Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-16
Down Go Waaes-and Farms?

Down Go Wages-and Farms!
In recent editorial the Marion qa)
Register demanded: Wage Garner,
which do you prefer? The American
protective tariff. or the British free
trade wage? A dollar. or so cents?
That's about the difference.
1t is only too true, as demonstrated
to the sorrow of this country under
the other Wilson bill, that a marked
reduction of the tariff means just as
marked a reduction of wages. 1t has
often been remarked-and it is true
that wages are always the last to
go UP and the first to come down."
And just as true is the statement
that no matter to what extent some
new tariff bill in operation, it IS GER
tain to cost the farmer dearly. How
can it be otherwise with agriculture
as the base of the prosperity of this
country?
81 suppose we will have to go through
about four years of FreeTrade mis-
cry" writes Mr.. T. c. Power, head of
a large house dealing in general mer-
chsndise at Helena Mont. Mr.. Power
AIDES:
Have Just made trip through the Al
berta country. taking in Lethbfldge,
Calgary and some other towns, " lille
there we had at our table butter from
New Zealand and eggs from CHINA
When the quartermaster's department
asked for bids for forage for the Phil
ippines, 5000 tons of oats, oats from
British Columbia. We're offered delivered
In Manila Bay cheaper than we could de-
liver at Seattle. Wool sold In that conn-
try last year at about II and Il cents for
the best, while we got from Is to Il cents
here.
And yet the Free-Trade advocates
of no Protection for the farmer con-
tinue to assert that a Tariff has never
been of the slightest benefit TO the
farmer As a matter of fact the farm
ers have already begun to pay the pen
atty of Free-Trade legislation. The
certainty of free wool has already
broken down sheep values. The Re-
There is a bit of dumb but eloquent
protest every day in the market column
against the woeful Democratic mlsman-
agement of national affairs. Watch the
sheep market as reported every day over
the Reflector Hera--. wire. There are ~
times as many sheep being rushed to
market as either hogs or cattle. and the
market is reported almost every day as
weak In other words, farmers are
rushing to sell their sheep; the markets
are being over-crowded. prices are fall
ing the supply is greater than the de.
mand. True, it is reducing the hlsh cost
of living as far as the price of mutton
and lamb chops Is concefned-mayDe II
is-but at what expense to the farmer?
Huron county farmers are paying close
to $2OO 600 in sheep value shrinkage. 1t Is
money being taken out of the farmers
pockets, and so far there has been no APP
preciable reduction in the cost OF meats
Mr.. Wilson'S Free Trade theories are
woefully wrong, and IL Is tough on the
American farmer to have to provide the
wrongness of it about every twenty
years Tariff tinkering always means
hard times.
No; there has been no perceptible
reduction in the cost of meat food, but
when American sheep focks shall have
gone to the butchers block because
there is no profit in wool growing, there
will come a big rise in meat prices.
| But the American farmer will get none
=. of the benefit of that rise He will no
F., longer have any sheep to sell.
| The Hutchinson Gkanl News says:
| THE Underwood law will place AM
erican wheat in strong competition with
| the wheat of the entire world. BY tax
| ing away it's present Protection and re-
curing ii to be sold alongside the free
wheat of other large producing areas
| the wheat farmer is certain to feel the
4 effect
1 And it is the same with live stock
+, If cattle are not protected by suffi-
! clent duty, as at present, there may
, be chance for the price of meat to
be lowered somewhat. but much OF
/, this lowered cost is certain to strike
| at the pocket of the farmer.
Farmers and live stock men who
=, depend on sheep raising are certain te
! feel the effect of a lowering of tn,
| wool Protective duty, and raw wool be-
f. ing placed on the free list, no matter
who may profit by reduced cost il
/, wool clothing.
THE large area of sugar beet farm
! ing is certain to feel the effect %
/ bringing this industry into competi
, ton with the entire world. Through the
, removal of the Tariff. And thus thi:
beet farmer who has made many sec
tons of value, will be injured, ant
/, probably put out of business.
/ Kansas is an agricultural state. Th'
/ great number of its people are farm
ers, and all of the others have to de
pend. little or much, on the prosperlt,
of the farm. The new Tariff law i
| certain not to be of benefit to tn
farmer, as producer at least, and no
! to any great extent as a consumer
i, the Things the Democrats hope to max
cheaper