New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-13
PROTECTION-FREE TRADE
Frances Experience Under Protec-
ton Hint to the Briton.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: w. ]. Harris. who is the doyen OF cu>
wheat importers. pointed out years ago In ths
columns of "The Times" that In France It was
high protective duties wheat which had Sc
cured cheap food for the French WORKING
classes Fifty years ago the father of French
protection. NJ. Theirs, said: THE soil Is thu
wet nurse for all the industries" But In the alb
sence OF official figures very few OF Us were
prepared to admit that high duty on wheat
was responsible for the cheapness OF beef and
pork. poultry, dairy produce and vegetables In
France Yet the returns in the new Blue
Book OF the Board OF Trade are almost a DEM
onstration that MIR. Harris's view Is correct.
The position disclosed in the Blue Book L.
most important. II it can be shown that h
France two shilling duty on wheat has made
food cheaper and OF better quality. then no
reason on earth can be adduced why the SANE
cause should not have the same effect In Great
Britain
Before referring to the Blue Book, let ms
state the argument OF the French protectioniss
The high duty wheat, NJ. A1eline would say,
keeps eighteen million acres Of wheat IN cuIti-
walton Gas compared with a million and a half
IN England). and gives France a harvest OF
nearly forty million quarters. a quarter OF
wheat per capita With eighteen million acres
OF wheat straw IN the farTnyards OF nearly avs
the cows that England has; and the vast amount
OF fertilizers that comes out OF our cowyards.
dumped" Cwhat a blessed dumpD upon the
poor. thin soil Of France. gives US such a vege-
table profusion that not only do people get
free fresh vegetables. and have still huge
plus to export to England. but they overflow
into our cattle yards and pigstfes. 10 give
very cheap beef and pork and dairy producta
Again the hen is busy with tie waste grain IN
the fields and around the wheat stacks OF
France. so that poultry and eggs within
reach OF all the working classes Thus tn this
most attractive agrarian cycle the cow. sacred
TO the Hindoo. is also In France the nursing
mother of five million fa1nnies-one-hah tho
population OF France. And that is why 10
Theirs the soil was "the wet nurse for every
Industry" But for the eighteen million acres OF
wheat the worker n every mil and factory
would discover that his wages would be shorn oe
a large part OF their purchasing power
Such IS the French theory OF protection for
agriculture II will be admitted by an those
who travel IN France with their eyes open that
appearances at least conform to this theory.
The diet of the working classes IN France seems
TO be more liberal and appetizing than with Us.
True. the French housewife Is the better cook.
but what market she has to draw onI
Now 10 the figures OF the Blue Book. Since
the tariff livestock, meat and wheat was
largely increased in 1892 and 1894 the price OK
wheat and meat in France has fallen consider
ably @. 22O. From index number III It has
fallen to index number 100 French prices
since the French high tariff have fallen much
faster than English prices: indeed. willis In
England they have risen, IN France they have
fallen