The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-22

New York. Dec. 22-The Massachusetts,
Agricultural College club OF New York
gave It's 18th annual dinner at the Hotel
St. Denis last night. The principal
speaker was Herbert Myrick, editor OF
the American Agriculturalist
He responded TO the toast "The
Farmer Congress and the Incoming Ad-
ministration."
He said In part: "One cause OF the
present depression Is that during the
past six years the United States has inn
ported billions of dollars worth OF prod
uct that could have been grown in this
country. We have paid out for such
imports in six years twice as much as
the entire interest bearing national debt
The imports of raw produce that can be
grown within our borders now average
$220. 900 year-in sugar wool, hides.
cotton, rice, fruits, vegetables, hay, hops.
etc
Add imports of manufactures of
hides. wool. cotton, most OF which could
be made in this country from domestic
produce, and we have total OF nearly
5000, 900 a year, of which American
farmers could, should and must have a
larger share without necessarily cur
failing their exports Of farm products
Mr.. Cleveland and Secretary Morton
wax jubilant over our agricultural ex-
ports of $3.50 1000, 900, blind TO the fact that
fully half Of these exports are required to
pay for farm imports. We pay freight
both ways and this eats up a consider
able part Of the receipts from our net
exports of agricultural products. This
exhibit excludes all mention of tea cof-
fee, fibers and similar articles that are
now not produced within our borders.
The worst phase of the situation is that
the American farmer is practically de-
prived of the American market for
sugar We are importing 100000, 900
worth of sugar annually.
1t takes every pound of the wheat and
the flour we export to pay for the sugar
we import. The total value Of all live
and dressed beef, beef products and lard
exported during the past year barely
exceeds the amount we paid for imported
sugar. Three times our tobacco exports
counterbalance our sugar imports, and
our immense export trade In cotton
only twice as much as our imports of
sugar. 1t Is an economic crime and
ruinous business policy to oblige our
farmer TO raise staples in competition
with the cheap land and labor coun-
tries with which to buy European sugar
and on top Of this to pay the freight both
ways"
Other speakers were Henry A. Cad
dell president of the college; Professor
c. A. Goessman. Ph. D., LII. d.; Pro-
fessor Edward p. Flint, Ph. D., OF Am
herst; s. c. Thompson, j. Il. Barrett
| +. w. Morris and Dr. John A. Cutler
Among those present were: DR.
Joseph l.. Root, president of Hartford
S. Eaton, F.. Gurner, editor of The
Produce Price Current; A. l.. Fowler
| II. X. Chase, James II. Webb Of Yale
law school, DIR. John NJ. Benedict OF
| Waterbury. Conn; John B. Miner OF
| Plainville, Conn, and l.. T.. Goessmanu
| of Bridgeport Conn. Letters of regret
| were read from Governor Wolcott OF
| Massachusetts,, ex-president of Am
herst; Leo Stockbridge, Lieutenant
| Totten, Lieutenant Bridgeman. Lieu
| tenant William Dickinson, DR.. Georg,
| II. Barbour OF the United States Nava
academy. Professor c. s. Walker Phi. d.
| Amherst, Professor G. T. Maynard
| Amherst, and Professor George F. Mills
Amherst