The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-02-03

igan, no tariff law has ever been pro-
posed that strikes at their interests like
these Canadian reciprocity changes. 1t
is class legislation of the strongest type,
all against the very interest. farming,
that efforts have been made on every
hand to develop and advance.
1.-THE free list is made up almost en-
tirely of the products of the farm. The
tariff on the farmers grain, hay, pota'
toes, poultry, eggs, dairy products and
In fact practically everything he raises
is not reduced as it is on few of the
products of the factories, but absolute
free trade established on all, and moth
ing is given them in return. The farm
or will have to sell what he raises on a
free trade market and tariff would be
retained on all his purchases.
SAY PRICES WERE LOWER
cit is so unfair and un.American that
the fair. minded manufacturer or his
employees, who are still protected by
tariff duties, will see the injustice of it,
and should oppose its adoption as should
every one who is in any way interested
in the development and extension of
our farms. The so-called high price of
living was regulating itself, as was prov
en- by the prices quoted in the daily
papers on farm products the day before
the proposed changes were known.
Lower prices prevailed then, on pota-
toes, grain, butter, eggs. ETC., than the
average January prices for several
years back.
Potatoes are down to 25 and 80 cents
bushel in Car lots; creamery butter is
selling at the creamery for % to 20 cents
pound; fresh eggs are bringing the
farmers only 81 to % cents dozen; oats
are 80 to 81 cents hushel.
1T should be remembered that the
grain and live stock are the finished
product of the farmer, just as the ma
chine is the finished product of the
manufacturer, and the farmers have as
much right to protection as the man
who makes machinery or other goods.
1.-THE STEER AND CANNED BEEF"
IF it is fair to put the steer, the fin
ished product of the farmer, on the free
list, why isn't it fair to put the canned
beef, the finished product of the packer,
on the free list2 But the tariff is to be
taken off the steer and left on the
canned goods reduced trife, but not
enough to hurt any.
eff we were to go to absolute free
trade on everything you would find the
farmers ready to take theirs with the
rest, but what they don't like is to have
theirs free and others protected. If
Mr.. Taft had proposed to cut down the
tariff on farm products say half, or re-
duce it some it would not be 30 bad,
but to take it all off gives just reason
for objection. Congress should kill this
project 30 quickly that next time reci
procity law is proposed it won't estab-
lish free trade on products of one bust
ness or class, while retaining tariff
duties on all others"
When asked about the high price of
apples Mr.. Warner said: Apples are
high because Michigan orchards haven't
been taken care of-haven't been prop.
erly sprayed or given other needed at
tention. There are thousands of acres
of run down orchards in Michigan that
could yield good income and at the
same time give cheaper fruit if properly
looked after"
The former governor was on his way
to Columbus to attend the National
corn show. He appeared to be in the
best Of health and remarked that he
never felt BETTER" adding, II haven't
been in Lansing since I went out of
office and have no notion of going there |
Tor some time. I am looking strictly
after my creamery and cheese bust
ness"