River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-04-20

SClALS pei pOOAO. WHEEL 10 lICC
but -four, the manufactured product,
will have tariff of fifty cents per
barrel. Oats are free, but oatmeal
and rolled oats will have tariff of
fifty cents per hundred pounds.
Flax seed is free, bat linseed oil
made from flax seed will have a
tariff of fifteen cents per gallon. l
might go ON with long list of
articles where the product of the
farm is free but where the manu-
featured product which the farmer
must purchase has very high rate
of duty.
l voted against the bill In it's
present form and propose to do SO
again because it unjustly discrim-
mates against the American farmer
in favor of manufacturers, largely
combined trusts and monopolies.
Everything that the farmer sells
will be upon free trade basis.
Everything that the farmer buys
will be upon high protective basis.
For instance, as l have stated, the
tariff proposed upon flour is fifty
cents per barrel; the entire cost of
the manufacture of a barrel of flour
does not exceed twenty five cents
per barrel. Upon what theory have
we any right to impose tariff upon
-four of double the entire cost of
production?
The cost of production, however,
as shown by President Taft's own
Tariff Board is less in Canada than
in this country and it is breach of
faith to the farmers to deny them
the protection that we give to the
manufacturers. According to the
report of that Board just issued,
the average yield of spring wheat in
the United States in 1910 was III
per acre which sold at the average
farm price of SO SC per bushel. The
average yield in Canada was 1888
bushels per acre which sold at the
average farm price of 1880 per
buShel. That is to say, the Can
adam farmer raised 38 bushels
more per acre than our own farmer,
but received Is cents bushel less
for his wheat.
Of barley, the average yield in the
United States in 1910 was 22.4
bushels per acre, the average farm
price of which was 57.8 cents per
bushel. In Canada the yield was
"a 81 bushels per acre, the average
price of which was 47.4 cents per
bushel, or 1914 cents less than the
American price.
And SO, might go on through
the different agricultural products
showing that the average yield per
acre in Canada is higher than in
this country and that the price
there is less. If this agreement be-
comes a law the yield will continue
greater, but the price will reach a
common level; thereby giving the
Canadian farmer a tremendous ad
vantage over us.
Another interesting comparison
is the difference In the value of land
in Canada and In this country as
shown by the findings of the Tariff
Board. The Board gives the aver
age value of improved land in Wis
consin at $57 per acre; In Manitoba
$29 per acre. AS to the cost of
farm labor, the Board shows that
the rate varies from $24 to $28 per
month in Wisconsin, while in On
tario it is from $17 to $21 per
month.
The cost of living is less in Can
ada than in this country. The land
is cheaper, the yield is greater and
| it seems 20 me the rankest injustice
to open our markets to the Can
adian farmer under these condi-
tions, while our own farmers are
compelled to pay high tariff prices
upon everything they purchase.
The proposed agreement will not
reduce the cost of living in this
country. The people do not eat
cattle on the hoof, which are admit
ted free; they DO eat beef, which
will have a tariff of IL cents per
pound. The cost of beef to the con-
consumer will not be less. The
Beef Trust will be able to reduce
the price of cattle to the American
farmer by reason of its increased
supply, but there will be no reduc-
ton to the consumer, and the only
result will be to increase the profits
of the Beef Trust. What is true Of
beef is trae of practically every
other article of food.
am in favor of reducing our tar
iff. l shall be ready to vote at al
times to place a tariff upon every