Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-11
Farm Animals and the Tariff.


Have the farmers of Maine any
doubt that their welfare is vitality con-
nected with the maintenance OF the
protective tariff system which the Re
publican party has consistently aIvo-
Gated ever since it came into existence
over half a century ago? If so, let them
study a few figures which We have
here regarding the number and value
of the farm animals in the United
States in recent years. Let them note
the rapid decline of the number and
value of these animals during the peri
cd of Democratic rule and low tariff
from 1898 to 1897. Let them note the
great increase in the number and val
ue of farm animals in the country since
the agricultural interests of the ccun-
try have been enjoying the protection
of the Dingley tariff which has given
this interest, along with all other great
branches of American industry, tar
greater prosperity than it ever before
enjoyed.
! Take the horses of the country to be-
gin with In 1898 there We're 6.206,S O2
| N the United States, valued at $780,
| 225, 1885, After four years of Democratic
rule ard the operation of the DemoCra-
| tic tariff idea the number of horses in
| the country had decreased to Il, 661
and their value to $452 $40 1876. In 1908
there are 19,932,000 horses in the
country, valued at sl,S67 ,53O, 900.
| Take tie mich cows of the country.
| In 1895 there We're 16,424.0S7 and in
| 1891 they had decreased to 1o,9-l,127.
| The oxen and young cattle Of the
country decreased from 35,954136 to 30,
sos, i0S in the same period. In 1903 there
are q 1Gt 600 mich cows in the coun-
try and ;J.o7S,0 Goo oxen and other cattle.
the cows being valued at $65o.oo7 900
and the oxen and other cattle at $a45,
1913, 900
The sheep Of the country decreased
from 47,213, a53 valued at 1925 9,624 in
1898 to 36S1S.643 in 1897, valued at SOL
o2o, 942 This year there are 54,65l,090
sheep IN the country valued at SILL
1886, 0Ot.
The swine owned by the American
farmers decreased from 46,09tSO7 i'll
1893, valued at 1926, 426, 1872 to $40 GOO, 10
in 1897, valued at sl66 ,272, 700. This year
there are swine in the country to the
number Of 56,OS4, 900 valued at $780,.
100000.
The total value of these farm ami
mails of the country decreased from
s. 4S3 ,5O6,GS1 in 1893 to $1,655, 414,5l2 in
1887. In 1903 their value is 1881, 23o,-
600
These figures are all from the annual
reports of the United States Depart
nent of Agriculture and are absolute
ly official and reliable. The actual de-
crease in the number and value of all
kinds of farm animals between 1898
and 1897 is emphatic evidence of the
tloW which the farmers of this cOun
try receive by the enactment of the low
tariff law under Democratic admin
istration. The splendid increase in the
number and value of all kinds of farm
animals between 1897 and the present
time is an indication of the greater
prosperity which the American farmer
has enjoyed under the operation of the
Dingley tariff.
These are figures which are worth
careful study. Figures like these are
not dry things when they deal with a
matter that so vitality concerns our pco-
pie. They are a most eloquent argu
ment from the point of view of the
farmer for the continuance of the pro-
tective system to whose maintenance
the Republican party is pledged. Let
every Maine farmer remember next
Monday that a vote for Gardner will
&c a vote for Bryan whose record as Il
member of Congress and whose plat
form at the present time shows him to
be free trader. Even the Democratic
leader in Maine admits that Gardner
and Bryan stand for the same thing Let
| Names verdict for protection next
| Monday pc such that it's significance
cannot be mistaken throughout the
country.
The Two Parties.