The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-07-29
RECIPROCITY REVIEWED

men in the cities enjoy luxuries
that the farmer could not, and
even now, can not, afford.
All of these people are beneh-
Charles of the prosperity which
| springs from the soil at the bid
! ding of the 5000, 900 men and wo-
men of the farms who have work
on and on uncomplainingly, aid
ing in building the magnificent in
dustries of this country, protect
ing the manufacturers against the
so-called unfair foreign competi-
ton, and the men who labored
from the pauper labor of the Old
| World.
Did it ever occur to you that the
city laboring man actually spends
less than one-sixth OF his wage for
the foodstuffs which come from
the farm?
And did you know that of the
workingmans dollar less than 40
cents goes to the farmers?
Such, my dear Senator, is the
i case, and you can verify the state
ment by a half hours visit to the
workingman's home in any city
and a journey Of 5 miles into the
adjoining country, where you can
learn just what the farmer re-
ceives and what the workingman
has to pay for the products of the
farm.
No less all authority than James
Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture,
said in his last report:
From the details that have been
presented with regard to the in
crease of the prices of farm pro-
ducts between farmer and con-
sumner, the conclusion is inevitable
that the consumer has no we'll
grounded complaint against the
farmer for the prices that he pays.
After consideration of the ele-
ments OF the matter it is plain that
the farmer is not getting an exor-
bitant price for his products and
that the cost OF distribution from
the time OF delivery at destination
by the railroad to delivery to the
consumer is the feature o: the
problem of high prices which
must present itself to the con-
sumner for treatment
And yet this same gentleman
now hasnoword of encouragement
for the farmer; no suggestion as
to how the problem may be solved.
He simply favors opening Ameri-
can markets to Canada and letting
the farmer care for himself and his
problems.
| will admit that for brief pew
lod during 1909 and 1919 prices
reached higher level and the
wise ones said that now consump-
ton had reached the normal pro
duction in the United States that
no more new land was available
and that we should never see low
prices on farm produce again. But
the industrious farmers, encour-
aged by better prices, soon solved
the problem, and the prices quot
ed on the markets OF the United
States today for all farm commo-
dlties have knocked the theory o.: |
the theorists into smithereens.
But it is now proposed, through |
the Canadian treaty, to invite the
farmers of Canada to participate
in the benefits of the American
market. Thus the farmers of the
United States are expected to CO.
operate with the farmers OF a for
elgn country, with farmers whose
interests are not Identical with
hose OF the farmers OF the United
states, with the people OF a for
IGN nation who have sworn alleg-
ance to foreign government. |
ell you, Mr.. Smith, those who are
solution of the prob
ems through such channels are
;oing to be disappointed, because
uch cooperation is absolutely
impossible.
A hundred million dollars worth
II farm produce was shipped from
he Dominion o.; Canada last year
o England; 100000 worth to
he United States.
If the treaty is ratified, the $780,
oo,ooo worth OF produce comes
his way if we have as good a
market, charges, of course, con-
idered.
A country larger than the J
United States, with its 100000
eople and room on its tillable land :
" millions more, will be invited
} participate in the American
larkets, and as the years increase
lie increased DrOduction will he