The Winslow mail., 1901-01-10
FARMERS AND OTHERS.
They Work Out Prosperity Unaided
by Tariff Laws or Conn
bines.

Mr.. L. G. Porter, the head of the
statistical branch of the census bu-
reau, has announced the "incontro-
vertible conclusion" that the farmers
of Minnesota are enjoying prosperity
| to the extent that they are richer
| than ever before. He shows that if
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 i'm
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 is a great stride. Invention has
| done wonderful things in reducing the
cost of agricultural products. I'm
provement in transportation has given
the consumers the opportunity to get
these products at very low cost
feed the world. Every country in the
world depends on us for some of our
food products. 1t would be the rank
est injustice if those engaged in agri-
| cultural pursuits were not enjoying
prosperity, and we are glad that the
Minnesota farmers are prosperous.
But it should not escape attention
ifr zoI
out by the farmers in free and open
competition with all the world The
farmers are the great unprotected
producers. 1t is not such wonderful
thing that tin plate industry should
be built up in this country, after the
government gave tin plate makers
protective tariff which guaranteed
that the industry would pay from the
start. But the farmer had no such
guarantee. His products had to be
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 worldwide 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.
1.-THE products protected by the pooling
agreements rails, structural shapes,
plates and billets. Several weeks ago
plates were protected by an agreement
when the price was advanced to $25 per
ton. pooling arrangement was COM
pleted, at which every platemaker in the
country is a member. The orders or
their equivalents will be divided among
the firms in the business according to
their capacity. Prices were advanced 10
$27 per ton. billet pool was also or
ganized, of which every billet-making
concern in the country is member, and
minimum price of $40 per ton was made.
The price on billets had been $17.75 and SIS
previously. This only covers domestic sales
ard does not interfere with prices for ex-
port.
1.-The demand since election aided in the
manufacturers coming together. Circulars
will be prepared tomorrow by the steel
billet manufacturers announcing the new
price.
sit is expected the Bessemer Furnace as
sociation will meet again this week at
Cleveland to establish Bessemer pig iron
at $l4 per ton result of the advance in
billets. This will cause an advance on
sheet bars and all products into which
Bassemer billets enter.'
Is that fair to the farmer? The
steel manufacturers are protected to
the extent of seven or eight dol
lars on a ton. They can COM
bine and add that much to the sell
ing price which would rule with free
competition. Those who use steel
would pay trust prices, because even
then it is cheaper than to buy abroad
and pay the duty to get the product
into this country This tariff duty
enables them to charge exorbitant
prices, thereby making it cost the
farmer more for every implement
used in production; making the rail
roads pay more for rails over which
the products are carried, making
everyone using thing into which
steel enters pay tribute to the gen
tlemen who met in New York. Is it
any wonder they are prosperous? The
farmer struggles single-handed not
only against this handicap at home,
but against all the world. If he is
prosperous we are glad. He has only
himself to thank for it.-Utica OBJ
|