The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-01-19
FOOD IMPORTS AND
TARIFF REVISION.

Washington, an. 7-lmpOrts
OF crude manufactured ioodstuf1s
for the first II months of the
current year totaIed S555 900 900
compared with S361 600, O,OOOdur
ing the last months operation
OF the Republican tariff law,
November. 1912 to September,
1913, al increase of over so per
cent. Here is a situation that
gives the American farmer but
little concern now because he is
banking the profits derived from
war prices. but how about later,
when peace is established? The
mere threat of peace sends the
price OF grain tumbling. actual
peace means a slump III the for
eign market for A merican food
stut1s. A the same time Argen
tine con and meats, Canadian
TODD products OF all kinds, Aus
tralIan mutton, Europeon cheese
and canned foods, Chinese Eggs,
etc, etc, will flow to this mar
ket III increasing volume. under
the present tariff la w, which puts
most products on the free list
Why! Because this is the great
est food consuming nation On
earth, and under free trade, here
is the best market tor the fruits
Of lie foreigners toll
But II we can feed the fighting
men Of Europe in time of war,
why can not our farmers feed the
toiling masses of America in time
ot peace, and why should not
oar farmers have first preference
III this benehcent work when tie
warts over? Two factors, grow
ing out OF the same cause. will
initiate against tins if that
cause.-the present tariff for-less
han-revenue-i permitted to con
tinue: First. the Wilson-ULder-
wood law invites unbridled COM
petition with foreign foodstuffs
Every thing with which the Amer
lcan farmer operates TODAY has
gone up III price, even the twine
with whicn he is bringing III his
sheaves, and the difficulty w hich
he experIt nces in securing labor
of any kind has led to the estab-
lIshment OF Government bureau
OF labor which, can do little to
mitigate the evil. Production
costs such AS our farmer has to
meet are unknown to his foreign
competitor. who has an abund-
anCe of labor at all times and at "A
wage ridiculous in our eyes. The
|
result must inevitably be that T..
with the termina tion of the war
American wharvee will be piled
high with foreign toodstuff, if
they can get III at present duty
rates. In addition to the so per
cent increase now coming in will
} be vast quantities of goods which
now find ready market in Eur.
npe where 1S,OOO.OOO men are
producing nothing and DESTROY
ing all that they can. A first
the American consumer may get
his foodstuffs cheaper. at least
until the American farmer has Gu t
down the area of his tillaye,
When he does that the foreigner's s
+ prices will 60 up, as they always
do.
Second, the present tariff policy
ID :" POW WV" poh with WiliSli u
. meet post war conditions will
!. reepect to competition III manu-.
factures. Armed with govern
!. ment subsidies, trade agreements
l tariffs. and the like, our trade
competitors will go at us savag-
ely when the war of sword anC
gun has given place to the wal
), of forge and loom. With manu-
t. factucing curtailed, labor will be
d idle and without the wage to
: buy the. farmers produce. AnC
a the prime consideration of ever,
II American farmer should be &