The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-12-28
HOW PROTECTION FOOLS THE FARMER.
BY I. W. DAVENPORT, OF OREGON.

Many farmers, especially in the northern, eastern and western
states believe firmly in the protective system, which is the parent
support Oh monopoheS and their aggregate trusts; and they do so in
spite of the patent fact that only in this way can the prices Of
commodities they buy be unduly raised against them. On account
: OF the tarin protected trusts prices of all the trust goods have been
: advanced more than so per cent, and there is no avoidance, eycept
" knocking out the trust underpinning, the protective tariff, which
Ve especially victimized farmers regard as sacred. Can they never
learn that advance in the price of things they buy is the same in
enect as a decree by the trusts that wheat shall be, say. s5 cents
ou"ei' oa'S' . cents; potatoes, 10 cents; hops, 8 cents per pound;
am WOOL 9 cents per ponnd? If the farmers do not keep accounts,
/: Fate Keeps a ledger for them, with debit and credit columns. and
! te trusts have charge of the debit side. The often plucked farmer
IDS htie to do with either side. He must take what he can get
if MS productions in a free trade market, and suffer any trust
eStoruon imposed upon him. Need he express any surprise that nj
te Close Of his fiscal year he cannot make ends meet.
There is an easy and peaceful way out of the difficulties which
"SeV Is, nc IL is found by conforming to the Jefersonian maxim.
Exact justice to all, special privileges to none" let I'D practice
upon that seh-evfdent proposition by abolishing privileges in tho J
C"'eu States In the first place, as an experiment, and for the I
pleasure OF seeing how beautifully it works, let us vote only for J
emO o congress who will stand firmly for the repeal or all ;
'ArinS Int interfere with free competition or prevent us from !
receiving the full benefits of laborSaving machinery and processes |:
the ruitage Of progress to which all should have free ccess
ana then see how nicely the trusts would glide from their
ornamental percheS to become as one of us!
Besides, the purpose for which combinations and trusts ara
formed and tariffs laid, that of raising the price Of industrial !
prOductS, is at variance with the normal trend of buman ondooror
u uhlailng result OF spontaneous cooperation, where human
oemsS are unrestricted by partial laws, is to make everything cbean
Machinery is improved, processes simpifed, cooperation Of Iaboror
adjusted approximating more and more to perfection. and all in
accordance with the great fundamental and irrepealabIe law NJ o,
being, "that men always seek to CRAFTY their desires with b. 1oaa4
exertion. WV" U"e edSV
AND what does this mean to the human family f,rrsrs
NAM manufactures, operatives, professional men, wage men
ad ALL 1t is not meant that more of the things that human
beings need-the neceSSaneS, comforts and luyuries NJ lto 90
purchased with a days labor?
conforming to this normal tendency of human nature md
|@ns away all laws and regulations that interfere with if. is to
the wages of all those who are not drones in the great bnmo "
"' s""V humah
This is the only way to general prosperity.