The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-07-30
OWOSSO TINES
The Farmer and the Tariff.

The Farmor and the ] arm.
If the American farmer has a fame
for figures he can find some interesting
facts set forth in statistics contained il
pamphlet just issued by the Depart
ment of Commerce, under the title
"Trade of the United States With Othe
American Countries, 1913-l914 On
fortunately, the statistics deal with ,
fiscal year, and not with period fixe'
by changes in economic policies. Tn
figures 'regarding imports deal with tn
year ending with June 80, in each in
stance, whereas the new tariff law
which exerts so large an influence upol
imports. went into effect early in Octo
Der, 1913.
1t is therefore apparent that the sta
tistics for 1918 include full twelve
months under Republican tariff, while
the figures for 1914 cover three months
of Republican tariff and nine months
of Democratic rates on imports. AS
the European war did not break out
until August, 1914. the commercial
transactions covered by this bulletin
were entirely free from any war infiu
ence. A few illustrations of changes in
imports of farm products will be illu'
minative.
In 1918 Canadian farmers sold to buy.
ers in the United States cattle, horses,
sheep, ETC., to the value of little more
than $l,50O,00O, but in 1914 they cut
into the market of the American farmer
to the extent of $1l 100000 That gain
Of 80, SOC. 900 was enough to make quite
jingle in the pocket Of the Canadian
stock grower.
In t19l3, Canadian farmers sold in
American markets only 81, 75o, 900 worth
of grain and -four, but in 1914 they
were able to ship in enough of the same
commodities to take away $12, 440 600 of
good American money. That is SO, $780,.
900 I'd the gain Of the Canadian. Leath-
or added another 81, 100000 to the net
gain of the Canadian producer. Wool
imports from Canada gained 81, 100, 600
in 1914, as compared with 1918.
Those four classes of commodities,
livestock, grain, hides and wool, con.
shutting the foundation of agriculture,
yielded the Canadian producer gain
of over $22, 900, 900 in American mar.
kets under Democratic. as compared
with Republican, tariff laws
But it was not Canadian farmers
alone that profted by the reduction or
removal of tariff duties on farm prod.
ucts, Mexican stockmen increased their
sales in the United States about s., $780,
600. Argentine farmers augmented
their incomes to the extent of 81, 600, 600
by sales of grain; nearly 5000, 00O by
sales of meat and dairy products and
~, 00O, 900 by sales of wool.
Agricultural producers in these and
other countries we're aided in selling
other products in American markets,
but the items mentioned give the larger
amounts OF increased sales and serve to
illustrate the manner in which reduced
tariffs on agricultural imports throw
the American farmer into competition
with farmers of other nations. The
war in Europe served to give those
other countries a more profitable mar.
ket than the United States, but the in
crease of $42, 500, 900 in agricultural i'm.
ports from three nations in a period of
nine months of the new tariff indicates
what still greater injury would have
been, suffered by American producers
had not theI war interviewed.
How does the American farmer like
it2-Grand Rapids Herald.
Mrs. Benjamin Robbins was hostess
to party of children Monday, at her
home on West Main street, TO celebrate
the tenth birthday Of Master Ben Rob-
bins.
Mrs. A. M. Bentley and Mr.. and Mrs.
Z. p. Bentley will leave Monday for a
six weeks western trip including visit