The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-12-03
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0 POLITICAL REFLECTIONS. PURELY POLITICAL.
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Guthrie, Okla, Dee lin an edl-
torial criticising Governor Haskell's
speech before a meeting Of farmers in
Guthrie last week, the State Capital
made the statement that farmers ares
now realizing the best prices ever paid
for farm products, and were buying
the necessities cheaper than ever be.
fore. The first statement is in a meas
ure correct, but the latter is the very
reverse of the truth.
The farmer is the victim Of high
protection, just the same as every
other consumer and this high pro-
lection has stilted prices far above
what would be normal on a competi-
tive basis As the products Of the
farmer are not effected by high pro
lection he is in no way beneficiary of
that system. His products are in ex.
cess of consumption. and are export
ed to supply the needs of consumers
! in foreign countries No amount of
tariff could raise or lower the price OF
his products. He takes his chances
\ in the competition of the world. but
fortunately for him, the United States
is the granary of the world and his
products are in demand Increasing
population of the United States in-
creases the demand for food products.
land demand raises prices This is a
simple law Of trade Take these con
ditionswith enough money in circula.
tion TO meet the necessities Of busi-
ness, the farmer viii always receive
good price for his product
Now for the other side. The manu-
facturers conditions are just the re-
verse Of the farmers Europe. owing
to it's dense population and lack Of
land. is made up of manufacturing
countries They want to trade manu-
faetured goods for farm products with
which to feed their millions. They
must have our farm products by trad
ing manufactured goods for them If
possible, but our food products they
must have
What are the conditions? The man
ufacturers Of the United States have
had congress establish high protec-
tive wall abo". this country SO that
the foreign manufactures cannot sell
his goods at reasonable, or for that
matter. any profit pay the duty. and
compete with our own manufacturers.
In fact. as years have gone BY and
the manufacturers have fattened on
this protection from outside oompeti-
tion, they have conceived the idea Of
combining ike interests and monopo-
lie the field al home That idea is
accomplished SO that today every ar
tiele of manufacture OF any eonse-
quence is controlled by a trust With
no competition from foreign manu-
facturers. and a monopoly on the bust.
ness at home. what incentive is there
to lower prices
If you could absolutely control the
price of your wheat. would you raise
or lower the price? Naturally you
would increase It. SO with the manu-
facturers.
The farmer can only look for trade
conditions for fixing the price Of his
products. The manufacturers by shut
ting out foreign competition and form
ing trusts. have monopolized the field
and fixed their own prices
II the farmer has realized 100 per
cent increase on the price of his
wheat, the manufacturer mas also IN
creased the price on his products, and
although more money passes through
the hands of the farmer. he is saving
precious little more now than In for
mer years Next week a number Of
government statistics taken from pub
llished government reports viii be
quoted to show that manufactured pro
ducts have increased in price out oi
proportion to the cost Of manufactur
Ing,