The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-11-02
PROTECTION TO
FARM PRODUCTS

Emergency tariH have caused a tenn
porary check in the complete destruc-
tion OF the farm interests"
"For the first time In forty years
farm products have received tariff
protection against the ruinous CON-
petition of European and Asiatic
products. With eight cents dozen
on eggs the unwholesome cheap eggs
OF China, which are SO largely used
by bakers. will keep the price OF
American fresh eggs at figure that
will pay cost OF production. Eight
cents pound on butter will prevent
the frequent glnt OF Danish butter
that comes In shiploads to cut down
the price OF American butter. Tt will
give some stability to the butter in
dustry In the Eastern states. 1t may
be noted that four Northern sena-
tors voted against this tariff bill and
three Southern senators voted for
1t. maryland Farmer.
Fortunate indeed for the country,
agriculturally as well as industrially.
was the passage of our recent tariff
bill. 1t is the first time In the histo-
ry OF tariff work that the agricul-
tural interests OF the country have
been adequately recognized.
In the same issne of the Farmer
\ ssyre is an interesting letter point.
ing out the disaster which has come
upon American farmers by reason OF
drastic defiatioD, and how heavy
have been the losses of Individual
farmers in trying to provide food
stuffs for the country. Details are
given showing the losses to farmers
even under the best conditions, and
the position Is taken that the farm
ers OF the country In order to save
themselves from further financial
losses should reduce their production
to the point where the market would
make sure a more protitlh rirr.. >
The point has often been made
that when manufacturers find a
heavy loss staring them In the face
they reduce their output, and they
would be regarded as business fall
ures II they kept piling up an output
for which they could find no present
or prospective market except at a
heavy loss. II they continued to
produce heavily under these condi-
tions they would soon find them.
selves in bankruptcy. The manufac
turers, therefore, seek to curtail their
production whenever there Ia not a
present nor prospective market at a
living price. though In some cases 1t
is wiser to keep plantrunning than
1t is to shut down completely.
The rule which is followed by man.
ufacturers can with equally good
ethics he followed by farmers. There
is no,reason why a farmer should
produce cotton or wheat or corn or
other products beyond his ability to
sell them at profit. He is not run.
ming his farm wholly from the View
point OF philanthropy In order to
furnish food to the consumer. He
can only run his farm wisely when
he runs 1t at profit. III he is annu.
ally piling up Indebtedness 1t would
be better for him either to reduce his
acres or to go into some other occu.
patton. We are not advocating this
policy except as a last resort In order
to bring to their senses the financial
interests OF the country and the con.
sumers OF farm products In the cities,
many OF whom have for years uh,
ceasingly sought to break down to
the lowest possible point all farm
products.
The theory on which some big n.
nancialinterests apparently control.
Jed the detation policy .of this Gov.
ernment, until President Harding re.
versei the conditions. was to break
down prices OF farm products as il
starting point on which to begin the
breakdown Of prices of labor, entire.
~ ignoring the fact that inrm pros.
per.ty and that II the Turning inter,
ests are gradually destroyed the
country Will ultimately go TO ruin.
Until the nation comes fully to re-
alize that farm prosperity Ia essen
tiai to the nations prosperity; until
city consumers cease to berat4 farm.
ers for trying to get living price
for their products; nntll the buyers
|of cotton, for instance, in this conn.
try and abroad, cease their century.
old efforts TO crush the life ont 81 the
cotton grower In order to buy cllpar
cotton, the farmers will be fully inst,
ified In following the example ol
manufacturers and reduce their out,
put to.the point where the markets
will take their stun st d living prics
The protective tarlif which ha,
been put into eiiect. by incrsAsing III,