The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-06-02

ucts. We believe this to be wholly a
delusion, and that the removal Of
the duties on these products will not
reduce in any material degree tte
prices paid for them by the consumer
of the cities Take for example milk.
1 The duty on Canadian milk is now 2
cents per gallon. 1t has been shown
by investigations conducted by the
u. s. Department of Agriculture,that
on the average the farmer in this
country gets for his milk so per cent.
of the price paid by the consumer, the
difference being absorbed by the mid
dleman, railway company, and re-
taller. Suppose the duty of cents p
gallon on Canadian milk is abolished?
Does any one believe that the peo-
pie of the cities will get their milk
cents per gallon less than the pres
emit price?
What is true of milk is true of-prac
tically all other farm products. 1
am told by State Master Cooley of the
New York State Grange that in his
section of the state potatoes are now
selling at 80 cents per barrel or less.
In New York City potatoes are selling
at from 80 cents to s1.O0 per bushel
at retail It is absurd to claim that
this great difference is in any way
due to the tariff.
After having proved to their own
satisfaction that reciprocity will re-
duce the cost of living, the advoca-
ties of this proposition, particularly
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and
Mr.. James ]. Hill turn around and as
sert that it will not in anyw ay de-
crease the profits of our farmers. I'm
fortunately for these distinguished
gentlemen, the facts are against them
The mere introduction of this bill has
already forced down the price of
wheat six or seven cents per bushsl,
owing to the existence in Canada of
immense stocks of wheat, which, If
CutS Dlil no oudOVcu, Ndli NC iuohcu
into this country. 1t is useless to
tell us that reciprocity will not re-
duce the price of what, when the
mere introduction of this bll has
already had this effect.
And here let me point out that the
price of wheat has fallen 80 cents per
bushel since year ago. Has the-1
price of bread to the consumers OF
our cities fallen rs per cent? You
know that it has not, and if as the
result of reciprocity the price Of
Wheat is forced still, lower, it will
not benefit the consumer, for flour
is still taxed SO cents per barrel.
1t is impossible in the brief time
allotted me to go into details show
ing how the farmers will be injured
by the provisions of this bill, but /
will take as an illustration the man
ufacture of cheese. In the State OF
New York this is most important
branch of agriculture, the total pro
duction being about 125,O00,O00 pounds
with the tariff of cents per pouEd
our dairymen are just able to make a
living profit, and most of them have |
only existed because they have been
taking more and more each year from |
the fertility of their soil. The Canadian
cheese producer has cheaper land,
sheaper labor, cheapers upplies, cheap |
Ell machinery, cheaper feed for cows,
and a richer soil. The Province
Of Ontario, just across from New 70 k
exported in 1909, 10000, 900 pounds OF
cheese. How could our cheese makers
compete with those of Ontario, when
the later havet so clear an advantage
in the cost of production?
But we are told that while it is
true that this bill deprives the far
mer of the very moderate protection,
averaging less than 20 per cent, now
given him by our tariff laws, he re-
ceives compensation in the form OF
reductions of duties on manufactured
articles. This is not true. The re--
auctions made by this bill will not
in the least decrease the ccst of the
the farmer buys, since
Canada is not to any extent manu-
featuring country. Thus we have the
Hon. Secretary of Agriculture stating
that free barbed wire fencing will
be boon to our farmers" AS a
matter of fact this provision will
not benefit one farmer to the amount
of one cent. We exported to Canada
last year 100000 pounds OF wire,
and imported practically none. The
OF this duty is fraud, pure
and simple. intended to fool the far
mers.
If this was an honest reciprocity
measure, intended to encourage trade
with countries which admit our pro-
ducta on favorable harms il WOuld