Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-11-02
Secretary Morton to Farmers.

When Mr.. j. Sterling Morton, by
virtue of the fact that he is secretary
of agriculture, was invited to address
the congress of agriculture it was sup
posed that he would say something
concerning the relations of thegovern-
ment to agriculture and detail what
the department ove which he presides
was doing for its advancement. In
stead of making such a practical talk
he saw fit to deliver a free trade stump
speech on the tariff, as full of errors
and misleading statements as Demo
cratic speeches usually are. After re-
citing certain platitudes regarding the
danger OF a debased currency, with a
ponderous solemnity which indicates
a close study of the style of Grover
Cleveland, he asks IA series of aues-
tons which the Inter Ocean takes
pleasure in giving an even wider circu-
lation than the secretary could have
hoped to secure. At the same time it
volunteers to supply the information
of which the cabinet officer stands in
need. He says:
Tell me why farmers should not be grow
ing and selling at "a profit twice as much
grain as is now in sight tin The United States?
Is it not because their natural world mar
ket is shut off from them by law? Hasnnt
legislation brought the price of wheatdown
to Go cents? Does not every dollars worth
OF imports kept out by "a protective tariff
keep in "A dollars worth of export grain
that would otherwise leap to go out?
Would not the farmer under a decent rom
mercial freedom be growing three dollars
worth of products where he is now growing
only one because IA worlds market is a
great deal wider than "a woefully restricted
home market?
/. Farmers should not double their
grain production, because there is no
demand for such an increase either at
just SO much wheat for food, and any
excess over requirements means lower
prices. If we should grow all that the
world needs it would be because we
could sell it lower than any other pro-
Queer. Ii our farmers will voluntarily
degrade themselves to the plane of the
fellahs OF Egypt or the ryots of India,
who live on the cheap grains and seeds
our farmers now feed their cattle,
they can feed the world. Is Secretary
Morton ready to advise paying this
price for the privilege of feeding the
world?"
2. "The markets of the world" is an
airy phantom of the free trade brain.
Aside from wheat, cotton and tobacco,
there is practically no market abroad
for our agricultural products. Taken
as a whole, not more than 10 per cent
of our farm production is wanted
abroad. Every nation seeks to sup.
ply it's own wants, and until the PEG.
pie OF the world can sit in idleness We
can only sell them what natural linn
itations prevent their producing for
themselves. The markets OF the moon
are quite as valuable and just as &C.
cessible as the free traders markets
of the world"
3. The main reason forthelow price
of wheat is the fact that production
in recent years has been overtakina
consumption. just now it is held
down by the failure of the senate, un.
der control of Secretary Morton's
party, to enact legislation which the
country demands, and threats to
enact that which is not wanted.
4. The tariff does not keep in the
country a single ounce OF wheat. We
sell now just what is needed abroad,
and no legislation will increase the
capacity of human stomach. Great
Britain buys of us just what wheat
she needs, if she car get it cheaper
here than elsewhere. If We are to
supply a larger portion of the worlds
requirement it will be because we are
willing to sell grain cheaper than Rus.
STA, India or Argentine.
The idea that trade is barter may
be repeated with parrot-like vacuity
and owlish solemnity, but the fact re.
mains that the commerce of the world
is not controlled by sentiment. For
eigners buy our wheat only because
they are compelled to have it, and
the possibility OF an order in return is
not considered. There is no such
thing as a balancing of exports and
imports. Last year We sold the
United Kingdom $500, OOO, 900 and
bought from her $3.50, 900. 900, while
Brazil took only S14, 600, 900 of our
products but sold us Sis, 600, 900 Of
hers. The world buys where it can