Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-29
SHALL WE PROTECT THE FARMER!

We reproduce below q leading edi-
torial from the Washington Post Of
June IL, under the heading, "Shal
we protect the farmei?" 1t Is given
10 the readers of the NEWS In order TO
Indicate to the people of Utah that
there is something about the PROPOSE.
ton which seems to be growing In
favor-lhe Post being a strong protec.
ZIONIST paper, Republican, anu more
nearly than perhaps any other paper
the admi istration organ. 1t ssys:
Hon. Frank J. Cannon, United
States senator from Utah, has at last
elaborated mis- proposition 10 the effect
that agriculture lie as Justly entitled to
governmental protection anu ebcour.
segment as Commerce or mauufac.
ture. There was some disposition to
ridiculs Mir. Cann0n's ideas at hrsl.
One heard q great desl of more or less
foolish talk about Populism, Social.
ism, ETC., In the connection. That our
great ma manufacturing industries SHOULD
be cared for seemeu well enough to
tue average wiseacre, but any
talk about helping the far
mer was mere folderUl and moon
shine. The trouble was that the visit
acre had become used to the one Gus.
tom and had never before heard OF the
other. AS matter of fact, however,
the caee Of the agriculturalist Is as
strong as that OF the manufactured.
The method by which he may be
aided Is different. His claim is exact.
ly equal. Mar. Cannon says:
Mr.. President, that continuation of
protective tariff upon manufactured
goods, with absolutely no protection to
agricultural aples is an injustice, and
that II we shall continue the present form
of imposition OF tariff the farmer must,
as declared by me in tho beginning, buy
at the highesg price in the world and sell
at the lowest price in the world, seems to
me TO be beyond dispute. The whole
theory Of protection and The whole
efficiency of Its maintenance before the
people OF the United States have been
upon the idea that the United States was
the.greatest market In the world. the best
market in the world; that its loilers were
paid higher wages; that there was more
opportunity here than anywhere else
under Gods sun.
II that he true, then the manufacture
ers have received better prices; they
in which they have had 10 sell than pre-
vailed anywhere else; and therefore the
farmer OF the United States has had to
pay higher prices. Every one knows
that tho home market has never been
sufficient to absorb the great product Of
agricultural staples in the United States,
and that the man who mas produced COT
ton year after year, and wheat year alter
year, and tobacco and rye and hops, has
been looking vainly for the time when
manufacturing should have been so
stimulated by The farmers unsoliish
willingness to support protective tariff
that all the staples produced in the United
States would be consumed mere.
On tho con rary, ali the surplus staples
have been sold in the markets OF tho
world at the worlds Tree trade prices,
and the worlds free trade prices have
controlled the domestic price. Tho Amer
lean farmer has received in England the
English free trade price for his agricul-
tural product; and, more momen.ous TO
him, he has received that same price for
ali which he has sold at home, and at the
same time he has paid the protective