Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-09
Tariff Effects Upon Cattle and Sheep.

The elections OF 1898 are not lar us
tant. and soon the siren voice OF the
free trade Democrats will be heard in
the land singing the praises of open
markets, the markets of the world, and
the enormous expenses entalled upon
the by reason of protection to
American industries and enterprises.
In this connection a few facts and
figures will not come amiss.
Two of the greatest interests OF New
Mexico are the cattle and sheep indus
tries. Eliminate these two sources OF
income from the territory and the great
er part of the prosperity of the people
would be gone. Such being the case,
anything which tends to increase the
prices of cattle, sheep and wool certain
ly is of great benefit to the territory at
large. The Republican party claims
that the principle of protection is the
one great factor in bringing New Mcxi-
co to the front as a country of prosperity,
and in substantiation of that claim the
following facts and figures are offered:
At the time the Mckinley bill was
passed there was a very slight duty upon
the importations of cattle into the United
States, and every year from 100, 900 to
$50, 900 were sold in the markets of this
country which were shipped in from
foreign countries. The Mckinley bill
imposed a duty of $40 per head upon
cattle imported from foreign countries,
and the result was soon felt in the mar
kets. During the last three years that
act was in force only 7,05S head of cat
tie raised in other lands were sold in the
United States, and those were mostly
imported for breeding purposes. On the
other hand, 1,O4O,97 head raised in this
country found ready sale in foreign
countries. The number of cattle in the
United State during Harrison's admin
istration and under the effects of the
Mckinley bill, increased in number
2, 764, 500 head. Prices remained good,
the industry was stimulated, imports
were reduced, exports increased, and
the herds were built up and improved.
The reverse of such conditions was
brought around by the enactment OF the
Wilson tariff. Under that law the duty
on imported cattle was largely reduced,
importations increased and the market
went all to pieces. Prices dropped from
their former remunerative point to al
most nothing. The cattle men OF this
territory will have no difficulty in re-
Numbering these things, in fact they
are not old enough to be forgotten. I'm
der the Wilson bill the lumber of cattle
in the United States was reduced 6,746,-
437 head. Under the policy of free
trade calves we're slaughtered and men
went out of business with much less
money than they started with.
The free trade policy had the SAM
effect upon the sheep industry. During
the administration of President Harri
son sheep in the United States increased
q in number 4,674,474 head and in value
, 1914, 26s, s95. Under President CLEVELAND
and the effects of the Wilson law sheer
in the United States decreased in nun
Der 10, 454, 91O and in value 800, TAI ,529
. During the same time the value OF al
farm animals in the country decreased
in value the enormous amount OF Ss23,
1872, os9.
The country is again under a protec
t tive administration, and while no com
} p~arison can be made in numbers an
< value with those of the four years end
. ing March 4, 1896, yet the prices pal
: today, as compared with those paid un
E der the Wilson law, are too we'll know
: to require any comment. The questio:
resolves itself into n OF personal az
plication: Which policy pays the cattl
Il and sheep raisers of New Mexico tn
> better, free trade or protection?