The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-01-21
PLEADING FOR FARMERS.

The Washington correspondent to
the Richmond Dispatch gave the fol-
lowing bit of news which is of special
interest to farmers:
alexander J. Wedderburn, Master
of the Virginia State Grange, has been
slated by Chairman Dingley, OF the
Ways and Means Committee, for a spe
cial hearing when the agricultural
schedule shall be discussed, and Mr..
Wedderburn will enter vigorous pro-
test against placing tariff on fertlliz-
ers, and fertilizing material. AS this
will be Of interest to the farmers OF
both Virginia and North Carolina, I
herewith submit Mr.. Wedderburn's
prepared remarks:
"'On behalf OF the State Grange of
Virginia, and I believe OF every farmer
who Is compelled to use commercial
fertilizer. 1 desire to protest against any
tariff on commercial fertilizers, sulphu-
ric acid, or other ingredients entering
into their composition and manufac-
ture. The American farmer produces
the food of the people. He also pro-
duces the larger part OF our exports,
and numbers nearly one-halt of the en-
tire population. Upon him, whether
intentional or otherwise, rests the bulk
OF the burden of taxation, direct or in
direct. 1t is proven by statistics fur
nished both by the census and the. Ag-
ricultural Department that this great
wealth-producing industry is not flour
ishing, that nearly one-third of our
farms are mortgaged, and that wheat,
corn, cotton, and tobacco are raised at
an actual loss. Notwithstanding this,
the farmers of the United States have
patiently borne the burdens put upon
them, and have faithfully performed
their duties as citizens.
"'In every State east of the Mississ-
ippi river the farms have been drained
OF their fertility to an extent which
makes it necessary to resort to scientific
fertilization. The exhausted soil de-
mands nitrates, phosphates, acids, pot
ash, lime, gypsum, ETC., in greater OF
less quantity. In many of the older
States it is absolutely impossible to pro
duce crop without the use of artif-
cia1 manure. This is too we'll known
to need argument therefore, every.
thing that can aid the farmer in en-
riching his soil and increasing his crops
should be done, and nothing of any
character whatever should be done to
prevent or hinder him. Any action
that makes it harder for the farmer tc
enrich his soil or grow his crops is det
rlmental to the welfare OF the entire
nation.
Therefore, on behalf of the Amer
lean farmer, I emphatically protest
against every increase ofduty on all ar.
tlcles used as fertilizers, or in making
fertilizers, whether chemicals, acids
phosphates, gypsums, potash, nitrates
or natural, or artificial guanos. Gyp
sum or land plaster now costs at the
. seaboard, ground, bagged and delivered
on the cars, about 81 per ton. To ado
81 ton, as is suggested, means to roll
, the farmer of one of his best means o.
drawing from the atmosphere his sup
ply of nitrogen. It would certainly in
: crease the cost to the farmer 331 pc
cent. This would raise the price to
| point as high as the article sold a
when wheat was $1.5O bushel. A tar
if of SIS ton on sulphuric acid mean
to add to the cost OF every ton of tn
dissolved acid phosphate 81, which
: means an advance of 20 per cent. OF
: the price of the essential element o
plant life. 1t is useless to continu
this line of argument, as the result O
imposing the duty suggested On fertili
zers would be to increase the cost 9
every ton OF fertilizer used in this coun
try not less than $1.5O. AS over 1900
Q 600 of the tons are used, the additional
: cost to the already overburdened farm
/ er would exceed 100000 annually
1t seems improbable that any gentle
man on the committee would feel jul
titled in imposing such a tax on GU
bread-p producers, especially as there ca
~ be no compensatory duty given them.
Without further argument, n
spectfully refer to the statements mad
by me before the committee of the fl
g tleth Congress, corresponding to thi
e one, and urge that the same scedule b
"a readopted on these goods as under til
Mckinley bill.
wi CARY COMES AGAIN