Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-05
FREE TRADE POLICY CHARGED
WITH BRINGING DISEASE
FROM SOUTH AMERICA.
INFECTION BROUGHT HERE
IN SHIPMENT OF HIDES
James NJ. Pierce Explains Origin of
Epidemic and Places Responsibility
For Its mportation-Pierce Declares
Farmers Are Convinced Free Trade
Policy Is Unfair and Injurious.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. possibility
for the foot and mouth disease is
placed squarely or the democratic
consress which opened the door for
importation OF hides from South Amer
lea, by James NJ. Pierce, OF the Home
stead. In answer TO q query as TO the
origin OF the epidemic he says:
There is no doubt in my mind but
that the present epidemic of the foot
and mouth disease was caused by the
importation OF contaminated hides.
This is not merely an unfounded opin-
ion on my part; il is borne out by the
facts. l have the best OF authority for
stating that the foot and mouth dis
ease originated in South America
Further as TO responsibility for the
demand that the markets OF America
be opened TO the South Americans he
said:
las TO the part which Secretary
Houston and DR. Melvin chief of the
bureau OF animal industry. played IN
the Importation of meats from South
America, that also is a matter OF rec
ord. They are not to be blamed. how
ever, they were employed &c carry GU
certain policies. being simply hired
hands OF the nation. 1t was congress
which passed the bills putting meats
and hides on the free list; neither the
present secretary of agriculture nor MS
valued assistant are TO be blamed for
that. Nor must we overlook the fact
that hides were placed upon the free
list by the tariff law OF 1909, passed
by the republican party, opposed TO
Secretary Houston ard DR.. Melvin,
four years before the former came into
office.
Convinced Tariff Law Was Mistake
1T did not require the outbreak OF
the foot and mouth disease 10 convince
the farmer that a great mistake was
made when protection was removed
from agricultural products. l want
you to note, however. that no one po-
Ntical party is solely responsible for
this outrage on the farmer. I have
already called your attention 10 the
fact that hides were placed on the free
list before the democrats came into
power. But there are other things TO
/ be considered. ! wonder if YOU have
forgotten how President Taft at
tempted to foist one sided Cana dian
! reciprocity upon the farmers Of the
| United States: removing the protection
from that which the farmers raise. but
retaining II upon that which the farm
ers buy? I wonder if YOU recall that
! this reciprocity measure. which Presi-
! dent TAFT and his party chamoioned
Z so ardently, was so unfair as 10 throttle
1 the farmer, while II gave every possible
J a
barley absolutely free Of charge. hut
imposing tariff of 20 cents hundred
I pounds on barley malt, an irnportan.
recall that one % President Tafts high
appolntees, a man from the grain belt
VINO should have known farm condi-
( tons and farm wants and been true
II rhem in the hour Of need. declared
in al soiemnity that world vide tree
trade in agricultural products was IN
ey!-aDle; that II would De given the
United States some day, II NOT By one
/ political party than by the o-hsr, no:
alone with Canada. but with the whole
wide world? I wonder Il you recall
| that within twelve hours after rec!1ro-
city had been defea-ed-by the yote 6.
the Canadians themselves. ioyal 70 their
own countrg and opposed 70 annexation.
10 the United states-tae price o.
1aeac rose , cents IN chicago, e@nrs
IN A,nnea polls and cents in Duluth,
while 5a-ley rose 2 cents, showing ne
millions upon millions os dollars which
the g-ainDelt farmers would nave log,
aad this outrage been pe-TetTated On
tnsmE These are facts which ak
yol no. 70 overlook IN any attempt u
make political capital our % cte pres
snt situation.
| Where Law Is Unfair
am 4 a-vn ce5iever IL giving me
farmer the protection - which he IL
Justly ard rightly entitled, making I,
Impossible for -.ae DroG3grts ~ our s7gg
ari1 $3.50 PER ARE land u haYe - Sub
ms 70 competition WITH tF1e Droo1cts q
laIos which sal te- 4 mere so1g. w5cre
taoor is cheap Ind WHERE living condi
tions are ~ pDo- ~ 70 IT. il 10 nan
;1er COMPARABLE wi-i ol1rs- haze seen
-nen work IL South A1er.cA sor 81
cent? q ca ard S'or1en wor51sry soi
30 ce-sts 4 d&y. ] aave seen cattle ~
the tbopear6s IN parts II so79t.
l.Joertca) razs we're 81 t:ge Dest ~ e,n-
d.tson without having received z 5Ire
Of grain IRON c21foooc, t.le rsea wilt
grasses u tae warmer 1o,sio1s ~ toe
country making il w5loIlg grn eeessa ~
" feed grain ~ any Kind, s-sd laat
< selling ~ from - 70 40 per aese. PRO-
text or American farfI<rg rs t;zey DC.
serve 20 be protected agsSnet ra1s
cheap living IS mag he flUf1G lrs uasos
: foreign countries. EafeyuasS ~.
farmers and there gviil he neither ~sai4.
breaks Of the dread foo, and mort
!, oisease nor unfair competition via
!, the cheap As,oy Of other lands Igor.
!. the farmers welfare, s9bJect hin I,
!. unjust discrimination. ana the woe a.l>
misery ard went which VII srst.iiz r.;
: stalk thru this fair land u ours cogl,
hardly be ezag gerated"
I
nav vGe- AG1A, 49,,