Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1914-01-31
PROVES ALIBI FOR TARIFF.

large majority of the Jurymen vot-
ing for acquittal But because of the
disagreement, the protective tariff
has been 1ynched, after offering clear
and indisputable evidence to prove
an abb There was never a strong
circumstantial case against the ac-
cused, and very soon after the lynch
ing in November, the prosecution be-
gan making cautious admission of
the plain fact that the crime was not
only continuing one, but growing in
enormity. Mr. Wilson did not wait
until his inauguration to issue warn
ing against building too great expecta
tons of reducing the cost of living
through reducing the tariff rates. Sen
ator Williams, of Mississippi, during
the tariff debate in the Senate, reach
ed higher emphasis in saying that re-
duction in living cost was not to be
looked for as a result of a reduction
in duties. But the most complete ex-
oneration of the protective tariff is
set out in the report of the Depart
ment of Agriculture under the Demo
cratic administration, prepared since
the protective tariff was buried.
This is a most interesting and withal
most encouraging and discouraging
report. 1t shows that, in spite of the
long drought of 1913, the increase in
acreage of crops and the high prices
prevailing make total value of $l0,-
0OO,000,000 in crops raised on 100000
farms. This is higher value than
was ever before reached. But in spite
of the fact, as officially ascertained
and set out, that there has been an
increase of II per cent in the number
of titled farms, the Department of
Agriculture again tells the anxious
ultimate consumer who has been
hoping much from free trade, that his
hope is delusive, and that it would
have been no less delusive if the
drought had not come. However
desirable increased production on
farms may seem to be from the con
sumer's standpoint says the official
statement, sit does not follow that
such increased production would re-
suit in any increase in the cash in
come per farm, or per capita of farm
population, or that prices by consum-
ers would be any lower" In expla-
nation of this remarkable confession,
when made by Democratic admin
istration which has just placed low
Tariff law in the statutes, it is said
that had the total production even
exceeded that of 1912 it Seems prob
able that the cash income per farm
might have been less" and that sit
is extremely doubtful whether the
cost to the consumer would have been
any less. The long line of dstrib-
uters and middemen between farmer
and consumer is in a position to take
advantage of the market and to a GER
tain extent control the market. This
condition is undoubtedly marketing
problem, which will have to be solved
by better organization of farmers and
improved methods of marketing"
This was the Republican argument
of last year 1t now becomes the
Democratic argument of this year. 1t
was part of the pleading made in de-
Tense of the protective tariff, and
part of the evidence offered for the
abb. 1t is not even now inspired by
a stricken conscience on the part of
the Democratic prosecutors of an in
nocent defendant The majority of
jurymen were convinced of that in
nocence, but because of division and
disagreement the unconvicted de
PENDANT fell victim to an enraged
and deluded crowd of ultimate con
sumers The crime is unredeered
by single compensating factor cir
cumstance. The same reports sets out
that although the ultimate consumer
may have to pay even more. the pro-
Queer may get even less, owing to
methods of distribution by combined
middlemen. and not at all owing to
the protective tariff which is no more.
This echo of Democratic administra-
ton of last years Republican cam
paign is raised not to vindicate the
wronged, but to forestall public wrath
growing out of public disappointment.
There is a fear of political reaction,
For though the PayneAldrich tariff
law is dead, the principle of tariff
protection is still very much alive
St. Louis Globe Democrat.