The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-01

Inc only DUTY winch benefits him a
particle, consequently he is urged
department and to members of congress
against any movement to alter the pres
ent duty. g.
Before Mr.. Arson proceeds further in
his crusade and before the farmers re-
spond to his clarion blast and get busy
with congress and the treasury depart
ment it would be well for him and them
to understand just what the rnillers are
trying to do and just what rights they,
In common with every other American |
citizen, already have under existing tar
lift laws and treasury regulations -.
" NO one denies the existence Of a duty
on wheat Of rs cents a bushel.
NO efforts whatever are being made by
the millers or any one else to have this
duty either reduced or taken Off
The admission Of Canadian wheat, un-
der the present tariff and the existing
treasury regulations, could not possibly
affect the price of wheat in American
markets an eighth Of cent, for the very
simple reason that every pound Of flour
ground by the mills from Canadian wheat
would have to be exported, otherwise they
would have to pay the duty Of Is cents
which would, of course, make it impos-
sible to use it, .''~ -.~ 70 =
The entire milling industry of >. the
United States is not concerned in Cana
dian wheat; the mills in the east which
are planning to grind foreign wheat into
flour for export expect to buy from Ar
gentina or Russia.
Under the present laws, any miller, or
IN fact, any citizen Of this country, who
desires to import raw material and ex-
port the product made therefrom is en-
abled to do so under certain conditions.
lie must pay the prescribed duty on i'm
! porting the article, for which he will get
drawback when he proves to the salts
IactlOn OF the government that he has
actually exported the product made
| therefrom.' Or, he may bond his plant
under government inspection and super
vision, make the product from the i'm
ported raw material and export it with
out paying the duty.
The essence Of the transaction is that
the finished product shall not be retained
IN the United States. .
essentially, this is the law and, before
Mr. Anson and those who follow his adj
vice could accomplish, anything by their
! protests 1t would be necessary for them to
secure its repeal and the enactment of an
other without its drawback or bonding
privileges. ,.@m...
Should such a thing be attempted, it is
hardly possible that the bread-eaters in
the country, anxious for a cheap loaf.
would again submit to any protection
Whatever on food stuffs, and MIR. Anson
and his friends would probably find wheat
on the free list, as a reward for their agi-
tation of the matter. -
The millers are not trying to secure
either a reduction or a repeal of the duty
on wheat. To attempt this would be to
open the entire tariff question, and by the
t1meit was settled the necessity for grind
ling foreign wheat would probable be over
;Mlllers are quite willing that farmers
should have all the legitimate benefits to
which they a:e entitled under the present
! tariff. ~
They are merely endeavoring to secure
from the treasury department a plain def
I.n1tlon of their rights and privileges under
the laW-the rights and privileges com
mon to any and every. American citizen
who. desires to import the raw and ex-
Eport the manufactured product; the same
rights and privileges that every manufac-
Eturer has and which have long been prac-
tlcally applied in many other industries
This Is well within their rights as citi-
Ezens OF the country, and all the protests
in the world, unless they were directed tc
the repeal of the law itself, could not
prevent the treasury department from ex-
tending to one class Of manufacturers the
| privileges already given to another.
j Even so Intelligent a man as Senator
/! IIansbrough. who is reported by The
o a Washington CORRESPONDENT
as opposing Canadian bonded wheat
seems to be blissfully unaware that II
4 so doing he is denying to one class of citi
q zens rights which are already, and which
, have been for many years, enjoyed by
II other classes. He would deny to the mil
: 1ers the benefit Of regulations under which
other manufacturers are now doing an ex
:. port business. Further, he puts himsel
in opposition to the sacred tariff laws be-
fore which ne and his party burn can
dies of, alteration perpetually. ..- ~.
The tariff does much for those whom i
| protects, but it does not forbid an amer
lean citizen from buying and selling /,
!. foreign countries, nor does it attempt t,
protect the American farmer beyond tn,
limits Of the United States. That would
be asking rather too much, yet that is ex
4 actly, what Mr.. Arson insists that tn,
= treasury department shall do. s
Il y. Briefly. the situation is this: The presen
! inflated price OF American wheat has pu
an end to the export trade in flour The for
, eign hour-buyer will not pay the price de
! ndanded by the American wheat raiser
. He does not have to, because he can blu,
flour made from Canadian, Russian
: French, Australian, English and Argen
tina Wheats very much lower than tina
, made from American wheat, consequent,
y =, the once flourishing export flour trade o
the United States is as dead as Cesar
ghost. 1t is dead past all former belief
1
the exports of flour have fallen from NOR
than 100000 barrels to less than II, 1000,
900 barrels, representing a loss to tn
5 milling trade Of the country, and a los
to the nation as well, of not less than $50,
. 100000. The shrinkage for the month q
November was even larger in proportion
: The American farmer has a perfec
! right to demand a high price for hi
wheat and as long as the American bread
eater Is willing to pay it, or as long a
speculation keeps the price of wheat ur
and the tariff prevents the importation 6
cheaper foreign wheats he can get it,
The American miller can grind the high
: priced wheat as long as the America
S bread-eater is willing to pay for f1ou
n made from it, but when it comes to fore
e ing other countries to pay this price,
is beyond the power either Of farmer q
miller.
The American miller, therefore, sees hi
long cultivated. carefully -built-up expol
flour trade going to ruin, and as long a
: he can grind only American wheat h
8 cannot stay its decline.
it There is no export flour trade at pres
d ent and consequently the price of Amer
can wheat is maintained at its preser
high figure without 1t. IF the farmer ea
& poets the present price to continue, h
E bases his, expectation solely on the will
ingness and ability Of the American cor
It sumer to pay it. The world without hs
: cheaper wheats at its command, and
: using them, and will continue to do so.
:. Practically, the farmer says to his Of
customer over seas: 81 have not raise
III more tha Y, enough wheat thiS yaa Ysto foe