Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-29
INCREASED TARIFF TAX
Brazil Joins Germany and Rus
STA In Retaliating.
TRADE SLIPPING AWAY FROM Us

While Trust Prices Are Advancing.
ders Farmers and but
Succors Corporations.
That is rather a cool proposition for
the stand patters which Special Agent
Hutchinson states i'll his report upon
our loss Of trade With Brazil to tho de-
partment of commerce and labor-that
our manufacturers open factories in
Brazil and SO escape the heavy protec-
tive duties that Brazil places upon i'm
ports. He admits that the Brazilian
trade is slipping away from us, but Of
Gers no solution Of the problem except
that we should aim to supply the best
American machinery for the factories
Of that country. That would be a two
edged sword, for with our improved
machinery and the cheaper labor there
the BraZilians will soon be competitors
in other markets than their own and
so cut off from us other customers.
This Republican protective policy,
carried out to its logical conclusion,
will eventually close all markets to
US except in low tariff England.
| All high protective countries will soon
have to be practically content with
their home market, except the limited
amount of products that England can
purchase, and as all the other coun-
tries will be competing for the Eng
fish market prices will therefore be
low there. AS England manufactures
about everything she needs, the United
States or any other country can only
expect to sell there raw products for
her manufacturers and foodstuffs that
England does not raise enough Of.
This gradual closing down Of our ex-
port of the surplus agricultural prod
ucts will soon begin to be felt by the
American farmer, and in fact has al
ready begun, for, while some farm
products are declining in price, such
as beef, pork and wheat, the cost Of
manufactured products which are con-
trolled by the protected trusts is still
advancing. Nor is Brazil the only coun-
try that has raised a tariff wall to
match u own, but Germany and Rus
STA have so increased their tariff rates
on some articles as to be almost pro-
hibitive, and on March 1 this new law
went into effect.
It was expected when the rates in
the Dingley bill were purposely in
creased an extra 20 per cent that reel
procity treaties would be made with
foreign countries that would reduce the
rates on some articles on both sides
and thus induce exports and imports.
But the influence of the protected in
dustries proved too powerful in the
senate, which refused to ratify such
treaties. Fortunately for our producers
poor crops abroad and the Russian rev
olution have kept up the price Of cur
surplus agricultural products to a fair
level, but the price level has now fallen
again Oh cattle and wheat. and the flu
ture price depends on the surplus we
and other countries produce over and
above home requirements.
The demand for tariff revision has
met with no response from the con-
gress, controlled as it is by protected
and trust influences. Instead Of reduc-
ing the tariff, the only proposition
brought forward by the stand patters
is to increase the tariff % per cent on
imports from those countries that have
increased their tariff rates, such as
Germany, Russia and Brazil. SO retail
iation, instead of reciprocity, is tie last
resort of the Republican leaders if
they do anything, but their general
determination is to stand pat. But
trade cannot be won by fighting. for to
do business nations, like men, must be
friendly and in a kindly mood, but this
fact the Republican leaders seem de-
termined to ignore.
The question for farmers and other
voters to consider is whether the con-
tinued supremacy of the Republican
party and the alliance Of the EeDuh-
lican leaders with the trusts and pro
tected industries are more to their ad-
vantage than high trust prices and loss
Of foreign markets. AS long as the
prices of beef and pork and wheat and
NoAH WIZ " tAS W. ~ NiS ~
could afford to pay the tariff fostered
trusts high prices for their products OF
at all events high prices for farm prod
ucts matched high prices for trust pro
auctions. But if this Republican pol
icy Of protection fails to protect the
farmer he will, unless partisan praiu-
dice blinds his eyes, support q policy
that will give him larger and greater
markets for his surplus products and
the still greater advantage Of taking
from the trusts that protection that
fosters them in charging much higher
prices than a reasonable profit would
allow and restraining the trusts from
selling to foreigners cheaper than tC
our own people.
The Democratic policy Of reducing
the tariff to such reasonable rates as
will produce all necessary revenue fol
the government. with no special pro,
lection for trusts and combinations, is
the only sure and lasting remedy fol
trust high prices and the retaliation
that other countries have now deter
mined upon that threatens disaster to
our agricultural interests, which are
the chief basis of all our wealth.