The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-05-18
FARMERS AND THE TARIFF.
Benefits Arising from Protection of the
Home Market.

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 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 i'm
periled by the provisions of the Wilson
Voorhees, bill. 1t is not bill for pro-
lection 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
Dor. 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
ests of that section have been agricul-
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
and increase of home markets, were
not so distinctly noticed by the masses
of the people.
Recent years have brought a great
change. As 8 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
coined 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
What, under free trade and the old
world conditions. would have required
a hundred years has been effected in q
decade.
Farmers have found that nearness to
these growing towns enhanced the
selling value of their lands and of every
crop they could raise. If wheat was
too low they could sell milk. vegetables
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 Asistic
Dations
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 exc out bare existence and
become active competitors
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 a 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-
er in silver dollars The foreigner
must have gold and it will have to 90
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 TIE 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
dlemeD.
COIeyism.