The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-06-05
AMERICAN
MILLING
INDUSTRY
Hampered By Narrow
Minded Protection
Twenty-flYe-cent Tariff on
Every Bushel Exported
Immense Wheat Supply Of
The United States.

from which we quote as follows:
The business of making flour Is an
industry which deserves well of the
American people for various reasons;
one being It's self-reliance In asking
no favors in the way Of the protective
tariffs. It has prospered without de-
manding tribute in protection from
American citizens. It has asked no
special legislation, and 1t Is marked
above other large industries by to-
tai absence Of trusts or trust methods.
All millers, large and small are In
dependent. If large plant is unable
TO place it's surplus abroad, II is com
pelled to dispose of II in the domestic
markets. This dlsplaces an equal
amount of the smaller mills product,
and results In increased competition
and decreased profit. For this reason
the trade Is dependent upon foreign
markets for It's. prosperity; for al
though the export of -four is not equal
10 the home consump tlon, an obstruc-
ton to the foreign trade would turn
the surplus into domestic channels,
and result in overproduction or con
gestion which would be alike dlsas-
trous 10 all classes Of millers.
The American miller has far out.
stripped his competitors in all other
countries. His industry and enter
prise earned for him a market
abroad, where In spite of prejudice
and the keenest competition he has
conquered trade, and held II until
driven out by prohibitory tariffs
levoled I'm retaliation for similar
tariffs imposed by his own country.
His product today stands higher than
the -four OF any other country; and
given fair field, and no favor, he can
manage 10 distance all rivals.
Milling is one of the American in
dustrles which does not depend upon
protection, and which only asks that
II be given fighting chance in It's
contest for the favor Of the worlds
markets.
II is n very conservative estimate
TO say that, thanks to the activity of
her millers, the one state of Mime
apolis received In 1900 over $4,000,
900 of foreign gold which was paid
for her -four by Britain, the Neither
lands, Germany. Sweden, Norway
Denmark, Finland, and other coun
tries In Europe to which this product
was shipped
An this large and constantly In
creasng traffc, redoundlng TO The
benefit OF the grain growers, the op
eratlves, the railways, the banks, thu
machinery makers, and the people o
, the state generally. Is OF comparative
ly recent development, the result OF
, quarter OF century's enterprise AM
, industry.
, Not one dollar of II Is the result O
protective tariffs The milling indus
Z try OF the Northwest, as well as O
the United States as whole. has bee
a built up not by. but in spite Of on
country's protective policy.
SO far as the export -four trade
concerned, the policy of protectio
has worked 20 lts disadvantage. /
!. return for high tariffs on our pal
many markets have been closed
, aour
Narrow. minded protection has bui
= between the mill which needs tl
market a wall consisting OF an absuT
tarf OF twenty-five cents on ever
bushel of wheat that passes n
n boundary. This duty kills the trad
q and limits the milling deyelopmeI
70 OF Minnesota Il will ultimately cor
pei Minnesota To rellnQuish It's pla,
'o as a Hour producer divert the mare
'e OF progress to other and alien land
and make OF that which should be
10 benefaetlon a threatening and increN
v ing menace. This Is projections \
ward 10 the American miller for h
years OF acQulescence In high tar
policy. This Is the ultimate effect
protection ON an industry which
= not protected,
q The narrow-mlnded national polt
q which has restricted and shackl
D the millers In their efforts to build
y a foralgn trade is now being used
cut OF their supply OF raw materi
and to forbid an extension OF th,
y industry which would otherwise nj
urally follow.
= To obviate the danger which hrei
= ems American milling interests fro
the north. there Is but one eouri
The free admission OF raw mater
Is the sole remedy, Milling In bo
y under present regulations, Is impr'
= tlcahle. and almost impossible. MI
= ers who undertake Il win hnd Il /
y cumbersome and expensive to
q profitable. the margin ON -four AZ b.
q being but slight
y Free wheat would AZ glance SEE
= TO be tho advantage ol the Amerc
= wheat grower Il would seem h
q II Canadian wheat entered MlnneaI
ns markets freely, the Immediate
3 suit would be a decline In price. y
the obvious Is not always true a
fact is that should this surplus WIS