Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1897-06-23
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, June 20, 1897.
Special correspondence.
No man in public life is nearer
to the American farmer today than
Hon. j. II. Brigham, Assistant Sec.
retary of Agriculture, whose valu.
able service as Master of National
Grange has brought him in close
touch with that great class of cit
liens. His views upon conditions
and prospects arc interesting to all,
but especially so to that body OF
men and women to whose interests
he has devoted so much time and
thought.
Talking with your correspondent
yesterday about the progress of the
work being done by Republicans
here, he said:
''The Administration has been
earnestly advocating the carly pas
sage of measure that will correct
the evil results of the Wilson low
tariff free-raw-material wa
measure which is expected to give
adequate protection to the agri-
cultural interests and with a tenden-
cy to remove the present existing
depression. There has been less
delay than in any previous legis-
lation of the kind. The wool grow
crs and woolbuyers are waiting
with some impatience the passage
of the bill regulating the duty upon
imported wool and woolens. Wool
is now ready for market, and this
suspense is very detrimental to both
seller and buyer, as they do not
know just what rates of duty will
be fixed. The farmers are very
earnest in demanding adequate pro-
lection on all farm commodities
grown here in competition with
similar products grown abroad and
sometimes imported into this
country. and the Administration is
fully committed to this policy OF
giving ample protection to agri-
cultural products"
''What do you think about the
revision Of the tariff schedules in
the Senate!"
''The new tariff bill as it passed
the House is believed to be more in
the interests Of agricultural than
the bill as amended in the Senate
Committee. Now that the measure
is under discussion in the Senate
there is good reason to believe that
it will be properly amended before
it becomes law. 1t is very cheer.
ing to note the breaking up OF
partisan lines on this question. The
old tariff for-reyenuc-only slogan
so long relied upon by the leaders
Of one Of the great political parties
has largely lost its influence, ant
the representatives of agricultural
districts, without fear of the old
time leaders, do not hesitate to sup
port measures calculated to Civ
some portion of the protective sys
tenn to their constituents. Ibeliev'
that no party which advocates FREE
raw material and protected man
ufactured goods can ever agail
secure a strong following among
the agricultural classes"
''What do you say, Mr.. Brig
ham, in regard to the delay in tn
return of prosperity:"
| 1T is hardly fair to expect ben
efits from a protective system be
fore the law has been enacted
People shoald not forget that W
are still living under the Wilson
low tariff f-frce-raw-material meas
urc, and that at present the onl
advancement or improvement i
conditions is the anticipation Of tn
good effects of the new measure
Progress on the bill is much great
cr than has been expected by thos
we'll informed and familiar wit
tariff legislation, and the measur
will undoubtedly soon become
law, and not by the votes of on
: party alone. But the hue and cr
against the delay in the coming c