The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-30
OUR GERMAN TRADE

1t is no wonder that our merchants
and manufacturers should be alarm
ed at the prospect OF a trade war with
Germany. for our German trade is ex-
ceeded in volume only by our trade
with Great Britain. We have as yet
no detailed statements of the suppOs-
ed determinations against our pro-
ducts. 1t is known that there are OBJ
jections TO the German restrictions on
the importation of American cattle.
though it is insisted that these are
mere sanitary regulations and apply
to all cattle. no matter from what
country they come. The situation GER
tainly is curious. Here we are in this
country in the midst Of a passive revo-
luton against high meat prices. We
are told that these prices are due to
the diminishing supply OF cattle. And
yet We are trying to force our cattle
into foreign markets, thus still fur
Their depicting the home supply.
though the supply is-according to
the argument-so small as to make it
impossible for people to get meat at
prices which they are willing or able
to pay. And to crown it all, Mr. Viii
son, secretary Of agriculture says that
he will show that farm products are
sold more cheaply abroad than in this
country.
So it comes to this: We have to
pay enormous prices for meat. be-
cause there are not enough cattle TO
go round; We propose to engage in a
commercial war with Germany to
compel her to take our cattle, Of which
we have not enough to supply our
own needs at reasonable prices: we
impose a tariff duty on foreign cat
tie. thus still further limiting the sup
ply; and finally. the people Of other
countries get the benefit of prices on
farm products. benefits which We can
not get without a strike. We do not
wonder that the administration is hes
itatirg about making much of an eff
fort to open up markets for Az erican
food products at the present time, for
the only effect OF such action would
be still further to lessen the supply
available for home assumption. And
the packers themselves tell US that it
is too small as it is. Scarcity, the
packers tell us. is responsible for the
high prices. Yet the proposition is to
create still greater scarcity.
The situation is certainly complicat-
ed-more complicated since the enact.
ment of the Payne-Aldrich.Smott tar.
if, with its absurd maximum and
minimum feature. than ever before,
And il seems to be getting worse ev-
cry day. We have grown used to
paying higher prices for manufacture
ed products than those paid BY the
foreigner. But now We have TO pay
more for our own food and farm pro
ducts than the foreigner has 10 pay.
In word, We are protecting" every
one but ourselves We seek to slim
ulate the export of our cattle. and
forbid this at time when the people
are in revolt all over the land against
high prices Such is the operation
of the wonderful tariff law which was
supposed TO be the sum Of all wisdom.
In seeking TO make congress the dis
tributor of the blessings Of providence
we have got into such a tangle as to
be almost beyond the powers OF our
tariff board to straighten out Ger
many does not wish our cattle because
her agrarions think that they ought
to be allowed to get high prices for
their product We demand tina. our
cattle be admitted, although we have
noc-so il is claimed-enough To feed
our people at prices which they can