Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-18

EFFORTS. 1t les more than likely that
President Wilson and the democratic
congress will take this matter up with
a different result from Mr.. Tafts eff
forts. and as Iowa, pre-em!nently an
agricultural state. Will again be stirred
| up over this question. the following
from a late issue Of the New York Sun
is we'll worth reading:
FREE FOODSTUFTS
An Examination Of the Possibilities Of
Canadian Competition.
Washington. March 2s.-The ways
and means committee has been very
close mouthed about Its plans for tariff
revision. but from sundry leaks" there
| Is good reason to believe that pur-
| pose exists to put on the free list many
and perhaps most of the articles that
form the bill Of fare in the great ma
tority Of American households. VIII
such proceeding materially reduce
the cost Of living. or will it ruin the
American farmer? Both views are ex-
pressed. A little sidelight is thrown
| on the issue by recent Canadian publ
cations.
Canada is the country from which
many believe would come food OF
toodstuffs a prices much below those
! now quoted ii domestic markets. The
, probable and possible volume Of that
food Is indicated in a recently pub
lished report from the American con-
sui in Sarnia, Canada:
Canadas greatest and most perma-
nent asoset is its vast agricultural
lands. and farm products are the chief
source Of wealth. The last decade has
been wonderful era of development
for Canada. Yet with hardly 5000, 900
people it is approaching the point
where, exclusive OF grain. imports Of
food products are rapidly exceeding
exports.
If these hardy 100000 people" can
not or do not produce a supply OF food
stuffS sufficient for their own needs II
seems reasonable 70 assume that their
export surplus is not and will not be
Dig enough TO cause any revolution in
production or prices on this side the
line. Dealing with particular articles,
It appears that in the ten months end
ed Jan. 81. 1913, Canada exported 12S,-
0le dozen eggs at an average value OF
- cents dozen. AS the United
States needs something like $1,000
100000 eggs year the Canadian sur
plus, II thrown entirely into this mar
ket, would last about one hour. 1t fur
Their appears that IN those ten months
Canada imported more than II, 900, 600
dozen eggs at price averaging
cents dozen below the price OF the
exported eggs.
OF butter We require more than L.
100000, 900 pounds year. Canada ex-
ported s36,l42 pounds of butter and
imported 5,l7l,405 pounds. Canada's
butter SURPLUS would supply the
American market for about thirty min
utes in the year.
In that time Canada imported nearly
$500. 600 worth Of beans and $4,000
worth Of peas and exported $3.50
worth OF the former and s14l,000 worth
Of the latter. The American pea and
bean crop appears TO be reasonably
safe as far as a Canadian inundation
IS concerned.
The American corn crop may also
! be regarded as safe from Canadian
competition inasmuch as Canadian i'm
ports OF corn from this country aver
| age nearly 10000, 900 bushels year.
The leading Canadian crops, meas
ured in values. are wheat. hay and
clover. oats. potatoes, turnips, barley
and fax in that order In the calendar
year 1912 the United States exported
1854, 500 bushels Of wheat at an aver
age price OF 96 cents a bushe,. In the
Ten months ended Jan. 81. 1913. Can
aad exported 1900. 900 bushels at an
average price OF 96.5 cents. 1t does not
appear that the CVanadian cereal is
cheap enough to put wheat raisers out
of business south Of the boundary
line. The United States produced last
year 100000 tons of hay; Canada
produced 100000 tons Of hay and
clover and required much the greater
part for domestic use. We raised
more than 1.40o, Opo,0 900 bushels of oats,
while Canada grew 3S2, 900, 5000 bushels
and fed nearly al OF it to Canadian
stock. We produced 225, 100000 bush
els Of barley and Canada had about
5000 900 bushels for expCt. Yet Amer
lean growers are fearful of a Canadian
barley food. We produced 42,OOo.Ooo
bushels OF potatoes and bought $780,
600 worth 70 exc out our supply Can
ada produced 100000 bushels and
ate most Of them.
SO, thru all the list. runs the story
Of the menace Of Canada's field crops.
To put these and other farm pro-
ducts on the free list vii doubtless call
for g high degree of political courage.
Will the majority party in the COM
ing session have enough courage 70 do
the job
Cut this out and keeps it to show
when your neighbor comes over 10 tel!
Won how free trade with Canada will
hurt the farming interests Of Iowa.