The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-09-28
HELPS THE FARMERS.
Protection Assures Them A Vast Renum=
erative Market.

Buffalo Express: A Kentucky Demo-
cratic, Representative Gilbert, recently
addressed the American Economist a
series of questions obviously intended
to show that the farmer of this coun-
try is the loser through the operation
Of the protective tariff. This is a
proposition which has been repeated
many times and which once had con-
siderable influence in leading western
farmers to oppose the protective sys-
tenn. Those who still hold the view
of the Kentucky representative, and
the race is not wholly extinct, will do
well to consider the carefully prepared
argument of the San Francisco Chron-
icle, which the Economist reproduces
in brief. 1t cannot be said that the
Chronicle article adds anything new
in support of protection as benefit
to the farmer, but its merit is that it
presents in concise form an array Of
propositions that have been tested by
experience and proved sound.
Thus, the direct advantage in the
way of prices to the farming popula-
tion of the establishment of many in
dustries through the influence of pro-
lection is pointed out with convincing
force. 1t is the vast home market for
his products which has given the far
mer good figures for his wheat Peo-
pie are apt to think that with a staple
article of food like wheat the demand
depends upon the number of persons,
who must eat in order to live. But
Europeans who have low standard of
living do not consume the amount of
wheat that the same number in the
United States demands. The differ
ence in consumptive capacity is very
great. By transplanting industries to
this country protection not only has
brought a market close to the far
mers's fields, but has enlarged that
market through the increase in the
consuming capacity of the American
workman in comparison with his
European competitor.
The influence of manufacturing pros
perity is seen in another way Dur
ing the period of depression under the
last Cleveland administration the con-
sumption of agricultural products fell
off through the greater economy exer-
cised by those whose incomes were
curtailed. Even in 80 elementary a
line as bread the difference in quantity
consumed between the year of depres-
sion and one of prosperity is marked.
In the case of meat it is still more
noticeable 1t, therefore, is evident
that any cause which makes for the
increase of manufacturing and the
payment of higher wages must be of
decided benefit to the farmer, especi-
ally as only a small increase in the de-
mand for agricultural products in
creases the price noticeably The
higher price for wheat since 1896 may
be directly traced in large part to the
industrial prosperity and large con-
Stunning capacity of the American mar
ket in that period
There is ample evidence that this
line of reasoning has in recent years
made deep impression upon the far
mer of the West. We do not hear now
of the cumbersome proposition for as
sisting the agricultural community
through export boundaries method
which certainly would defeat its end
by bringing about an overproduction.
The farmer is coming to see that he is
assured of a vast and fairly consistent
market, and that his problem is to
take advantage of it. How to raise
products of the soil without contribut-
ing to a glut is subject for study,
and the farmer who devotes himself
intelligently to it will receive an ex-
cellent income.