Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-02-11

ttS piiNCs
'The temptation to destroy competi-
ton by combinations became so great.
however, that the party In its plat
form modified its policy and imposed
the limitation that the tariff should be
limited for the purpose of protection
to the difference between the cost
of production in this country and the
cost of production abroad with an al
lowance for reasonable profit to the
American producer.
"The principle OF protection thus
stated takes away the justification for
|any tariff whatever by way of pro-
lection. on articles imported from a
country where the conditions as to Ia
Dor and other circumstances are the
same as in ours and thus makes the
cost of production substantially the
same.
Canada is our neighbor on the
north for three thousand miles. Her
population is English, Scotch and
French. Her soil is like ours. Her
traditions are the same as ours. Her
language Is ours. The climate is
temperate like ours, except that her
growing season is shorter and she
cannot raise corn in any great guam
titles.
"She has a free popular government
with wage earning classes as intelli-
gent and as well paid as ours. 1t Is
difficult to see in what respect her
farmers have any advantage over our
own except virgin soil In the far
northwest"
He then took up the effect 1t would
have on corn and wheat prices on the
value of farm lands in this country
and on the milling industry in this
country.
| He declared that "in respect to corn
the American farmer is king and will
remain so, reciprocity or no reciproci-
| ty."
AS to wheat. he said the domestic
price is governed by the world price
| and that "the sending of any part OF
Canada's s surplus through our country,
instead of through Canada to be
milled or to be exported. without mill
| ing, will not perceptibly or material
ly affect the price of wheat for our
| farmers"
The value of farm lands, he said, is
affected by the proximity to market
more than by any other elements and
he maintained the American farmer
would still have the advantage In this
respect. He predicted a great increase
in American milling as result of the
lagreement.
"It Is mere truism," said the
president. "to say that the farmers OF
a country constitute the greatest
wealth producing class of the country
and that 1t is of the greatest import
ance to conserve their welfare. When
we have had good crops, the wheels
Of industry have moved and wealth
has been stored. Any one therefore.
who would initiate . policy TO injure
| the farmer has much to- answer for
at the bar of public opinion.
"The greatest reason for adopting
this agreement Is the fact that 1t is
going to unite two countries with kin
dred people in a commercial and soci-
al union to the great advantage OF
both. Such result does not need to
be justified by nice balancing OF
pecuniary profit to each.
! ats undoubted general benefit will
| indicate those who are responsible
for it. I say this in order that by
answering the arguments directed to
the detailed effect of the agreement
upon different classes Of persons, |
may not be thought to abandon the
broad ground upon which the oppor-
tunity to confirm this agreement
ought TO be seized"
| Taking up first the effect of the
agreement on corn, he said:
1.-THE total production OF corn In
the United States in 1910 was 3,125,-
$4,000 bushels, of which we exported
44.O72,2O9, and used the rest in do
nestle consumption. chiefly raising
cattle and hogs OF which live cattle
and packing house product of corn
was 1S,726,O00 bushels, or six-tenths
of one per cent Of the total production
of the United States. We exported
6,O0O,0 900 bushels to Canada.
| Certainly in respect to corn the
American farmer Is king and will re-
main so. reciprocity or no reciproci-
lty. Indeed, the change will greatly
lhelp him by increasing his supply
of young and thin cattle, now very
scarce. for feeding with his corn and
making good beef.
'But it is said that the farm land
of Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Iowa, Wis
consin and other states is much more
valuable than the land in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Assinaboine and Al
berta, the four great northwestern
provinces of Canada, and that to give
Canadian farmers free entry of prod
Iucts raised on cheaper lands will be
certain TO lower farm lands In value
lin this country.
Nothing could be further from the
fact. Canadian lands are farther re-
moved from the Minneapolis and Chi
Icago markets than the lands of Min
lnesota. Wisconsin, Iowa or Illinois and
nroximity to market is most import
ant element in the value OF farm
lands.
"Then the natural change In farm
ling in this country is from the rais-
ing of grain for export to the raising
of grain for farm consumption and
development of the secondary prod
lucts in the form of cattle and hogs'
The live cattle are bought and fatten-
ed. The hogs are raised and fed. II
is farming of this kind that explains
the high value of farm lands in HI