Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-02-24

that the farmer, and in fact the
whole people, Owed infant indus
tries truggling for an existence
protection against the we'll
established industries Of the Old
WOrld-and gave it. Z.
"FOr the last forty years it
has been tacitly assumed, not
that the people owe infant in
dustrieS this sort of protection
but that they owe them a living
Il guarantee of success. This
assumption underlieS all at
temptS at reform that have been
made. The republican party at
Its last convention advocated a
tariff equal to the difference
In cost of production plus a rea-
sOnable profit. The presidents
tariff commission is acting on
precisely the same assumption.
Every proposition in congress
for a reform of the evils of the
tariff proceeds on the same
basis.
"NOw, is this true or falsef
Does the farmer, does the labor
er, owe the manufacturer a liv-
ing? At any rate, they have
consented to the advance of tar
lffS on manufactured products to
such an extent that the people
rebelled last November have
fOStered infant industries until
they reach a point where more
than half our exports are manu-
factured products sold in COM
petltive markets at a fraction of
the prices at which they are sold
at home. There being no further
advance possible in this direc-
ton, then on this theory it is
perfectly proper that we should
begin a. the other end, and by
wiping out every yeStige Of tar
iff ON natural prOducts-grain,
roots, lumber, live stOck-bl1ild
up these manufacturing interests
by giving them raw materials at
the lowest possible cost.
This is the direction in which
= vs. Hve bctp moving For ye&rS
We see it stated that about half
our imports are raw material for
manufacturers, and most of them
free. We give them rebates to
the extent of ninety-nine per
cent on raw material on which
thew pay duty; for example, wheat
mlled in transit for export; corn
shipped in from Argentina and
made into corn products for ex-
ports; tin shipped in from Wales
to be made into oil cans. '
"The step which the president
has taken is therefore a logical
one on the assumption that we
owe the manufacturer "A living.
The next logical step will be- the
admission Of cattle free from
Mexico; corn, wheat and catth
fere from Argentina. The senate
las passed a subsidy bill look
ing to this end. Senator Cum
ninS voted against it, but Sena-
tor Young was paired for it, and
this vote, or rather pair, was,
sufficient to carry the bill. BY
the time this is Accomplished the
trusts that control the great fac
tories can do what they please
with the farmers, who will stand
Inhitched and eat out of their
hands. They will then not fear
the wrath Of the granger as
. they do now. The fears of many
students Of political economy, that
the farms of America will be
owned by great landlords and
farmed by peasantry, will then
he in a fair way TO be realized.
which the farmer must now CON
sider is whether lie owes the
manufacturer, the transporter, or
the merchant, or anybody else
under the sun, a livings This
question settled, the rest will be
easy. He will then be in a. posi-
ton to say: Free hides, free
shoes; free wool, free .woOlens;
free coal and ore, then free steel,
woven wire and building material
Sass for the goose, sass for
; the gander.
"This proposition of free trade
{ with Canada, TO be followed by
free trade with Mexico and the
|. Argentine, is no surprise to us.
9 1t is the logical result of the tho
!. Ory upon which we have been
building tariffs, namely, that
: the farmer owes the manufae.
a turer a living. 1t has come soon
: er than we expected & on account
Q of the elections of last NOvem-
. Der"