The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-11-04
MICHIGAN FARMERS.
WHAT THE M'KINLEY BILL HAS
DONE FOR THEM. -
Tho Democratic Campaign HowIs OF 1890
Proved to BE Gross FaIsehoods---
Prophets of Evil Taken In Their Own
SHARES. - -.


During the state campaign Of 1890
the farmers of Michigan were grossly
deceived by the managers and the press
of the Democratic party. The McKin-
ley bill was passed too late for
the people TO learn its provis-
ions and comprehend its true pur-
poses before election. The Democrats
took a dishonest advantage OF
that fact, and filed their papers full OF
gross misrepresentation OF its provis-
ions, purposes and probable e1fects.
Although the Republican press stroye
manfully to let the people know what
the new law was, not Democratic
paper helped to disseminate the truth.
The Democratic managers preferred to
keep the people in the dark in order to
deceive them the more readily.
After telling the farmers of Michigan
that the prices of tin ware, clothing,
wooden goods, dry goods, hats, shoes
and in fact all the neccessaries of life
would greatly advance, the Democrats
capped the climax of their falsehoods
by asserting that the Mckinley bill
did the farmer no good. Now let us
see about it, drawing our facts from
near home. Ponder well these facts:
The Mckinley tariff act took effect
October 6, 1890. All entries of inn
portations under the Old tariff act
ceased at midnight, October 4, that
being Saturday night. On the follow
ing Monday, eggs, which had before
gone from the western counties OF
Ontario into Michigan free of duty,
were subjected to duty of five cents
per dozen.
Up to this time the importation Of
- al. L. A,I
round numbers, the enormous quantity
of 10000 dozen per week, at an average
price of Is cents per dozen. The Cana
dian farmers were taking out of the
home market of the Michigan farmer
$225, ZOO every year for eggs alone and
giving nothing therefor in return.
This robbery of the Michigan farmer
by the foreign producer practically
stopped at midnight October 4, 1890.
The imposition of tariff of five cents
per dozen did the business; and the
sum of 1925, 1000 per annum, formerly
paid the Canadian farmer, now goes
into the pockets of the Michigan farm
ers-against the protest, however, of
the Democratic party.
Nor is this all. According to the free
trade THEORY the importation of tar.
if on eggs of five cents per dozen should
have raised the price of eggs to the con-
sumner just five cents. 1t did nothing
of the kind. October 4, the last day
eggs were free, they were worth just
what they had been for some time-14
cents per dozen. THERE WAS NO MA
TERIAL CHANGE IN PRICE TO THE CON-
sUMER FOLLOWING THE IMPOSITION OF
THE TARIFF and no other change, except
that they were purchased of Michigan
instead of Canadian farmers.
But there is another fact which ought
to puzzle the free trader and would do
SO If he cared anything about facts.
While the price of eggs was not ma
terially changed in the Detroit market,
yet three thousand feet away IN THE
WINDSOR MARKET THE PRICE FELL ALI
MOST THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE TARIFF,
showing that on what few importations
still remain, THE CANADIAN PAYS THE
TAX.
These are not theories; they are cold,
hard facts. And what is true of eggs
is true of nearly all farm products, SO
far as Canadian importations are con.
cerned, and especially of barley.
Prior to the Mckinley act the United
States was the principal market for
Canada's surplus farm products. We
also had a surplus of the same products.
When Canada's surplus was added to
ours, was it any wonder that prices
were depressed and the tendency was
downward?
Since the Mckinley act was passed,
Canada has had to hunt for other
markets. But she encountered our re-
ciprocity act at every step, and she has
met with but little success. 1t is need
less to add that her farmers are corre-
cvNn rrIxy tCfr sod DIT 4 H.
sure of her products has been taken off
our own market and has left it free to
our own farmers, very much to their adj
vantage, because the expense of trans
portation to other markets is saved to
them