The Washington herald., 1910-01-28

Democratic members OF Congress, espe-
cially those who represent farming con
stituencies. possess little difference Of
opinion on the true inwardness Of the
high price of food They deem it the
logical outcome of the Republican policy
OF protection as typihed in the Payne
Aldrich tariff act.
The farmer they say, has been COM
PEELED to pay exorbitant prices for MS
tariff-protected clothes, his building ma
terials, his agricultural implements, his
cooking utensils-in fact, everything en-
tering into the problem of livelihood.
Charges PrOportiOnate Rate.
BY his purchases he has seen great
corporations enriched, and In order TO OBJ
tain money enough TO furnish his neces-
sites ne is charging a pTopOTtionate rate
for what he brings out of the ground.
The claim IS made that the cost OF food
is no higher than the cost OF a pillow, and
if the farmer is TO make both ends meet
he is forced to obtain more money for
what he sells in order that he may meet
the prices set for him by those from whom
he buys.
"A little clear thinking may do US
lot Of good and save Us a lot % expense
at this time" said Senator Smith. Of
South Carolina, in discussing the high
cost Of food yesterday
This impending investigation by a Re-
publican administration is On the high
cost OF what Wa eat. II is not an lnves-
tigatiOn on what we wear or with what
we shall build houses or furnish them,
nor the tools with which We till the
ground, but II IS an investigation OF
what goes in 20 make the so-called dinner
pail
THE truth is that the wheat grower,
the cotton grower. the cattle and poultry
raiser, the truck grower, all OF them
through the wonderfully perfected means
OF commandments rural free delivery
carrying periodicals and daily papers
have al last come 10 a realization OF
the burden they have been bearing and
the cruel discrimination against them that
has been practiced by the government
and by corporate and intrenched power.
Entitled TO Prices.
'They are getting more to-day for their
produce than ever before, and who shall
say that they are not entitled to It when
the prices Of all that they have 20 buy
has advanced so enormously? How are
they u meet the demands OF anything
like a decent life II they do not raise the
| price of what they have TO sell?'' asked
| the Senator.
1T is not that there IS less wheat, less
eggs. poultry. butter. or truck, continued
/ the Senator. but because there IS more
| brain and intelligence; a clearer under
/ standing OF the frightful discrimination
/ inequalities and in1ustices pTacticed upon
| him. The farmer IS simply demanding for
what he sells a price sufficient 70 justify
him In purchasing what the manufacturer
| has 10 SELL
TT IS being charged, and was charged
during the late tariff discussion. that the
middleman--the retail merchant-was the
sinner. The retail merchant OF to-day IS
but a tax collector, on a small commits
sion. for the tariT-prOteCted trusts and
combines OF this country. And II he does
/ buy comparatively cheap food supplies
/ from farmer and trucker and puts a com
paratlvelY large profit on them. ne is but
doing what IS openly and boastfully done
! by his more fortunate and government
| protected masters. Then, why should he
! OF the farmer be investigated?