The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-10-29
Free Trade and The Farmers.

free Lrd0e ana Inc Farmers.
For number of years we have had a
constant back-to- the-farm agitation.
The best efforts of the government
have been directed towards the i'm
proyements of agriculture, reclamation
of waste lands, and the development of
farming interests. In spite of these
highly effective efforts, and an enlight-
ened administration, the production of
farm products in the United States
previous to 1912, had barely kept growth
with the population. At the very time
the American farmer most needed to be
encouraged. and at the very time he
most needed the stimulus of a highly
developed home market. Democratic
legislators framing Democratic tariff
law, wiped out every vestige of pro-
lection enjoyed by the American farm
ers, put all his products on the free list,
and invited the whole world to compete
with him, and to take his market.
What have been the results?
Here are some figures taken from the
bulletins issued by the Agricultural
Department of the United States Coy
eminent:
In the months of October, November,
and December, 1912, and January 1913,
the total Importation of corn into the
United States was only 258, $40 bushels
valued at S139. 7G6.
One year later, under the operation
of the Underwood Simmons law. in the
same four months of 1918 ard 1914, the
importation of corn into the United
States amounted to 1904, I59 bushels,
of value Of $4,656, 2l3.
In other words, 81, 500, coo of Ameri-
can money went to pay for foreign corn,
and that much money was taken away
from the American farmers.
In the same months, namely October,
November and December, 1912, and
January 1913, before the operation Of
the Underwood Simmons law, We i'm
porte Sll, 704 worth Of oats. One year
later in the same months, under the
free trade provisions of the Democratic
tariff bill, we imported s., 628, 4O5 worth
Of oats. Again 5,6l5, 600 Of American
money spent to pay Tor foreign oats,
and taken away from the American
farmer.
In the same four months before the
operation of the free trade Democratic
law, we imported 1922, 800 worth Of
butter into the United States. One
year later, in the same months, We i'm
ported 81, 03l, 759 worth Of butter. Over
5000, coo taken from the American
farmers and used to buy foreign butter!
In the same four months Of 1912 and
1913, before the Democratic law became
effective, we imported $S4, Sal worth of
potatoes. One year later, under the
Underwood law, we imported in the
same months. Sits, $40 worth Of po-
tatoes. 81 400, 900 taken from the
American farmer and used to buy for
eign food products.
In the same four months, before the
operation Of the Underwood law. we
imported 50, 1853, 1872 worth Of cattle.
One year later, when all the farmers
protective tariff duties had been re-
moved, we imported SI2 278, 1856 worth
OF cattle. Nine million dollars sent
abroad to bug cattle. Nine million DOL
lars taken from the American farmer.
In the same four months. namely.
October, November and December, 1912
and January 1913, under the old tariff
law, we imported s. 36i 523 worth Of
bread stuffs, One year later, after the
protective duty that the American farm
er had enjoyed was removed, we i'm
ported SIS, 1886 worth Of bread stuffs,
Thirteen million dollars taken from the
American farmer ana sent abroad to
enrich MS Canadian and Argentine com
petitiors.
For the months Of October, Novem-
Der and DecemDer, 1912. and January,
1913, absolutely no eggs were imported
into the United States. In the same
months, one year later, when the pro-
tectiye duty on eggs had been removed,
we imported 2oI-, 159 worth Of eggs.
Over $4,000 month on eggs alone
taken from .h- American farmer and