The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-09-26
FARMERS AND TARIFF
Home Demand Supplies the Chief
Market for Agricultural
Products.
WHERE THEIR INTEREST LIES.
Effect Of CuraiIing the Purchasing
Power Of the Men Employed
in Factories.

We export about one-thrd Of the
wheat grown in the United States either
i'm the form of -four or of wheat. We
export only about , per cent. Of our
corn crop. The expectation OF other
grain is as rule trfling in quantity, al
though the very low price of oats for the
past two years, owing 20 heavy produc-
ton and q falling of In the home de
mand for consumption by street rail
way horses and driving horses, has led
20 considerable foreign movement in
this grain. OF our meats we probably
export about 10 per cent, although exact
statistics are not available on this point
These figures are sufficient 10 make Il
plain 10 the intelligent farmer that the
home market is his great market, and
that any causes which reduce the home
demand for provisions directly injure the
farming interest.
Besides the staple articles Of grain and
meat. there are a multitude OF farm
products for which there is no market AT
all except the home market. This in
cludcs the whole range OF pcrishable
fruits and vegetables, and also includes
10 a very great extent the dairy products.
Other important items are poultry and
eggs. All thrifty farmers know the value
of home markets for such articles AS
these, and know, too. that much of the
profit of farming comes from the minor
productions of the farm.
IL we are 10 have increased home con
sumption OF farm products we must have
labor generally employed, and az fair
wages, In the towns aud cities. To keep
labor well employed IL Is absolutely es-
scntinl under the present conditions that
we should have protective duties upon
a large range Of forcign-made articles.
This Is no longer matter OF theory,
about which intelligent men dispute. II
was held for n time 10y the advocates Of
free trade that the superior intelligence
OF the average American workingman and
the superior quality Of the machinery he
used would be- sufficient protection TO
insure our own markets for our own
manufactured products. This is n de-
fusion which no intelligent man now adj
vocatcs. The extension of commerce by
steamship lines all over the world. the
laying Of submarine telegraph cables,
the worldwide habit Of travel. the cheap
ness and convenience Of transportation.
and the general spread Of intelligence
by newspapers has put the entire civ
ilizcd aud scmi-civilized globe In close
business relations. Our ingenious labor
saving machines are being introduced
into China and japan. and no important
Improvement is made In inventions In
this cOutry that IL not Immediately
known in All parts OF Europe. The skill
and producing capacity OF the mechanics
ana operatives OF Otnef countries are
constantly being increased by the sharp
ness Of competition and 10y the introduce
ton Of new methods and machinery.
Labor all over the world Is tending 90 n
common level.
Now the thoughtful farmer will readily
see that III we were 10 keep UP the nbili-
~ Of our own shop and factory popula-
ton 20 consume his product In liberal
quantities we must maintain an exceR-
ti0nal rate Of wages. through such
frcc-trnde legislation as Mr.. Bryan and
his followers advocate we are 10 lower
our American wagc-earning popula ton 10
the standards of living prevailing In the
manufacturing countries which compete
with Us. then there would be n great
surplus Of farm products In this country
for which there would be no home mar
kof. We must put up tarih wall 10
keep out n food Of such articles az we
Manufacture In our own country, or we
will soon be dclugcd with cheap wares
and fabrics from Japan and China as