The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-05-17
TARIFF FOR FARMERS.
Benefits Arising from Protection of the
 Homo Market.

y of this country when the whole popula- ton has been so interested in the sub ject of tariff legislation as at present And, indeed, how could it be other wise? There is not an interest in a single state in the union, certainly in no northern state, which is not im- periled by the provisions of the Wilson Voorhees, bill. It is not bill for pro tcction and creation, but for destruc- ton.
 In New England and other eastern states the effect of its passage cannot fail to be disastrous There is no pos sible escape from the closing of their great mills and factories, wiping out many millions invested in such plants, or largely reducing the daily wages of the employees to the base of foreign la bor Either alternative is fraught with industrial ruin and individual distress.
 Until recently the great west, and especially the northwest, has not felt, sensibly, the benefits of the tariff. The indirect value has existed, but it was not so plainly noted. The main inter-
  tural. Coal, iron and lumber, which play so important parts in the develop ment of Q new country, have been fully protected, but until recently Canada has not been able to compete in these so as to cripple home develop ment
 Other benefits, like the maintenance zf not so distinctly noticed by the masses of the people.
 Recent years have brought a great change. As a community grew from the woods the enterprise of its makers sought manufactures. They built mills for lumber, for flour; tanneries, fur niture factories and kindred industries followed. When this increase was not rapid enough they sought capital, well comed labor and took pride in seeing stumps disappear from the streets be- fore the march of improvements
 These industries were established by enterprising men from the east who brought with them their own capital and the surplus funds of their neighbors They saw good openings where their capital could develop towns to their profit and to that of both sections. Idle money and keen business men have wrought the marvellous, magic change so prevalent all through the west
 world conditions, would have required hundred years has been effected in a decade
 Farmers have found that nearness to these growing towns enhanced the selling value of their lands and of every crcp they could raise. If wheat was too low they could sell milk, vegeta bles and stock. These purchasers were home buyers and the railway freight was saved to the mutual advantage of the worker in the shop and the farmer on his land.
 The result is that the great west and northwest is being honeycombed with growing towns, each ambitious to add yearly as many new establishments as their rival and neighbor, and to grow in population, buildings and material prosperity.
 Many of these industries are depend. ent for secure margin of profit on eX- emption from equal competition with the cheap labor of Europe and Asiatic nations
 The farmers are just beginning to realize that when these establishments stop their home market is ruined Not only that, the very consumers then out out of work will have to turn to the farm to eke out bare existence and become active competitors.
 They begin to see that when an arti- cle is sold in our markets, as calico, for instance, at much less than the import duty, the democratic claim of the tariff being tax on and increase of the price does not work.
 It is becoming plain to them that when they pay money for foreign goods they are paying interest on a foreign plant, wages to foreign workmen, freight across seas to foreign steam ships and railway freights across the continent besides.
 They see that the freight business will be good for the railroads and steamships, but that it will not be very good for their own interests.
 They can pay the home manufactur- ey in silver dollars. The foreigner must have gold and it will have to go abroad to pay him.
 Some wide-awake farmers already say that the Wilson bill should be termed: "A bill to increase railway freights and kill home markets"
 Instead of selling their farm products from the wagon box they will have to send them off on the railway, seeking some locality where there are more consumers than producers and sell them at prices fixed by European de- mand.
 They also see that the railway is bound to take big slice out of every shipment and that they will get only what is left after middlemen, railways, express companies and steamships have taken their generous toll
 These are the people who are just now waking up to the fact that the best market is that from the wagon box to the householder, and not that which pays big toll to carriers and mid dlemen.
 A Practical illustration.