The San Francisco call., 1904-09-12
EVERY CITIZEN is
BENEFITED BY THE
PROTECTIVE TARIFF

Beyond question this prosperity could not
have come IT, the American people had not
possessed the necessary thrift, energy ana
business intelligence to turn their vast material
resources to account But 1t is no less true
that it is our economic policy as regards the
tariff and finance which has enabled US as
nation to make such good use OF the indiVid-
ual capacities OF our citizens. and the natural
resources Of our country. Every class OF our
people is benefited by the protective tariff
During the last few years the merchant has
seen the export trade Of this country grow
faster than ever in our previous history. The
manufacturer could not keep his factory run
ming II 1t were not for the protective tariff
The wageworker would do well to remember
that if protection is robbery" and is TO be
pay the penalty; for either he will be turned
,adrtft entirely, or his wages will be cut down
TO the starvation point. As eonelusively shown
py the bulletins OF the Bureau OF Labor, the
purchasing power of the average wage re-
cetved by the wageworker has grown faster
than the cost of living, and this in spite of
The accumulated savings Of the workingmen
OF the country, as shown by the deposits in
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.
The farmer has benefited quite much
the manufacturer, the merchant and. the wage
worker. The most welcome and impressive
fact established by the last census is the
wide and even distribution Of wealth among
all classes OF our countrymen. The chief
agencies IN producing this distribution
shown by the census to be the development
of manufactures and the Application of new
inventions to universal use. The result has
been an increasing interdependence OF agri-
culture and manufactures. Agriculture is now,
as it always has been. the basis OF civiiza-
ton. The 5000, 600 farms of the United States,
single minded, and Industrious, form the
basis of all the other achievements OF the
american people and are more fruitful than
all their other resources. The men on those
5000 900 firms receive from the protective
tariff what they most need. and that is the
best OF all possible markets. All other classes
depend upon the farmer. but the farmer In
him for his produce The annual output of our
agricultural products is nearly four billions of
dollars Their increase in value has been
prodigious. although agriculture has Ian
guished in most other countries; and the main
factor in this increase is the corresponding
Increase of our manufacturing industries.
American farmers have prospered because the
growth Of their market has kept pace with
the growth of the farms The additional mar
products by domestic manufacturers has been
far in excess Of the outlet to other lands. An
export trade in farm products is necessary 10
dispose OF our surplus: and the export trade
OF our farmers, both in animal products and
in plant products, has very largely increased.
Without the enlarged home market to keep
this surnI1s down we should have to reduce
production or else feed the world at less
than the cost Of production. In the forty years
erty Increased twelve and half billions OF.
dollars; the farmer gaining even more during
this period than the manufacturer. Long ago
overproduction would have checked the mar
velous development Of our national agriculture
American manufacturers for farm products re-
quired raw materials for steadily expand
ing industries. The farmer has become depend
ent upon the manufacturer to utilize that
portion Of his produce which does not go di-
rectly to food supply. In 1900 81 per cent, or
a little over half, of the total value of the
o
in manufacturing Industries the
teriaIs OF the factories Evidently the manu-
customer. Moreover, the American manufac-
turer purchases his farm supplies almost ex-
all the raw materials OF every kind and de-
scIiptiCn consumed IN American manufac-
featuring establishments tend steadily TO mi
CRATE into the heart of the great agricultural
districts The center Of the manufacturing in
dustry in 1900 was near the middle Of Ohio.
and It Is moving westward at the rate of
about thirty miles in every decade; and this
movement is invariably accompanied by
marked increase In the value OF the farm
lands. Local causes, notably the competition
between new farm lands and old farm lands.
pening; but 1t is certain the operation
OF any economic law that In the country as
as the partnership between manufacturer and
farmer grows more intimate through further
advance Of industrial science. The American
manufacturer never could have placed this
nation al the head Of the manufacturing na-
tions Of the world If he had not had behind
him securing him every variety Of raw ma
terial the exhaustiess resources Of the Amsri-
can tarm developed by the skin and the en-
terprse OF intelligent and educated American
farmers On the other hand. the debt of the
farmers to the manufacturers is equally heavy.
and the future Of American agriculture is
factures The two Industries have become,
under the economic policy OF Government.
so closely interviewer, so mutually tnterde-
pendent, that neither can hope to maintain
itself 1T the high-water mark Of progress with
out the ether. Whatever makes to the ad-
vantage of one IL equally 10 the advantage of
the other.