Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-09-21


This Is notably true of cotton, wheat,
corn and some other articles. 1t is
true that as we approach the point
where domestic consumption takes our
whole product the tariff becomes a
larger and larger factor. Yet the pro-
ducers of the articles are sometimes
led to believe that tariff Is of some
mysterious benefit to them. while, in
fact. the cost of production is neces-
sarily enhanced by the fact that the
producer must under this tariff scheme
pay higher prices for his clothing.
household goods. implements. machin-
cry and other highly protected articles
of necessity. The fact was shown be-
fore the committee by farmers called
as witnesses from the northwest and
other sections that all these supplies.
together with wages Of labor. had ad-
vanced during the last ten years from
rs to so per cent. They were already
largely increased before these ten
years by the Dingley tariff. So that if
farmers had not been compelled to
pay these higher prices on articles
needed by them and their families
they could make a larger net profit on
their products even should they real
ize lower price.
IF the United States had to import
wheat and cotton to supply our popu-
lation undoubtedly tariff would ad-
vance the price on the domestic prod
uct and the farmer would realize high
er prices than if he were competing
with the world for his market.
1.-The wheat and corn farmer is pre-
scented with a free ticket to reserved
seat in the national protective tariff
theater, Of which he is assured that he
is a preferred stakeholder. He is in
vited there to witness the pluckfng of
the unprotected classes, the railroad
and street car employees. the doctors.
lawyers. painters, preachers, the car
penters. blacksmiths, bricklayers. the
merchants, clerks. BARRIERS and the
schoolteachers. He sees the tax laid
upon their clothing. blankets. house
hold goods. books, tools. machinery,
wagons, buggies. nails, shingles. lum-
Der. roofing and household furnishings.
and he must come out with the con-
viction that he should be on the stage
with the victims instead of occupying
a reserved seat among the beneficial
ries.''
The minority do not believe that
reduction Of the tariff would bring
about a reduction of the workman's
wages. They say:
1.-THE fear that wages would fall if
the tariff were removed and the fall
in prices would not be a clear gain to
the consumer is not warranted by the
experience of Great Britain. Great
Britain is free trade nation, and it is
the most prosperous nation in the
world except our own. Shoals of emf
grants from the tariff ridden nations
of France. Germany. Italy and Russia
go to England to work as laborers,
cooks, BARRIERS, walters, clerks. tailors.
musicians. etc, preferring the relative
ly high wages and low prices of the
free trade country. On the other
hand, Englishmen do not emigrate to
those countries because the standard
Of living is lower. The general testi-
mony is that the rate of wages for
bricklayers, nlasons, carpenters. plumb
ers. plasterers. painters. printers and
all mechanical trades is substantially
higher in Great Britain than in those
protectionist countries. while the prices
Of necessaries are lower, leaving the
Englishman Il wider margin to live
upon.
1T is about sixty years since Great
Britain adopted free trade, and during
that time. according to table pub
lished in Whitaker's Almanac, wages
have increased ST. per cent and prices
only 3 per cent. 1t is therefore we'll
seen that the abolition of the tariff in
England did not bring down the rate
Of wages. Neither would it in this
country. If we remove the obstruc-
ton. allowing prices to sink to their
natural level. the question of wages
may be trusted to take care of ITSELF"