The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-10
EAST is SELFISH.

the tariff on hides n giving then
free entry into the country. In its
agitation the league has the Support
: of many eastern newspapers, and they
2 are not all democratic papers, either
The argument advanced by the or
= ganization and it's supporters is thai
: cattle are not raised in this country
for their hides; that they are raised
: for beef purposes and are sold at a Ger
: tain price per pound on the hoof. The
cattle %raisers, it is commended, get
practically nothing for the hides, as it
is the big meat packers who sell them.
At first thought this kind of argu.
ment may appeal to some as being
well founded mi based upon just prin-
ciples. But a little further study will
convince almost any n Of it's spec
iousness. 1t is true that cattle are
sold on the hoof and at a certain price
per pound. 1t is also true that the
hides form a part of the gross weight
of the animal and are figured in with
the whole when payment is made to
the raiser. Nobody has ever heard of
cattle being sold on a basis of hides
off, consequently the seller of the ami
NAL receives just as much for each
pound of hide as he does for each
pound of actual beef. Thus it will be
readily seer that the argument of the
free hide men is not tenable. Did the
buyer insist upon a reduction equal
to the weight of the hide of the ami
NAL then it could be said that the
raiser received nothing for that por-
ton of his cattle and that the packer
was the only one benefited by the
maintenance of a tariff.
Should congress decide to yield to
the demands Of the league it is but
fair to assume that the packers would
make this an excuse for a reduction
in the prices they are paying for cat
tie and then the raiser would get prac-
tically nothing for that portion of his
animal. But the contention of the lea
que and its supporters is only another
exemplification of the ~selfishness of
motive which prompts so many of the |
"reformers" of the east to ask for a
reduction of duties upon raw mater
ials, while insisting that the highest
possible degree of protection be at
forded the manufactured products
which would come in competition with
them were the tariff to be so amended
in all respects as they insist it be
amended in regard to where it would
benefit themselves. If it is proper
that protection be afforded the pro-
Queer OF manufactured articles then
by the same parity of reasoning it is
eminently proper and just that the
producer of the raw material should
also be given the same degree of pro-
lection. |
Were the west to allow the same
selfish motives to prompt in man
things that it may be said the east
unfortunately does it's people would
rebel against the imposition of duties
of which they receive no direct benefit.
Almost wholly given to the produc-
ton of raw materials, they would, fol-
lowing the eastern line of argument,
be justified in demanding a removal
of all duties on manufactured goods
because they do not enter into the
schedule of their products. But they
are not so narrow minded and take
a much broader and more
patriotic view of things. They
realize that in the great scheme
of protection for the masses
there must always be a small minor
ity who would probably be benefited
by a readjustment of existing condi-
tons, but they cheerfully consent to
the accepted order and make their
interests and desires subservient to
those of the great majority, conscious
of the fact that where they are made
the sufferers in one regard they are
the gamers in another. It is only by
a ready concession Of benefits and adj
vantages that all the members Of the
nation are made to share in the good
which follows the beneficent system
of perfection which has made this
nation the great commercial power
that it has grown to be within the
past few years. The east should be
mindful of this and not allow regard
for it's W interests to assume such
proportions as to cause it to be indif-
ferent to the welfare and interests of
other portions of the country. It's peo-
pie should take warning from Presi-
dent Springer Of the International
Livestock association. It was proba-
bly, more than an idle threat when he
said in his recent address: "The great
west, whence come the wool and hides,
xIzill q 70 - 4ha& e oa oaaa..l ;a-~~al~l