Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-22
FACTS AND FIGURES

hepuNllCttll OIHtpIy IL was uSudA
to attribute every phase of
American prosperity to the benefcent
influence of fostering protective
tariff. Were there heavier crops than
usual? The tariff produced them. Did
the hens lay better than usual? The
tariff on eggs was the cause. Were
there more fish in the sea, more cattle
on the hills, more goats on the crags,
more deer in the forests. more sheep in
the meadows? The tariff did it. From
time to time the farmer became res
tive. He said he didn't see how the
tariff was of any earthly use to him.
He admitted that for manufacturers
it might be useful. 1t might exclude
competition and enable them to fix
prices for their goods which would
assure a handsome profit. But he
asked orators to tell hiA how the
tariff was beneficial to agricultural in
terests. He was assured it would keep
up the prices of his products. This
satisfied some OF the farmers-not
ALL and now all are dissatisfied, and
there is not much under the sun more
certain than the fact that the rural
population of theN United States will
not vote for Taft.
The farmer has found that the tariff
is a hardship. He must sell his prod
ucts in competition, but he must buy
in a protected market. Higher trans
portation rates are part of the price
the farmer must pay for the tariff.
The increased cost of railroad con-
struction, by reason of the tariff on
lumber, steel and iron, is estimated at
$4,000 per mile. This comes from the
pockets of the people in the form of
increased freight rates.
The rancher is taxed, taxed. taxed
from the cradle to the grave. He sells
his products in a free market, but buys
in highly protected market. And in
stead of being protected, instead of be-
ing fostered. the farming industry has
been hard hit and has suffered. Farm
ers may well be discontented. Under
the low tariff law of 1886, the census
reports show greater per cent of gains
of value of all farm products than dur
ing the last ten years.
In the production of corn from 1850
there was an increase of All per cent.
From 1880 to 1890, under a Republican
tariff, there was an increase of only
21 per cent. From 1850 to 1860, under
a Democratic tariff, railroad mileage
increased from 1882 miles to 30,626. an
increase of nearly 300 per cent. From
1890 to 1900, the increase was from
166,703 miles to 194,262, or about 161s
per cent.
From 1880 to 1890 the value of farm
property increased from $12,1S0,501, ,53S
to $16,OS2, ,267, $50, a little over 80 per
cent. From 1890 to 1900 the increase
was only a little over 20 per cent. Be
tween 1850 and 1860 the value of farm
animals increased over 100 per cent.
Between 1880 and 1890 the increase was
only 55 per cent. Between 1890 and
1900 there was decrease In value of
S19O.642.S 1894!
In the face of indisputable facts and
figures, talk about national prosper
ity' produced by the Republican tar
ln' becomes almost insulting to COM
mon sense. The country has had
great and memorable lesson and will
hereafter estimate at their true worth
the wildly absurd representations of
tariff claimants. Natural prosperity
and natural resources for a while car
ried the nation along in spite of trusts,
but there came a day when artificial
interference with markets shook the
entire economic system. The welfare
of the nation, to great extent, de-
pends on tariff reform and legislation
by which Democratic administration,
independent of trusts and influences,
will be enabled to restore conditions
which bring about the greatest good
for the greatest number.