Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-01-03
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
THEY VOTED FOR PROTECTION IN
TIE FIRST CONGRESS.

Loss OF One Billion Dollars In the Value of
Farm Products Since Last Year-The Eff
feet of the New Duties--A Very Gloomy
Outlook.
A large majority Of tho first congress
of the United States were farmers.
They saw the necessity Of encouraging
and protecting manufacturers in order
that they might be free from servile
and dangerous dependence upon foreign
nations, for the arms, the implements
of farming and other machines needed
for their own safety, production and in
dependence. They also saw the neces-
sity for providing a market for crops
they had raised, which could best be
done by building up the home factories
and increasing their home industries.
The result was that protective tariff
was passed and signed by George Wash
ington, July 4, 1899. Subsequently ag
riculture became more extensive and
prosperous, commerce increasing with
wonderful rapidity. Old industries
were renewed. and many new ones were
established; all branches of domestic
trade We're prosperous and our revenue
soon became sufficient to pay the ex
penses of congress, which it is not now
with the fear of free trade.
The secretary of agriculture in his
annual report, just submitted to con-
gress, points out that very large share
of our imports of foreign goods consists
of agricultural products, which he
thinks should be grown in this coun-
try. Among others he mentions wool,
tobacco and sugar, all of which are di-
rectly and deliberately attacked by the
new tariff measure before congress. If
Secretary Morton be sincere in his de-
sire to build up agriculture, there is evil
IDENTIFY some difference OF opinion in the
cabinet, because the president has eX-
pressed his approval of my" measure
submitted in the shape of the new free
trade bill.
The object lesson of free trade has
been thoroughly and practically brought
home to farmers by the publication of
the December crop report by the depart
ment Of agriculture. This shows that
as compared with year ago there has
been a decrease Of 2. 4 cents pei bushel
in the price of corn, of 10.1 cents in the
price of wheat, Of 3 cents per bushel
in the price of rye, Of 30 cents III the
price of oats, of So cents per bushel in
the price of barley, rs cents per bush
ell in the price of potatoes and 1. Al
cents per pound in the price of cotton.
The aggregate value Of this loss to farm
ers will reach very nearly to 81, 000,
000 900, an enormous loss to our agri-
cultural industry. Farmers Will have
that amount of money less to spend, but
the effect of this decrease in their pur-
chasing power has not yet been thor
oughly experienced either in our whole
sale or retail trade
The department of agriculture has
shown our farmers that they have lost
nearly 81 600, 900, 600 under the pres
ent free trade administration, so that
they may in measure be prepared for
what is to follow. 1t appears from re-
cent English statistics that the value
Of farm products which have been i'm
ported into England has increased by
almost $500, 900. 900 since 1855 in few
Of the leading staple crops. Within
the past seven years the increase has
been "A per cent, while the increase in
population was only 5 per cent, thus
showing that the downfall Of the agri-
cultural industry in free trade coun-
try is both rapid and complete.
The difference between the duty upon
foreign horses imported under the Nc
Kinley tariff and the duty fixed under
the new free trade measure is 81 per
head; the difference in the duties On
sheep is 80 cents per head, and on hogs
25 cents per head, SO that farmers who
raise stock for market must look for
lower prices.
The price Of barley this year is the
lowest ever recorded, and in order to
keep it low in the interests of the Eng
lish brewing monopoly in this country
it is proposed to reduce the duty by 30
per cent, thus giving Canadian tanners
better opportunity to supply the Brit
ish beer trust in this country.
With the price Of oats down below 20
cents per bushel and the duty reduced
from Is to 6 cents per bushel, as is pro-
posed under the new free trade tariff,
our farmers may look for price of about
20 cents per bushel for the next seasons
crop of oats.
There is great rejoicing in Canada
over the proposed reduction Of 10 cents
per bushel in the duty upon potatoes,
and the same enthusiasm exists in Ger
many and the United Kingdom. This
does not only mean that farmers will
receive IS cents per bushel less for po-
tatoes grown in this country, but it will
probably be q much greater difference,
because the potatoes grown in our coast
states, which have hitherto supplied the