The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-08-20
WHAT THE FARMER HAS To
FACE.

j. Washington, Aug. 2O.-Callinp at
tentlon to our mounting imports of
1oodstuffs, the Republican Publicity
association, through its president.
Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., issues the
following statement from its Wash
ington headquarters:
"A statement in recent report of
the Department of Agriculture reads
as follows: There need be no alarm
as to the ability of the United States
to hold its own in foreign trade of
agricultural products. Even before
the great war the export of bread
stuffs increased each year. The pro-
gress of American agricultural pro-
duction during the war is an indica-
tion of what can be done in the fu-
ture if prices of agricultural products
are high enough to enable the Ameri-
can farmer to compete with other in
dustries for labor
"One portion of the above quota
tlon is bald falsehood, and the re-
mainder is governed by impossible
ifs The whole purpose of the state
fnent is to bolster up the Democratic
campaign and the platform Of that
party in its reaffirmance of the policy
OF free trade. Exports of breadstuffs
had been increasing yearly under the
Republican protective tariff, until by
the fiscal year 1913 they had reached
S211, 100000. The following fiscal
year, 1914, the Democratic tariff law
had been in operation nine months,
and exports of breadstuffs fell off
$4,000, 100000. During the same
period imports of breadstuffs in
creased S2O,OOO,OOO over 1918. The
Wilson-Underwood law had proven
discouraging to agriculture.
Naturally, after Europe went to
war there was an enormous demand
for American foods, and this de-
mand was still more enhanced by our
entry into the fracas. And this de-
mand for American foods prevailed
throughout 1919 mainly because Eu-
ropean tillers had not returned to
their fields. But the fiscal year 1920,
ended June 30th, last, tells another
tale. Exports of breadstuffs fell off
$146, 100000, compared with 1919;
meat and dairy products fell off
1896, 100000. On the other hand, i'm
ports of foodstuffs and food animals
formed nearly 29 per cent of our
$5,239 100000 worth of imports for
1920, or an absorption by this coun-
try of 81 $780, 100000 worth of food
stuffs. These are all official figures .
issued by the Department of Com
merce and apparently not credited by
the Department of Agriculture.
"At present about 88 per cent of
our manufactured foodstuff i'm
ports are on the free list. All would
be free were it not for the duties
placed by the Democratic party on
peanuts, rice, and other products of
the south. The truth is that the
American farmer is facing situation
which grows worse every month. The
demand abroad for his product is de-
creasing; foreign foods are pouring
in, thanks to the free list once more
indorsed by the Democratic platform;
and the Administrator cost plus
system succeeded in demoralizing
labor to an extent which makes it
almost impossible for the farmer to
secure help at any reasonable price.
He can not compete with other in
dustries for labor. The Republicans
have passed law authorizing asso-
citation of agricultural producers and
other methods calculated to cut cross
lots to the consumer and to save the
farmers from the harpies which prey
on their exertions, and the Republi-
cans believe in protecting farm pro-
ducts. The Democrats have passed
law which facilitates getting into
debt, but doesn't help the farmer
after he has borrowed the money.
Harding promises cooperation and
the abatement of arbitrary food con-
troll which robs the farmer of his just
profits and then turns arounds and
hooks the consumer. And we have
all got to get behind Harding if we
don't want to go hungry before long,"