The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-11-30
INJUSTICE TO FARMERS.
Vhey Work Dat Prosperity unaide0
~ Tarim Laws or Com
bines.

Mr.. J.. G. Porter, the head of tho
statistical branch of the census bu-
reau. has announced the "incontro-
vertible conclusion" that the farmers
Of Minnesota are enjoying prosperity
20 the extent that they are richer
than ever before. He shown that IL
they received less for their agricul-
tural products the cause was not the
reduction in their profits, but the re-
duced cost OF production due to inn
provements in machinery.
Everyone must rejoice in this for
tunate condition of the Minnesota
farmers. They are to be congratu-
lated. From the scythe and cradle
and the fail to the machine that
marches through the grain field leav-
ing behind it tied bags of grain that
a moment before was waving in the
air il a great stride. Invention has
done wonderful things in reducing the
cost of agricultural products. lm-
pi ovement in transportation has given
the consumers the opportunity to get
these products at very low cost
above production cost. Our farmers
feed the world. Every country in tho
world depends on us for some OF our
food products. 1t would be the rank
est injustice IL those engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits were not enjoying
prosperity, and we are glad that the
Minnesota farmers are prosperous.
| But IL should not escape attention
that this prosperity has been worked
out by the farmers in free and open
competition with all the world. Tho
| farmers are the great unprotected
producers. II is not such wonderful
thing that a tin plate industry should
be built up in this country, after tho
government gave tin plate makers
protective tariff which guaranteed
that the industry would pay from tho
start. But the farmer had no such
guarantee His products had to DO
sold in the markets OF the world be-
yond the reach of the power of this
government to control the price.
There can be no farmers trust, for
the reason that the field OF their busi-
ness is world wide and the farmers
too many to organize. They cannot
do as the steel manufacturers did re-
Gently in New York. A dispatch from
Pittsburgh tells what was done:
pittsburgh. Pa. Nov 1.-THE steel
manufacturers who had been In session
In New York last week returned home
to-day They succeeded In establishing
two additional pools.
THE products protected by the pooling
agreements are rails. structural shapes.
plates and billets. Several weeks ago
plates were protected by an agreement
when the price was advanced to $2S per
ton. pooling arrangement was COM
pleted. at which every platemaker In the
country is member. The orders or
their equivalents will be divided among
the firms in the business according to
their capacity. Prices were advanced 10
81 per ton. A billet pool was also or
ganized, OF which every billet-making
concern in the country is a member. and
a minimum price of so per ton was made.
The price on billets had been sl7.75 and $i0
previously. This only covers domestic sales
and does not interfere with prices for ex-
port.
The demand since election aided In the
manufacturers coming together. Circulars
will be prepared tomorrow b. the steel
billet manufacturers announcing the new
price.
III is expected the Bessemer Furnace as.
ISOLATION will meet again this week az
Cleveland to establish Bessemer pig iron
at s14 per ton as a result of the advance In
billets. This will cause an advance on
sheet bars and all products into which
Bessemer billets enter"
Is that fair to the farmer? The
steel manufacturers are protected tc
the extent of seven or eight dol
lars on n ton. They can com
D bne and add that much to the sell
! ing price which would rule with free
} competition. Those who use stee
would pay trust prices. because ever
, then it is cheaper than to buy abroad
D and pay the duty TO get the produc
, into this country. This tariff duty
4 enables them to charge cxorbitin
q prices. thereby making 1t cost thu
O farmer more for every implemen
. used in productions; making the rail
roads pay more for rails over which
}. the products are carried, making
!. everyone using a thing into which
y steel enters pay tribute to the gen
4 tlemen who met in New York. Is |
e any wonder they are prosperous? Tn
q farmer struggles single-handed no
; only against this handicap at home
r but against all the world. IL he i
j. prosperous we are glad. He has onl.
himself to thank for it.-Utica Oh
= server.