The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-13

finished side. We have both got to
agree to that in order to get the bill
reported. and a compy Suise. in order
to get the bill repe necessarily
carries with an agre g. to stand
By the compromise. ~ II It
were understood that as h. 3 we
got the bill into the senate ~ 'dd
not vote for what 1 had agreed ~ =.
compromise, you would never%~
agreed to reduce your demand; wdl.
you? On the other hand, II you weh
to be at liberty to insist upon your
high rate as soon as the bill got into
the senate, 1 would not waste any time
trying to get together. A tariff bill
always is and necessarily must be
a compromise measure"
Supported Grain Tariff
Following out his justification of his
vote on the tariff bill, Senator Nc
Cumber then took up the duties on
wheat. barley and flax. He showed
in the following discussion why he
benefited the North Dakotans by ask
ing and securing duty of thirty per
cent on the various grades.
II asked and put through the SEN
ate an amendment fixing the duty on
wheat at thirty cents per bushel.
Those papers representing the milling
interest began TRADE af assault and
ridfcule. Those papers of our own
state whose prejudices are stronger
than their interest in the real well
fare of the state, with great glee re-
hashed the publications of those pa
pers which were and always have
been hostile to our interests.
."They declared the tariff on grain
was useless and nonsensical. They
either did not know what they were
talking about or did not care. That
ia protective tariff is essential to high
prices for our wheat in the very near.
future can be demonstrated with math-
ematical accuracy. Let us see. From
1880 to 1908 we increased our wheat
production about twenty-seven per
cent. During the same time we in
creased our population about seventy
five per cent or nearly three times
as rapidly. 1t takes six and one half
bushels of wheat per capita for bread
At the same rate Of increase, produc-
tion and consumption would be equal
lin few years. Thereafter consunp-
tion will be greater than production
and the price of grain will adcance
enormously unless we open up a
sluice way for all of the Canadian pro-
duct Of the northwest. But we have
already reached about the limit of
wheat production while the population
will still increase at accelerated
speed. Remember that we only in
creased our production of wheat twen-
ty-seven per cent when we had prac
tically all Of western Minnesota, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma.
western Kansas and Nebraska and
large sections of Texas and Washing
ton to put under the plow. With all
that vast tract to open UP we only in
creased our production twenty-seven
per cent. We now have no more )srth
and South Dakotas, Oklahomas, etc.
Where we open up one new acre of
wheat we will probably have to take
one and half acres of old for diver
sified farming. Iowa, once the banner
wheat state, has ceased to great .ex-
tent raising wheat and has gone into
corn and dairy farming. So we may
say that about 700,0OO,000 bushels will
be the approximate production for sew
eral years. With excellent crops it
may exceed this amount. And keep
in mind that our population will grow
right along. We raised this year about
700, ,G00.00 bushels. We shall need for
bushels. That leaves for export 50.-
100000 bushels. Our population in
creased about two and half millions
a year. At six and half bushels
per capita for bread, 1t will require
sixteen and one-fourth millions more
bushels to feed our population next
year than it required this year. Three
years will about absorb this sur
plus of $4,000, 900 bushels. In my ar
gument in the senate to be on the safe
side said that in less than eight
years we would not be exporting
wheat. Mr.. Hill says In less than five
years.
when that time arrives expect to
see wheat not 81 but at least $150
per bushel. have known when
wheat in this country was So per
bushel. History will repeat itself un-
less we by free trade in wheat shall
invite the product Of all western
Canada.
Now let us look on the other side,
the danger side Of this picture. In 1900
Canada raised east Of the Red river,
100000 bushels Of wheat. In 1908,
she raised in the same section 1885,
100000 bushels. an increase of $50
per cent in eight years. Travel over
this section from the Red river of the
North to Edmonton. south to Calgary.
east to Winnipeg, and you will find an
empire, every acre of which is cap
able of raising fine wheat crops. She
will soon be raising in that section
five or six hundred million bushels at
the present rate of increase
with 125. .0o0. 900 bushels production.
Now when our production IL less
than our consumption and wheat be-
comes king. Here is Canada's vast
surplus looking for its, nearest mar
ket. Where is that market? Right
here west Of the Mississippi over the
North Dakota line. Without q high
tariff wall it will pour over that line