Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-29
More Facts on
Our Free Trade
FACTS AND FIGURES SHOW LOSS
TO IDAHO FARMERS
TARIFF NEEDED

The great northwest is beginning
to suffer from the blight of free
trade. Here are a few illustrations
of how 1t is effecting our principal
industries.
1t will be remembered that the
present free trade law became ef-
fective in 1913. By the summer of
1914 1t was in full operation and
panic conditions were beginning to
appear throughout the United States.
Then came the great war, during
which this country enjoyed the
highest protection which 1t is pos
sible to imaging. since 1t not only
had the enjoyment of It's own mar
kets but 1t had as we'll almost a
monopoly Of the principal markets
of the world.
BY the end OF June Of the present
year the worlds shipping had re-
,urned to something like its normal
condition and on July 1st the Gov
ernment withdrew its guarantee OF
minimum price for wheat. This
date may therefore be fairly regard
ed as the date of our return to free
trade conditions under the present
law. Here is what has happened
to some of Idaho's industries in
just three months Of free trade.
Idaho's wheat crop for 1920 Is es.
timated at 21,5OO,d00 bushels. Al
the June 18th price of $3.50 pei
bushel (Chicago) this crop OF wheat
would have brought S62,35O,O00. Al
the September 18th price of s2.34
per bushel (Chicago) this croI
brought but $5O,310,0O0, a los.
which may be attributed to fret
trade of $12,O40,00O
In 1919 the state produced 1900,
900 tons Of alfalfa hay which SOLE
for approximately $31,95O,000. Th'
value of this crop at the presen
price per ton (not more than 81,
would be but $10,500,000.
Within the last six months ther,
have been brought into the Unitet
States from New Zealand, Australi;
and the Argentine the carcasses o
approximately 100000 lambs, ag
gregating approximately 100000
pounds of frozen meat. When tn
first ship-load reached the Unite,
States the price of Idaho top lamb
dropped 1-2c a pound in a sing,
day. This drop has never been re
covered and will not be recoyera
so long as our stockmen are force
. to compete with the producers u
these countries.
Idaho hay cannot be fed to
frozen New Zealand lamb. The i'm
portation OF 50,000.O00 pounds G
: mutton in six months tends largel
to destroy the sheep industry Of tn
: western states. 1t means that shee
men can no longer pay Idaho farm
ers $40 to SIS per ton for thei
: hay. and still prosper, but wors
= than this it means that they cannc
. even continue to pay from IS to$
a ton for hay and survive.
Chicago quotations for Idaho to
lambs at different times during tn
e present year have been as follows:
January End .$18.5
June 18th .............. ITO
e September 17th ......... 1877
e II Idaho's lamb crop this year
0 taken at 100000 lambs. weighin
4 an average of IS pounds each, til
e value of this crop on the dates il
d dicated would have been as follows
y January End ...... s20,S12,5 so
June 18th -. .125. .0C
y September 18th 49,. 5,468,75
I. Loss due to free trade. $5,343,7t
= The price Of cattle on the Chicas
r market on June 18th was 1880 (,
+ medium steers. On September 1T
d the price was $12.00. a differen
& OF $500 in the price Of 100 |
e steers On the assumption that Id
e no produces this year 100, 900 stee
It for market the decrease in the val,
o thereof due to free trade conditio
n will be approximately $1.6O0,0O
h This may mean the difference b
n tween prosperity and bankruptcy.
VI And so the grain growers, a.
VI CONTINUED on last page)