The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-10
FACTS FOR THE FARMER.
HE SEEMS TO FARE BADLY UNDER
TARIFF SLASHING.
ped All Along the Line, Although He
May Buy Hoe Several Cents
Cheaper-Some Figures that
Speak for Themselves
and the Tariff.

merchant, in conversation yesterday
with a representative of The American
concerning the present state of trade
and business generally, told little
story, which ran about thus: II was
talking with business acquaintance
the other day." said he, "who some
twelve years ago started new butter
route. [ said to him, Jim, you start
ed butter route some time ago and
have done pretty well; you got mar
ried and now have wife and three or
four children, and you are probably
worth about $4,000 or $4,000 isn't
that so1 And ne said ii was. Now
said /, Suppose was to ask you to
give up your present business aud start
out to make a new route, what would
you say2' And Jim replied, Il would
say you were FOOL
"And he was right; but that is just
what those people down at Washington
want US to dc, after the country has
been prosperous for thirty years.
They want Us to give up cur estab.
lished business aud star: ont en- new
route. The quicker they shut up shop
and go home, the better"
The commission merchant referred
to gave a few quotations on butter
alone, taking the same time of year for
several years. On March S, 1891, the
best creamery butter was, first grade
S5aS6 cents a pound, second grade
32a53, and third grade 1882, and on
March 10Th, same year, three cents
lower all around. Ga March 3, 1892,
the prices were, first grade. Soa3I
cents, second grade 27a2S, and third
grade 22a24, and on the 18th no
change. On March 2, 1892, first
grade 28a29 cents, second grade asa
20, and third grade 24a25, and March
10 no change. Ga March I, 1894,
first grade 25a26 cents, second grade,
25a24, and third grade ISaI9. THAT
Is a drop of five cents pound" said
the merchant. the Democrats say
the farmer IS the one who is to derive
benefit from the new tariff, yet, will the
farmer hail with delight a drop of five
cents a pound in butter"
The American on Sunday last, show
ed how the sale Of bread had fallen off
fifty per cent and the bakers say their
trade is with the poorer classes-the
mechanic and laboring man. Bread is
staple article of food, and is cheap.
Wheat at sixty cents a bushel, and
bread sales fifty per cent lower. OF
course, wheat at sixty cents is good
for the farmer. Why not2 Let the
farmer answer.
"Well, if not bread. surely vegetables
such as potatoes and cabbage. He
must eat, this laborlng man and mech
an!c. These things are cheap, and. OF
course, the farmer is rejoicing. Let US
see. Potatoes IN March of last year
were S. cents to 81 busheI; this year
they are S. to So cents. Good for the
farmer7 Kale last year was bringing
81. so barrel crate, this year IS cents.
Good for the farmsr7 Cabbage last
year was bringing s2.75 barrel
crate this year ST IS and So. Good
for the farmsr7 Spinach was Is cents
box last year, 1t is now 20 cents.
Onions last year brought S. and S5.75
a barrel, this year SI.4o and SI.5o-
all good for the farmer. And, by the
way, speaking of kale, the barrel costs
the farmer 20 cents, and with head or
cover IS cents, freight II cents, and s
cents barrel to cut or gather 1t Tor
market. He doesn't get his barrel
back, so that is Accents to take cut OF
his IS cents, not reckoning the COM
mission paid to the commission merch-
ant. Oughn't the farmer to be awful
jolly that there is new deal going on
and there is the Southern farm er
he who has gone into business in
comparatively recent years in the
truck line. He votes Tor the new
deal, OF course. He raises lettuce to
send North for the people who a
short time ago, had work iii plenty
and could afford to buy this little
table luxury. Last year, at this time
the Southern farmer got 81 and So
BARREL crate for lettuce; this year
he is getting from So so to S.. Good
for the Southern farmer, of course
New beats in 1898 were s and 10
cents d bunch; now they are 3 and
) cents buE it pays the farmer TO
raise them, OF course, for he must see
looking through his free trade specta
cles, that his hoe is going to cost
him, perhaps, as much as cent or
two less than it did when he got ST
a barrel Tor lettuce, where he now
gets only s.
This is no fancy story. 1t deals
with solid facts, and the farmer, who
we are told, is the man to be tene
flied by the new tariff-a new route,
as the butter man said-oan put on
his thinking cap as he sits by the
chimney corner with his companion
able pipe, perhaps, and figure out
Just how long he wants this to last.
The great question is, we are told,
supply and demand. Inquiry de-
velops that the supply is no greater
or less in the truck line than last
year, except it is little earlier in
market, and the low price is attribut
ed solely 10 the decreased demand.
And for the decreased demand there
is but one reason given-men are
out of employment. Why? Because
Of the tariff tinkers,' as they have
begun to be called, and not alone by
Republicans, but by Democrats as
well.''
Inquiry was also made in the
direction OF fruits, and il was learned
that the demand had fallen off fully
twenty five per cent, and that prices
had fallen in like ratio. This shows
since fruit is somewhat Of luxury
that while people of more means
than the ordinary working man have
not as yet curtailed their supplies
tor the table to such an extent as the
latter have done they are edging
that way decidedly, and it may be
will reach par with the latter before
long if halt is not called very soon.
And this is all in the farmers line for
whom the Congress is dickering and
pickering while the laboring class
is starving. Charity suffereth long
and is kind; but the average citizen
II, IL 4