The Saint Paul globe., 1900-02-07
ADVICE TO FARMERS.
p. H. RAHILLY DELIVERS AN AD-
DRESS TO THE COUN-
GIL
GRAIN GROWERS

Discussed, and the Need of Work
Ing Up a Trade With the Orient
Pointed Out7Other Live Topics.
The National Grain Growers council
held an executive meeting at the rooms
Of the secretary. J.-sC. Hanley, in the
Baltimore block. sP. w. Moran. of Grace
Vile, presided, and the council listened
to an address by P. H. Rahilly, of Lake
City. of which the text is as follows:
MR.. RAHILLY's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Rahilly said.a
Gentlemen of the National and State
Grain Growers Association: Reluctantly
and only from sense of duty am l fore
ed to address you on this occasion. I
In position to address such a body Of
intelligent and distinguished farmers.
whenever | have an opportunity to ad-
dress BODY of agricuituralists feel
that my HrSt exclamation should be:
Organize. Organize. ORGANIZED Know
your rights and by all means defend
There are a few subjects I desire to
call your attention to on this occasion.
First or all, a remuneral1ve market for
the products of this great state. AS one
OF the largest grain growers of Minne-
sofa the past forty years, l have looked
In vain for an outlet for our surplus prod
ucts other than our one customer, Great
Britain; and she always purchases at her
to a bill now before congress. known as
the Hanna-Payne bill, copy of which L
mold In my possession. 1t is an insult
and fraud to the intelligence Of the
a monstrous donation to wealth and
pleasure, another million or two to the
ceaseless stream of prodigality that goes
to Europe every year for the mere pur-
nose ant O nd Sicrtt ni,,cr
Perhaps we can afford few Waldorfs,
Astors and Castellanes in Europe just to
eaploit eape h,b our bonds and stocks; but they
owing to treaties in existence between
the United States and foreign countries
congress cannot pass such bill as the
agllculturaiists of this country DESIRE"
The following is no doubt the objection
able clause in the existing treaties re-
ferred to.
y In article Il of the treaty with Great
Britain, for instance, ratified in 1916 and
still in force, Is the following:
TIED UP BY, TREATY.
''The same duties shall be paid and the
same bounties allowed on the expectation
Of any articles of growth, produce or
manufacture OF. his Britannia majestys
territories in Europe to the United States.
whether such expectation shall be in yes
sells Of the United States or in British
vessels; and the same duties shall be
paid and the same bQunties allowed on
growth, produce or manufacture of the
United States to- his Britannia majestys
territories in Europe, whether such ex-
portation shall be In British vessels or in
vessels of the United States." BY all
means repeal the above clause.
That American statesmen Of eighty-five
years ago should have thus bound them
selves by an agreement which, so long
as it remains in force, prohibits the Unit.
ed States from resorting TO any tonnage
bounty for the encouragement Of its
products or of Its ocean commerce, un-
less it shall pay the same bounties on
the owners of English vessels that Is al
lowed American owners, is almost
inconceivable by Americans Of today The
statesmen OF 1915 did not dream of Amer
lean shipping being driven from the seas
as 1t has been by. the advent of iron ships,
AIDED by the withdrawal of the before
existing discriminating duties. What
paid were paid by the European govern
ments; so the advantage of the clause
quoted was then altogether on the side
Of the United States. The idea that it
would never be necessary to offer g.
bounty on exports of American products
In American vessels, to regain a lost
carrying trade, never entered the heads
les referred to- !.
But is 1t just that. with conditions as
they are now, the United States should
pc barred by such diplomatic antiques
from applying a wholesome and reason
able measure for the cure Of our COM
mercial decline on the ocean? Is 1t neces-
sary that the capitalists combine, which
unpopular Hanna-Payne subsidy hill
upon the nation. be permitted to have its
way, because what was craftsmanship in
l8l5 l8l5 (but which developed into a folly in
l9oU at present blocks the way of a
wiser magistrate?
NEITHER JUST NOR NECESSARY.
The answer of every American desirous
OF Tree action by his government in every
proper direction will be that 1t Is not
just. And it may be plainly added that
1T is not necessary The operation of
any clause In any one of these treaties
giving years notice of intention to alb
rogate it. Let this popular demand make
itself heard, and such notice will be Civ
sn b,d IL VII bI usually take nearly year to
tlce should be promulgated now in a year
from now the United States would be at
liberty to adopt whatever policy it might
choose for restoring its ocean commerce
WITHOUT consulting either foreign powers
or the Atlantic steamship companies
s which are seeking legislation practically
Generous agriculturists Of the United
states have ever since the formation Of
this government been taxing themselves
to encourage manufacturers until our in
fant industries have grown to such pro-
portions that they threaten to overlay
and smother their affectionate parent.
The agriculture which furnishes the
great bulk of the products of this coun-
try has been practically ignored by the
general government.
The farmers of the country can pro-
duce wheat corn, meat, cotton, grain and
wool enough to feed and clothe two more
nations equal in size and population to
itself; therefore 1t becomes absolutely
necessary that we should reach every
part of the civilized world to find a mar
ket for our vast products.
We call upon our delegation in congress
to make bold and persistent fight for
fair play to the farmer and that as the
first step thereto we demand bounties on
the transportation Of all Of our products
to the Orient, that we call upon the. whole
popnlat9n to put me pressure OF their
to that end. On this we believe depend
the future development of Minnesota
and the prosperity of our whole country.
AMERICAN SHIPS NEEDED.
The industry of agriculture represents
the majority of all the citizens Of this
nation. consequently it is entitled to con-
sideration by our government
1t represents the annual income to this
nation produced from the soil of, in round
numbers, about $4,000, ,oooooO,
1t represents in agricultural invest
veStmentS in the nation.
We are interested in the expansion Of
our export trade because the products of
the soil represent nearly three-fourths of
the value of our entire export trade in
1898, or In round numbers. sS5S, 600 900.
The direction which we aim to extend
our export trade is in the Pacific and
Oriental countriss.7 Because this is the
trade that we Aust get to absorb our
vastly increasing surplus crops The
value Of our entries crops Is measured
by the export demand.
We must secure or srevise our treaties
with Asiatic and other countries. That
will permit US todextepd our export trade
with them. This we must insist upon, as
the first step to secure an extension of
cur export trade.
We desire that1 American ships be built