Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1902-01-17
PROTECT THE FARMER


In considering the claims of the rival
interests that are seeking, one to have
the raw sugar duties modified or
abolished in favor of Cuba, the other to
retain them as they stand. Congress
ought 20 bear in mind the oft repeated
assertion Of the protectionists that they
wished TO guard the interests of farmers
equally with those of manufacturers.
Aside from the sugar duty this assertion
has, up TO the present time, been almost
wholly academic. Protection has been
practically altogether for the manufac-
turer. while the fermer has enjoyed It's
benefits TO such IA limited degree as to
be hardly affected at all except IN the
general effect that the prosperity OF the
manufacturing interests necessarily eX'
ercised upon the well being of the people
as whole. As for direct protection,
the agricultural Interests have had but
little of it. The sugar duty is one or
the few instances in our tariff OF direct
protection TO agricultural disputes since
the beet and cane sugar industries,
especiellv the former, are strictly agri.
cultural and the manufacturing part so
intimately and Immediately connected
with the agricultural, that 1T is lmpos-
sible to separate them. The benefit to
the former is bound to be benefit TO
the latter as we'll. The margin of profit
on sugar, as produced under American
conditions of living and labor is so small
that even slight reduction of the I'M
mort duty would be disastrous, both TO
the manufacturer and the farmer
The dominant party has the rare OPP
portunity, in the case OF the contest
over the sugar duty, TO prove that poiltl-
cal platforms are not buncombe, and
political pledges are not intended mere
lv as bait for the voters to be discarded
as soon as political success has been
achieved. If it should prove recreant to
the principles of protection IN this case,
il would be proof that while 1t may
wish TO protect the manufacturer, the
love il protests for the farmer is not
genuine.
The question goes far deeper than the
existence of the beet sugar industry IN
itself. Beet growing not only offers the
farmer. in most agricultural states
reliable well-paving crop, but incident
lv. as has been frequently pointed out
in detail in these columns means the
salvation of agriculture from the disas-
ter VIII oh is gradually overtaking II a.
our virgin soils are being exhausted and
intensive agriculture becomes Il neces-
sitv, while, at the same time, foreign
markets are beginning TO toe supplied
from other sources besides the Ameri-
eau farms. as other nations also develop
their productive resources. To destroy
or seriously hamper the beet sugar in
dustrv Of the United States means 10
deprive our farmers OF the most valuable
training 10 fit them 20 cope with the
new conditions which are gradually
making themselves felt. The beet sugar
industry was truly described by the late
Senator Stanford as the salvation of the
American farmer. a political party
whose main support is derived from the
farmers cannot consistently take such
action as would add greatly to the bur
dens of our farming population, both
actually and pospcctivelv, when this
part of our population already has great
or burdens to bear than ought to fall TO
the lot of any class in a prosperous
country. Beet sugar Gazette.