The Saint Paul globe., 1904-11-22
WE MUST HUNT A MARKET

people can begin once more to study
a clear mind and an open eye, 1t will
be well for US to consider once more
the first and greatest problem of the
republic, which is the question of it's
future market For the time being
this need is obscured by the temporary
abnormal rise in the price of grain.
Any market is good enough for us as
long as wheat is selling for $L10
bushel upward. This is but an Incl
dent, however, Of a bad crop year. a
great war and other conditions that
will pass. We must then drop back to
low prices for agricultural products
and the struggle for a market.
The development Of public opinion
in Great Britain enforces the moral
strongly. We may just as well pre-
pare ourselves for the almost inevita-
BILE adoption of MT. Chamberlain's pol
Icy. Shrewd advantage has been taken
by him, and by all the supporters OF
the conservative doctrine, of the pre-
vailing high price of wheat. The fear
that the cost Of the loaf to the Eng
lish workingman would be increased
was the main support of the opposi-
ton. Mr.. Chamberlain could secure
the adoption of a duty on imported
grain with a rebate in favor of that
produced in England's colonies at any
time were it not that the workingman
believes it would enhance his living ex-
penses. Those expenses have gone up
just the same. Flour costs more all
the world over, and the plausible ex-
planation is being beaten into the
British voters mind continually by
every conservative speaker and news
paper.
The London Times in an article re-
nation to save itself from American
mastery. "These Americans" it said,
twill no longer dig and delve for u.s."
The implication was that the United
States was deliberately cutting off
England's food supply and raising the
price. OF course even the galley boys
on the London Times know better than
this, but 1t is sharp political tactics
The English voter is told that it is the
United States that has made wheat
high and bread dear; that he could
have Jared no worse had duty been
placed upon imports; and that he must
look to such system, with special fa-
vor for its own countrymen in the col
onies, for relief. The Chamberlain pol
Icy is going to have a different recep-
tion next time 1t goes before the
people.
Meanwhile Great Britain is not idle
in making plans for new regime. The
great effort to take settlers into the
Canadian Northwest during the last
few years means that she is opening UP
new wheat territory there. The i'm
mense concessions made by the Do
minion government for the construc-
ton of another railway company to the
Pacific are part of the same far
sighted plan. Mr.. Chamberlain is pre-
pairing to show to the people of Great
Britain when the struggle comes that
the colonies are able and ready to fur
nish the imperial bread supply If ia
vorable terms are granted to them.
There has never been a more inteIli-
gent, minute and painstaking campaign
in England than the one now going
forward for Chamberlain's imperial
federation, with a tariff on breadstuffs
aimed against the United States.
What are we going to do about It?
Are our statesmen working with equal
iy clear vision and strong determine
ton for our own future? While Eng
land is preparing to satisfy her own
needs in case she legislates against us.
are we preparing market to take the
place Of that which we shall lose? But
one intelligent plan to that end has
been matured, and but one agency has
been at work to enlarge the demand
for the produce Of our farms. This is
the central idea Of the life work of
James ]. Hill. To him is due the ex-
ploitation of the Orient and the crea-
tion there Of a demand for American
Hour that may be expanded almost in
definitely il we have the sense to see
1t. To him must be credited the prepa-
ration of vast facilities for carrying
the grain and flour of the United States
to the hundreds OF millions of Gus
toners across the Pacific Thus far
his efforts have not met with that an
pfeeiation which they deserve, and in
many respects have been thwarted by
the very people whom they were des-
tined to save from ruin.
1t Is time now that we look the facts
At the situation in the face The great