The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-09
7 TARIFF BLAMED
FORFARMERS'
TROUBLES
Democrats Plan Fight for Re-
vision Downward in Com
ing Congress.

All indications point to a bitter
tGriU fight IN the merit Congress,
based chiefly on the current farm
depression. This is the first of a
series of three articles dealing with
the subject. 1t presents the DEM
ocrotic ViesVpOint, aOhile others aOiU
reveGI the Republican and "fdrm
bloc" attitudes.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.
International News Service.
An alliance Of Democrats and pro-
gressive Republicans may result in
a complete revision of the Fordney-
McCumber tariff bill by the next
Congress in favor of the American
farmer, it was learned today.
Charging the present "high tariff
wall" was primarily responsible for
current farm depression, Democratic
leaders were reported to be lining
up with Republicans in the so-caled
La Toilette group" to force a re-
sumption Of the tariff war as soon
as Congress reconvenes. The move
ment gained Roadway when Presi-
dent Coolidge himself ordered the
United States Tariff Commissioned
launch an investigation of rates on
farm products to determine whether
farmers were being Disseminated
Los
Fletcher is Spokesman.
The Democratic viewpoint was
revealed by Senator Duncan u.
Fletcher, Democrat, Of Florida, q
leader Of the opposition to enact
ment Of the present law. Fletcher
charged the McCumber Act had de-
stroyed foreign markets for the
American farmer, while forcing him
to pay war peak prices" for every
thing he purchased in home mar
kets.
1.-THE trouble with agriculture is
caused primarily by the high tariff
WALL" said Fletcher. THE farmer
asks only fair and just treatment
but he is not accorded 1t under
the present tariff law. The della
ton policy persisted in by those in
command OF credits and finance had
caused shrinkage in value of
farm property which amounted to
50, 000, 900 900 last year.
ION top of this, the purchasing
power of the farmers products de-
creased nearly one-third and the
cost of production in labor and
remained the same. Then
the tariff act was passed which
ruined all foreign markets for
American farm supplies and the.
farmer faces a situation wherein
the more he produces, the greater
is his financial loss.
Cuts Off Markets.
THE tariff act has wiped out Eu-
Countries which are unable to pay
gold for American goods cannot
trade with US in commodities be-
cause the tariff wall practically ex-
cludes their goods. European ma
tons can trade on an even basis
with Canada or Australia or Rus
STA even, and they do, to the
loss Of our American farmers.
"A second effect Of the tariff
wall was to make the farmer pay
wartime peak prices for his farm
implements, fertilizers, machinery
and other supplies. At the same
time, the tariff in no way increased
the value of his products. The
fact is that values of farm prod
ucts have decreased in home mar
kets since the tariff was passed.
There should be a revision down
ward Of the whole tariff act and
this would solve the agricultural
problem. The farmer does not care
what price is paid for his products
so long as their purchasing power
is raised to the level of that per-
tanning in other industries. There
undoubtedly will he an attempt
made in the next Congress to give
the farmer justice under the tariff
law"