The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-06-14


ton will not compensate in the loss Of
twenty-five or fifty cents a day in wages.
Now not alone has American staple ag-
riculture to suffer the decline by reason
but 1t IS a weil-known fact that this pri-
mary industry is compelled to pay for the
cost Of protection to American manufac-
lures 1t is scarcely necessary for me to
prove this assertion. for II is fact be-
yond a question OF doubt that in coun-
try where the protective system Is in
force that any industry therein which Is
compelled TO pay for protection. and is
Furthermore compelled to sell Its products
at home and for export at the worlds
free trade price. tina: that industry pays
for protection Of the other industries
Therefore, if any workins.nan in the
United States receives higher wages for
tn. same quality ana quantity of work
-,erfor,ned by another wo-kingman in Bel
linn or Austria. the difference is paid by
the unprotected industry. Staple agr-
cultural products paying for protection,
and being compelled BY conditions to sell
its products at home and abroad at Liv-
..roool prices, pays for all the differences
in wages 70 manufacture between the
cos: CT manufactures IN the chcapes, la
tor markets IF the worll an! the dearest.
Hence staple agriculture foots the total
'oet for protection The work!nsman
seems to pay a portion OF it, but this
seems is ,lclu.ion.
1'..e paying for protec.'nn together with
the reduction in ~" price IF the product.
''--ured by the As!atic, Afr. can and South
American competition, has plat ell the pro-
'!rcer in a position which must slowly
ana surely drive him from The soil by
foreclosures.
Decline of the Wage Rate.
Put this is not all AS has been stated
before, with the decline OF his net returns,
comes the decline Of the wage rate; and
unless this condition is remedied, wages
must Continue to decline until a mean av-
erase Is reached which the ASiatic mimi
mum rat" viii! ultimately permit.
There Is remedy that may be applied
to overcome this destructive tendency.
and the remedy Is simple and effective.
II Is that the government OF the United
states shall. cut Of it's custom house re-
rate OF transportation OF staple farm
products from American seaportS to for
tisn seaports; and this will accomplish
certain economic changes which shall be
explained further on.
! At this time We will lay down the detail
! or the plan in the rough. Let us say
/ that the charges for carriage by sailing
vessels from San Francisco to Liverpool
is worth 70 cents bushel. The govern
| ment. by new shipping receipt. issued
by an act OF congress, agrees to pay ~
Ing vessel. but permits the shipper to
! forward at the rate Of 10 cents per bushel.
! What will follow? The following:
Say lr bushels of wheat are raised In
! exported. and - consumed at home
! Whenever the price at Liverpool Is 81
| per bushel. and the cost for transpOrta-
! ton is - cents, the price Of wheat in the
| United States is so cents a bushel.
! This Is not alone the price for the -
bushels bush so exported: but , also becomes the
! home as well. In other words. 100 bush
| els will realize $50. Should the United
| states government reduce the cost OF
shipping to 10 cents per bushel. 1t would
| bushels exported. but wheat would he
worth .Nb cents nar hilShp1 for the entire
lD bushels. thus giving the producer $40
| more by the expenditure OF $50 on the
| part of the government
ObjectOrS now come forward now and
| say: THAT a reduction on cost of trans.
! p"rtation would reduce the Liverpool
price" These directors forget that the
| price fixed at Liverpool Is the world 8
| price. and the world will not voluntarily
reduce it's price just to spite the United
! States.
Others again say that '"The grower will
receive $40 and the United States will
pay but 81 ~. but the taxpayer and wage
Garner will have to pay the $40 In the adj
vancad price OF the wheat. hence there
will be no saving to the wage-earners.
True as far as 1t goes. But the same may
be said OF 100 dozen suspeEders. We can
| obtain these from Austria for $50. with
duty added would make them about 500.
| Now we produce them for 5000 in our own
| country. Who pays for the difference.
whether they are imported or made at
| home?
|
The taxpayers and wage earners. and
yet. not all taxpayers nor all wage earn
ers. the difference is paid absolutely by
the producer OF staple farm products;
| for he alone. remember. is compelled to
pay for protection and Is again compelled
to sell his product at Liverpool or free
trade prices.
The same would be the result II a
ticut was compelled to pay American
! protection prices for wages and neces-
sites and then compelled to sell his
! knives in Germany or England
As was said before. the workingmer
! seem to pay for protection. but in real
| ity they do not, and for the reason be-
Now. long as labor is protected to
the great extent that 1t is. 1t can surely
| find 1t nothing but just and reasonable
| to waive a trifle Of its protection in the
labor refuse. what will 1t gain? larger
loaf and cheaper cotton; but with II
cheaper Hoa WHY
| decline OF the net return to the producer
Of farm staples will reduce his purchas
inS power. and with the decline OF his
! in the demand for goods: with the de-
cline in the demand for goods comes the
decline for the demand OF skilled labor
| with the decline In the demand for labor
| must come the decline in wages
We are not dealing here with shaping
| a question as We would like 1t shaped
| d
dition as real as the law of gravita
| ton.
False theory false reasoning false as
| sumption. can produce no progress. Or
| the other hand, to cast aside a law tend
| ing toward amelioration OF conditions car
| not ameliorate these conditions. No, no
by harangues or endeavors. however We
hement or violent they may seem in thei
nature. The law must be obeyed IL ",
| are to have results.
Press Quoted in Confederation.
Let us now see IL others corroborat,
the statement:
Boston Journal Feb IL. 81. says
Now. however. the situation Is changing
Russia has always been a grain-producin,
| country. but India has entered the fielt
only OF late years, and Argentine still
| later. The latter country has forge,
ahead with marked rapidity. and is re
ported to have raised last year sur
| plus Of l5.0n.OoO bushels Of wheat. Thi
is doubtless largely due TO the enormous
| investment Of British capital"
Pacific Rural Press Feb. Il. "a. in al
article copied from the Chicago Int
| Ocean. says: These facts suggest tn
answe. to the query. Why is wheat s.
| cheap 1t is a matter OF free trade
/ af noE