter of the whole thing. That hide
bound organ of high tariffism has re-
Gently been ridiculing the assertion of
the Democratic papers that the McKin-
ley law has increased the cost of living,
and in doing so it .sizes up'' McKinley's
bogus protection to farmers in the fol-
lowing style:
Nobody imports bread or most of
tho meats or fuel or lights or houses.
No sane disputanf will pretend that the
cost of the wooden houses in which
most of the people live is perceptibly af-
fected by duties ON imports or the cost
of most of the breadstuffs or vegetables.
Along the Canadian borders the cost of
cattle and eggs, and in seaboard cities
some of the vegetables, may be affected
at times to some extent, but for the vast
majority of the people prices of all the
principal articles of food are in no way af-
fected by imports or duties thereon.
Food covers about half the cost of living
and rent about quarter, and for more
than three-quarters of the people rentals
are not affected. by the tariff.'' -
What will Uncle Jerry say when he
sees the greatest protection organ show
ing up the farmers tariff in this style?