Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-02-09
oBJEcrL EssoN IN PROTECTION

Bloomfield News -Republican.--On
last Thursday there was sold in Bloom-
field 15S head of horses for the aggrc-
gate sum of S20,229.50. They We're
purchased by Hall and Doke from the
farmers of Davis county. The aver
age price paid for the entire lot is a
fraction over S12S.0S per head. We
have it as the Judgment of Major Doke
who saw all the horses, and is an eN-
perlenced horse man, that il the
same grade and age of horses had
been sold under the low tariff period
OF the Wilson and German bill, the av-
erage price would not have exceeded
$42.50 per head--and that would not
have been a very liberal estimate.
Truly this is an object lesson. In 9TH
er words the farmers of Davis county
are selling their horses at an average
OF S12S.03 per head under high protec-
tive laws. as against $42.50 per head
under low tariff or free trade. diff
ference OF SS6.53 per head. The ag-
gregate difference as shown by the
above figures in the one days pur-
chases is $13,513.74 in favor of the
farmers of Davis county. Under the
present Dingley tariff law, the tariff
barriers We're made high. and the re-
suit has beer an increase in the price
of horses, and in Davis county alone,
on last Thursday, our farmers carried
home with them, over thirteen thous-
and dollars in cold cash more than
they did under low tariffs of Mr..
Cleveland's administration. Suppose
now that we try a new craftsmanship
and open our markets for the horses
OF Canada or Mexico and flood the
United States with horses from other
lands, what would be the result :? Reci-
procity and free trade with Canada
and other nations is fascinating the
I,,t
means the opening of the richest and
best markets to foreigners who do
not pay taxes or support our institu-
tions, and care nothing about the con-
ditions of our laborers and farmers.
And the results would be as they all
ways have been, disastrous to the
farmers of this country. This propo-
sition to open our markets to for
egners in competitive products, which
means just what we raise and sell here
is wrong and means a hard future for
our laborers and farmers. Let our
statesmen look we'll to the interest of
| the toiling and producing masses OF
this country first. When our people
can sell their products at good prices
they prosper, when they sell at low
| prices reNerses follow. 1t is strange
| indeed, that after six years of pros
perity, there are found men of high
estate who will advocate policies thai
mean q flooding of our markets with
foreign products without any advan-
tages to our tax payers. The voice
| of the people should be heard in nj
uncertain tones, for! the preservation o
their own markets. This country has
been built UP without the aid or con-
sent of any other government, and II
will be maintained as against every
idle free trade dreamer in America
| Every period of national prosperity has
| produced statesmen who long for for
eign markets and foreign trade, and
the fallacies of their theories is eX-
emplified in the business depression
| and the general wreck of national
prosperity that has invariably follow
| ed in the wake of their victories. Pro
lection to American industries is the
rock upon which our prosperity
| rests.