Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-04

to pay the same price that articles
would command in distant markets.
Eggs are two cents higher dozen
here than they were before there were
so many shipped away, and there will
continue to be steady market for
them"
Before entering into direct reply, 1
beg to correct the News in its data on
the imports and value of the article in
question. Here is the correct data:
United States annual product, 200
900, 900 dozen. exports, 5000 dozen.
Imports, 100000. Value about 81
100000. 1t will be noticed now that
our imports amount to about Il per
cent of our consumption. What effect
would duty have upon eggs at this
ratio? The imports are too insignif-
cant compared with the grand total to
make any difference in the price, even
if they were altogether prohibited.
TO go farther, to show how little eff
feet the import of eggs has in depress-
| ing the price of American eggs, is de-
mOnstrated by data, which, from lack
of space, L cannot here publish, but
which 1 am ready to furnish, that will
go to show that the largest imports are
almost invariably in November, and
thus come upon the market in Deem
ber and January, and that is just in
the two months when the
PRICE OF EGGS ARE HIGHER,
On the other hand our imports are
the least in the months of March,
April and February, which come in
| our market in April, May and June.
when the price of eggs are always the
lowest. The conclusions to be drawn
therefrom are: Either some other
| agency, and not imports, affect the
price Of eggs, or else these very large
imports make high prices. My high
| tariff friend can take his pick.
The thousands of farmers who will
read this will be the best judges as to
how much more they receive for eggs
! now as compared with the price re-
ceived last year this time. My own
Investigations have failed to furnish
anything like tangible proof to show
that such is the case. Still 1 may not
have been dilligent enough in my in
quiries. | may not have directed them
to the right source, or in some way or
other L may have failed to receive min
ute and correct Information, and there
fore in justice to all and for the sake
of opening the argument let us take it
for granted that the case as the News
puts it is correct. If so. If our farmers
who bring eggs here to Hutchinson get
from two to four cents more per dozen
on the strength Of this protection,
then how ia it that the farmers who
sell eggs in smaller towns receive from
two to three cents per dozen less for
the same number and quality2 This
is an authentic fact proven by daily
practies. Does this protection not
reach as far as these little towns? CT
does it really cost FROM so to 80 cents
more per case to ship eggs FROM say
Pal fridge (about II miles from here)
to the market, than from here? Or is
the protection only for large cities,
manufacturing centers? Come now,
| Lady News, do begin to learn the prac-
| tice of consistency. You know well
enough that the only reason, if any,
| that can be given for the presumably
| high price of eggs BOW is that few
individuals of spirited and speculative
inclinations have gone into EXCLUSIVE
egg handling business, and the rivalry
between these and our local grocers
may have caused this enhanced value
| of the article, nothing more. And
right here is a case which so clearly
shows by practical experience the oft
| told and so much contested theory that
| it iG the competitive rather than the
protective business policy which tends
towards the enhancement of values.
But to proceed. These apostles of Nc
Kinleyism delight in showing up how
| the price and consequently the cost OF
eatables. farm products, has been en-
hanced by their protective policy.
|
fellow. Let as see how smoothly it
rolls along aside of the muchly praised
and fundamental principles of republi-
can protective ideas which have pledg-
ed themselves to protective (destruc-
tive) tariff for the special benefit and
to the direct interest of American ia
dustries nand laborers. Their pet
theme was that the higher We make
the duties on imports OF articles which
compete with our home product, SO
much higher will the wages of this
same muchly protected American la
/ bOrer be. These scions OF political
lsnicidaD economy, SO well schooled il!
the art of molding their protective
sugar pIums for the palate Of their pet
the under glass-cas protected Amer.
Jean laborer, so farther ih their beney-
olence and say: stop not in the good
work, but proceed further than just
taking care of the manufacturer and