Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-04

at 1885. 95g.T9&- In the year ISl4 "
imported S5.1ss barrels Of wheat nour
valued At s347,sT7, and In 1929 seefss
barrels valued at 81. es3. 100. while is
exported In the FIRST year 12.31s,z0s
barrels valued II So. ses. 4S4. and in
1870 I9.ss3.ss. barrels valued II S1z4s-
47s4ss In Isl3 IL imported $685.
COS worth Of corn and In 1879 Ss.zSs,-
3T7 worth. while it's exports In the
frst rear were valued at &2e.s1S.14s
and in 1870 at s2s.4s3.ssf. OF unmsn-
ufactured cotton in 1879 10 imported
approximately SEQ. co.. see pounds val
ued at s13s.743. ooe. while II exported
more than 3.I7s.0ee. 9ee pounds vosth
over 81. las eoe. Gee. OF preserved
milk in the same year IN tmDoEted
ss.33i.sie worth and exported $685.
rs, ESQ worth It's imports in the
sarue year OF sugar and wool Of course
greatly exceeded it's imports II 10
obvious that for the commodities, ex-
cept sugar and wool mentioned In the
measure. which make up the greater
part OF our agricultural international
trade, the imports can have little or no
effect on the prices OF the domestic
products This is strikingiy true OF
such commodities as wheat and corn
The imports of wheat have come main
" from Canada and Argentina and
have not competed with the domestic
crop. Rather they have suppiemented
il.
The domestic demand has been for
specific classes and qualities Of for
eign wheat to meet particular milling
and planting needs. They are small
fraction of our total production and
l of our wheat exports The price OF
wheat is a world price; and it is a
matter of little moment whether the
Canadian wheat goes directly into
the markets of the other countries of
the world or indirectly through this
country
THE relatively small quantity of
corn imported into this country has
a specialized use and does not come
into competition with the domestic
commodity.
The situat ton in which many OF
the farmers of the country find them
selves can not be remedied by a nea-
sure of this sort. This is doubtless
generally understood. There is no
short way out of existing conditions,
and measures of this sort can only
have the effect of deceiving the farm
|ers and of raising false hopes among
them. Actual relief can come only
from the adoption of constructive
measures of a broader scope, from the
restoration of peace everywhere in
4 10 h1a
industrial pursuits. the recovery par
ticularly of Europe. and the discov-
cry there of additional credit founda-
tons on the basis of which her peoule
may arrange to take from farmers
and other producers of this nation a
greater part of their surplus produc-
ton.
One does not pay compliment to
the American farmer who attempts
to alar mhim by dangers of foreign
competition. American farmers are
the ost effective agricultural produ-
GERS IN the world. Their production
Is several times as great for each
worker as that of their foreign ri
walls This grows out of the fnteIli-
gence of the American farmer. the ma
ture OF his agricultural practices and
economy and the fact that he has the
assistance of scientific and practical
agencies which in respect to variety
or activity, of personnel, and of f.
nancial support. exceed those of any
other two or three nations in the
world combined. There is little doubt
tnat the farmers of the nation will
not only continue mainly to suppIy
the home demand, but Will no in
cfeasingly called upon to supply a
large part OF the needs of the rest
of the world
what the farmer now needs ia
not only better system of domestic
marketing and credit, but especialIv
| larger foreign markets for his sur-
Plus products. Clearly, measures IF
this sort will not 'conduce to an ax-
pansion of the foreign market II ;s
iiot httie singular that a measure
"hlcn strikes a blow at our foreign
trade should follow so CLOSELY upon
the action of Congress directing tbe
resumption of certain activities of the
war FINANCE Corporation, especially
at the urgent insistence of represen.
tatiVes OF the farming interests who
believed that its RESUMPTION vo,,ld
improve foreign marketing. Indead
when one SURVEYS recent activities in
the foreign field, and measures en-
acted affecting the foreign trade
one can not fail to be impressed with
the fact that there is cons;stanc,,
only in their contradictions and in
consistencies. We have been yipor-
ousiy building up great merchant
marine and providing for improve
ment of marketing in foreign conn
tries by the passage of an export
trade law and of measures for the
promotion of banking agencies in
foreign countries. Now it appear RS
that we propose to render these
measures abortive in whole or in
part.
1 imagine there is little doubt that
while this measure is temporary It
Is intended as foundation for ac-
ton of similar nature Of very
general and permanent character It
would seem to be designed to pave
the way for such action. If there
ever was a time when America had
anything to fear from foreign compe-
tition, that time has passed. can
not believe that American producers
who in most respects are the most
effective in the world, can have any
dread of competition when they view