Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-08-31
THE FARMER AND THE TARIFF.

THE FARMER AND THE TARIFF.
The proposed demonstration in be-
half of the "insurgent" members of
congress in Minnesota does not seem
to meet with the enthusiastic favor
that was expected. There are a good
many democrats, naturally, who are
glad of an opportunity to make CAPT.
tai against the republican party. But
there are a good many republicans
who retain their beliefs in the pro-
tective tariff, and who discourage too
much laudation of republicans who
voted against the tariff bill that was
accepted by the president as step
in the right direction, and an open
ing of the door for further tariff re-
auctions, where consistent with the
business interests of the nation and
the greatest prosperity to the great
est number of people.
A correspondent of the Journal,
writing few days ago, expresses
this belief of great number Of con-
sistent republicans. The writer was
J. R. Morley, Of Owatonna, a form
er member of the legislature, who
said:
From a farmers standpoint, what
is the particular objection to the tar
if bill just passed by congress? We
notice that you, as we'll as the other
Twin City papers, make the assertion
that it has been a revision upward,
and not downward. Is it not a fact
that the duties on trust products
have been lowered, such as iron ore,
petroleum, lumber and coal, and en-
tirely taken from the hides? And
has not the tariff on farm products
been left practically the same as be-
fore, with the exception of potatoes?
Did the Minnesota delegation, seven
Republican, one Democratic congress-
man, and our two republican senators
want the duties on farm products
= lowered or entirely taken off?
You resent Tin a recent issue) the
SAdA IAdL 4AS OouAAdl oId4OS III
free trade, and the assumption would
be then that you are still for pro-
tective tariff. What is the object of
a protective tariff if not to raise the
price of the protected product or
articles manufactured, which of
course, must be paid by the consumer
of that product or manufactured,
article? We have watched the pap
ers closely for statement from them
or from our representatives, as to
just what they would have the tar
if, and on what articles they Or you
would have had greater reduction,
and 50 far have heard nothing spe-
cific
The proposition now is to banquet
the boiling republicans from Mime
sofa, because they voted against the
bill which maintained the protective
tariff on all farm products, which is
much to the advantage Of the farmer.
Are these seven republican congress
men and two senators going to go
before the people for reelection on
the platform of removing the duties
from agricultural products? We no
tice that they, one and all, are proud
OF the fact that they voted as they
did. We farmers would like to know
why.
1t was twice the privilege of the
writer, as a member Of the legislar
ture, to vote for Senator Clapp and
once for Senator Nelson, but did it
under the assumption that they were
republicans and stood for protective
tariff. The farmers of the United
States are not yet ready to come in
direct competition with the cheaper
labor of foreign countries. And it
is time that our representatives at
Washington knew it. The full text
OF the bill with comparison may be
too long to publish, but kindly give
us an ideasof how you would have it..
Our senators and representatives
should be- party leaders, and mem
bers of the republican party have a
i right to know where they stand. The
democratic party have advocated free
trade, or tariff for revenue only, ever
9 since the Civil war, and the republi-
can party has given us a policy Of
protection which has been very salts
factory, Judging from results. Now,
! if our republican leaders are going
over to democratic doctrines, the re-
publican party, with its doctrines of
4 protection, must have outlived its
usefulness, IN their judgment. s''@sL
Our delegation must be wrong, or
the president must be wrong. Where
are we going to be in the next cam
Il paign? Three years from now can
I our Minnesota delegation go on the
i platform and advocate the reelection
of President Taft, when they are
boasting now that the party pledges