The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-06-10
Facts for Farmers

The argument that low duties give
foreign producers the advantage in our
domestic market, because of cheaper
labor has never been refuted. But
the effect Of the Democratic free trade
policy is rapidly developing a con
dition even more to be feared.
The Commerce Reports, and in
formation from other sources, go to
show that many Americans are finding
it profitable to invest capital in for
eign countries with a view to market
ing their product in the United States.
The erection of dried egg plants in
China is an example. The establish
mcnt of purchasing and shipping ag-
encies in Canada for cattle is another.
Agricultural implements, placed on
the free list by Democrats, in an at
tempt to fool the farmer, are being
manufactured in Canada with Amcri-
can capital and sent across the border.
The farmer is not getting his farm
machinery any cheaper. The Ameri-
can meat packers operating in Argen-
tina, arc finding good pickings in u
market, now that meat is on the free
list. Many other instances are at
hand.
So we learn that free trade not only
develops foreign competition but it
beckons for American capital to for
eign chimes which, under a protective
tariff would find ready investment at
home and give employment to Amerl-
can labor, which, in turn, would en-
nance the power of the American
workingman to purchase the products
of the farmer.
Consul A. B. Cooke, Petras, Greece,
speaking Of the Greek currant trade
with the United States, says that per
haps three-fourths of the currants
shipped to the United States arc of
the lowest five grades out of a total Of
IS grades of currants offered on the
local market" The lobby on currants
which was conducted around the Cap
itol at Washington when the Under
wood tariff law was being framed, did
not receive the censure of Democratic
legislative purists, during The so-called
lobby investigation, probably owing to
the fact that the importers of c%urrants
sought a lower duty, which was in
harmony with the views of the MAORI
ty of the tariff thinkers. The duty was
cut 25 per cent. The importation of
dried currants for July, 1914, the
month before the European war, am
ounted to 1,763,,216 pounds, compared
with 766,33s pounds in July 1913.
These low grade currants displaced
the American article to just that ex-
tent, and depressed the market price
of such domestic currants as were sold.
According to the report of Consul
General John G. Foster, Ottawa, Can
ada, our export trade with that u
try fell off $119, 900, 900 for the calan-
dar year 1914 as compared with 1913,
while there was an increase in imports
from Canada of about 5000, 900, max.
ing a total loss to this country by rea-
son of Canadian competition Of $127,-
100000. The following are some OF
the articles given in the consul gen.
erals tabuiation, showing imports
from Canada into the United States
Canadian valuations:
Article, 1913 1914
Animals, (cattle, etc)
$~7,574,7l3 s13,104 1854
Leather G. manufacturers of
500, 9S6 3,753, ,4O1
Milk and Cream,
LAOS, 68l 2,893,09(
Provisions 1853, 287 6,543,454
Wood manufactured
4,599,ST 7,217,S1(
These articles went on the free 1is'
or the duties were materially reduced
by the Underwood law which went in
to effect October 3, 1913.
The report shows that, with the as
sistance of a Democratic tariff Law
Canada is able to raise large levie'
of troops to send to Europe, as wei
as food supplies to the allies, an
still increase appreciably her export
to the United States to compete wit
our own products.