The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-22
DECLARES G.. 0. p.
HAS GIVEN AID
TO u. S. FARMER
CONTINUED from page one.)

!
the state department and to our
diplomatic representatives abroad
this great achievement would have
been impossible. For the first time
since the war an accord has been
achieved among the warning nations.
While there is now this agreement,
the ultimate success of the plan de-
perds largely, in my opinion, upon
continuing in power the party that
has brought about that accord. The
main provisions Of the agreement
are yet to be carried into effect
Now to substitute for the agencies
which have effected the agreement
other new and untried agencies to
give it effect would be hazardous
in the extreme. So far, therefore
as improved foreign markets will
help the farmer, it will be due to
Republican achievement.
Next in Importance as a remedy
for our agricultural ills, our adver-
saries have assigned general re-
vision of the tariff act. In this way
they bark back to their old cry.
They revive the old arguments in
almost the same language which
they employed in '92. In that year
they were successful and the farm
ers of American learned, as | be-
lievc, for all time that the domestic
market for their products was after
all the best market and that they
could not prosper with other indus
tries bankrupt. The years which
followed the Democratic tariff were
the hardest the farmers had endured
for a generation. Upon the election
OF Mckinley and the enactment of
Republican tariff, agriculture be-
gan to revive and the purchasing
| power Of the farmers dollar stead
lily increased under the operation of
Il Republican tariff, so long as that
tariff was in effect. When the DEM
ocratic party again came into power
under Woodrow Wilson, it enacted
a Democratic tariff law. The effects
OF that law were already apparent
in diminishing prosperity to the
farmer as we'll as other classes Of
society when the great European
war opened. That war practically
closed our ports so far as importa-
tions were concerned. Many mil
lions of our most active competitors
were diverted from the pursuit of
peace to the occupation of war and
the great nations Of Europe were
no longer able to produce enough
for their own needs. The Under.
wood law, therefore, which had been
in operation but few months be-
fore the war opened in Europe,
never had a chance to show its full
effect until after the war was over
and peace had returned. The con-
ditions in this country at that time
arc too fresh in the memory of all
to need repetition here.
Tariff argument
81 know how attractive. the argu-
mcnt is that the farmer sells in Il
foreign market and buys in pro-
tected market. The statement is
one of those half truths that are
more damaging than falsehood it.
J self. The farmer does sell his sur
plus in the foreign market, but his
surplus is only small part of his
| total production. The great volume
/ of farm products goes into domestic
consumption. 1t is the home market
upon which he must depend. That
! market 'can only take his products
at remunerative prices if there is a
general prosperity throughout the
land. We too often overlook the
fact that in many important lines
of farming the surplus is so ncgli-
gible as not to affect the home price
at all. Take dairy products, with
which l am somewhat familiar. Last
year the dairy products Of America
upon the farm-upon the farm, mind
you, and not with the added wealth
which manufacturing into cheese,
creamery butter and condensed and
evaporated milk give-amounted to
almost two and half billion dollars.
This was three times the value of
the total wheat crop of America,
largely in excess of the total value
of either the cotton crop or the
corn crop. The dairy industry is
dependent almost entirely upon the
home market. Our exports are prac-
tically Balanced by our imports. The
tariff, under the present law is Of
vital interest to the dairy industry.
The price of butter fat is the basic
price which largely determines the
price Of all dairy products. The
present duty upon the importation
Of butter into America is eight cents
a pound. Notwithstanding this duty,
there have been sufficient importa-
tions of foreign butter to break the
domestic price. The dairy farmers
OF America, therefore, think the
duty is too low. A hearing is pend
ing before the Tariff Commission
upon the question Of rate of duty.
We believe That we can satisfy the
Tariff Commission that the differ
ence in cost of production at home
and abroad is in excess Of the pres
emit tariff. know something of
this. particular question, because l
am President Of the American Dairy
Federation - an organization in,
which are federated all the various
associations having to do with dairy
ing. 1t is our duty to see that no
injustice is done to the dairy indus
try. While We are seeking an in
crease in the duty. great pressure
is being brought upon the Tariff
Commission BY interested parties to
reduce it. -
Expects Use
If we can show that Che difference
in cost to produce between compel
ing countries and our own is in ex.
cess of eight cents pound, we shall
have an increase. At any rate, we
shall be able to resist successfully
a decrease unless it is made to APP
pear to the Commission that the
difference of cost il less than, the