The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-12


many of our people were consuming
nothing but necessaries, and some Of
them scanty supply even of these.
Two years ago.. in speaking at Lo-
gansport, Ind, ! said: 7.
never be omitted in tariff. change is
the imperative need of preserving the
American standard Of living for the
American workingman. The tariff rate
must never fall below that which will
protect the American workingman by
allowing for the difference between the
general labor cost here and abroad, SO
as at least to equalize the conditions
arising from the difference in the stan
dard of labor here and abroad diff
ference which it should be our aim to
foster in SO far, as it represents the
needs of better educated, better paid,
better fed, and better clothed working
men of higher type than any to be
ards, and no matter what else is sought
for or accomplished by changes Of the
tariff, the American workingman must
be protected in his standard of wages,
that is, in his standard of living, and
must be secured the fullest opportunity
of employment Our laws should in no
evout afford ADVANTAGE. to foreign in
dust1ies over American industries They
should in no event do less than equalize
the difference in conditions at home and
abroad.''
Protection More Than Theory.
It is a matter Of regret that the pro-
| last forty odd years, has become part of
the very fiber of the country, is not now
| accepted as definitely established. Sure
| ly we have a right to say that it has
passed beyond the domain Of theory,
and a right to expect that note only its
original advocates, but those who at one
time, distrusted it on theoretic grounds,
should now acquiesce in the results that
have been proved over and over again
! by actual experience. These forty odd
years have been the most prosperous
years this nation has ever seen; more
| prosperous years than any other nation
prosperity could net have come if the
American people had not possessed the
necessary thrift, energy, and business
intelligence to turn their vast material
resources to account. But it is no less
true that it is our economic policy as
regards the tariff and finance which has
enabled us as a nation to make such
good use Of the individual capacities Of
our citizens, and the natural resources
Of our country. Every class of our peo-
pie is benefited by the protective tariff.
During the last few years the merchant
try grow faster than ever in our prev
ious history. The manufacturer could
not keep his factory running if it were
not for the protective tariff. The wage
worker would do well to remember that
if protection is robbery" and is to be
punished accordingly, he will be the
will be turned adrift entirely, or his
i wages will be cut down to the starva-
ton point. AS conclusively shown by
the bulletins; of the bureau Of labor, the
purchasing power of the average wage
received by the wageworker has grown
in spite of the continual shortening Of
working hours. The accumulated saw
ings of the Workingmen Of the country
as shown by the deposits in the savings
banks, have increased by leaps and
bounds. At no time in the history of
this or any other country has there been
an era SO productive of material benefit
alike to WOrkingman and employer, as
: during the seven years that have Just
passed. >.s9ss.
I - Farmer Benefited.
The farmer has benefited quite as
!. much as the manufacturer, the merchant
and the wage-werker. The most wei
, come and impressive fact established by
: the last census islthe wide and even dis
.. tribution of wealth. among. all classes
; Of our countrymen.sal The chief 4agencie:
by the census to be the development Of
manufacturers, and the application OF
new inventions to universal use. The re
suit has been an increasing interdepen
dence of agriculture and manufactures
, Agriculture is now, as it always hal
! been, the basis of civilization. The 81;
million farms of the United States
steadfast, single-minded and industri
Gus, form the basis of all the othe
; achievements of the American peopl,
! and are more fruitful than all thei
: other resources. The men on tlos'
Z 100000 farms receive from the pro
that is the best Of all possible markets
All other classes depend upon the farm
er, but the farmer in turn depends upol
L the market they furnish him for hi
3 produce. :. The annual output of gu
-: agricultural products. is nearly four bill
5 5 lions of dollars. Their increase in valu
I has been prodigious, altho agricultur
: and the main factor in this increase i
', the corresponding increase Of our man
D ufacturlng industries American farm
: ers have p1ospered because the growt]
l Of their market has kept pace with tn
: growth of their farms. The additions
$ market continually furnished for agrj
;, cultural products by domestic manu- n
: outlet to other lands. An, export trad
y. in farm products is necessary to dispos
3 of our surplus and the export trade o
u our farmers, both in animal product
= and in plant products, has very largel
Q increased. Without the enlarged HON
+ market to keep this surplus down, W
>. should have to reduce production or els
|, feed the world at less than the cost 0
u production. In the forty years endin
l, in 1900 the total value Of. farr
g property increased $12,500, coo, 900
. the. farmer gaining even more dul
. ing this period than the manufat
;, would have checked the marve
/ Gus development of our national ayr
e culture, but for the steadily increa'
g ing demand of American manufacturer
i for farm products required as raw mi
. terials for steadily expanding industrie
J. a.e Dependent on Manufacture.
i The farmer has become dependen
Z upon the manufacturer to utilize tina
J. portion Of his produce which does nc
> go directly to food supply. In 1900, S
/ per cent, or little over half, of til
Is total value of the farm products Of tn
e nation was consumed in manufacturin
4 industries as the raw materials Of til
q factories. Evidently the manufacture
!. is the farmers best and most diret
st customer. Moreover, the America
3 manufacturer purchases his farm sui
it plies almost exclusively in his own coul
t. try. Nine-tenths Of all the raw nj
re- terials of every kind and descriptio
N consumed in American manufactOrit