The Oskaloosa herald., 1894-05-31
TARIFF FOR FARMERS.
Benefits Arising from Protection of the
Home Market.

There-has been no time in the history
of this country when the whole popula-
ton has been so interested in the snb-
/ ject of tariff Legislation as at present
And, indeed, how could it be other
wise? There is not an interest in 8
single State in the nnion, certainly in
no northern state, which is not inn
periled by the provisions Of the Wilson
Voorhees, bill, 1t is not bill for pro-
lection and creation, but for destruc-
tion.
In New England and other eastern
states the effect Of its passage cannot
fail to be disastrous. There is no pos
sibie 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
Dor. Either alternative is fraughtswith
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-
ests of that section have been agricul-
tural. Coal, iron and lnmber, which
play so important parts in the deYelop-
ment of a new country, have been
fully protected, fbut until recently
Canada has not been able to competein
these so as to cripple home deve1op-
ment
Other benefits, like the maintenance
and increase of home markets, were
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 -four; tanneries. fur
| niture factories and kindred industries
followed. When this increase was not
rapid enough they sought capital, wel4
! coined labor and took pride in seeihg
stumps disappear from the Streets be-
| fore the march of improTem9hts
These industries were established by
enterprising men from the east who
brought with them their own capital
and the surplus funds of their neighbora
They saw good openings where their
Sdp1Idl COulu OSNS1Op bO"uS W IuClI
profit and to that of both sections.
Idle money and keen business men
have wrought the marvellous, magic
change so prevalent ali through the
west - II II
What, under free trade and the old
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 landsand of every
crop they could raise If wheat was
too low they could sell milk, vegetables
and stock. AThese purchasersA were
home buyers aud the railway freight
was saved TO the mutual advantage. of
the worker ip the shop and the farmer
on his land.Y
The result is that thegreat 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 a 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 marketis ruined Not
only that, the very consumers then out
out of work will have to turn to the
farm to exc out bare existence and
become active competitors A
They begin to see that when an arti-
Gle 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.
1t is becoming plain to them that
when they pay money for foreign goods
they are paying Interest on a foreign
plant, wages to- foreign 4workmen,
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
good for their own interests. -
They can pay the home manufactur-
er in silver dollars The foreigner
must have gold and it will have to go
abroad to pay him, y
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 e'wagon box they will have to
send them of on the railway. seeking
some locality where there are more
consumers than producers and sell
them at prices fixed by European de-
| mand. a
They, also see that the railway is
bound to take big slice out of every
shipment and that they viii get only
what is left after middlemen, railways,
express companies and Steamships have
taken their generous toll. y
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
| dlemep.
Practical Illustration.
Now see here, my friend, let us look
at this tariff matter from the practical
| farmers side, The import duty on