Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
CHAIRMAN bYRDSAyS
TARIFF INJURIES
FARMERS
As One Of The Largest Apple
Producers In The World,
He Discusses Tariff
From Standpoint
Of Farmers.
QUOTES NoN-PARTISAA FARM Or
GANizATloN AS STRONGLY
OPPOSING PRESENT
TARIFF

| 0FF0StN1 PRESENT.
TARIFF
II. y. Byrd, Chairman Of the Dem
ocratic State Committee Of Virginia
Is one of the largest apple producers
IN the world. In the following article
| ne discusses the present Republican
Iarifr from the standpoint OF the
| farmer
Mr.. Byrd says:
THE cruel and drastic deflatien of
1921, directed by the Republican plat
form Of 1920, and enforced by Repub-
lcan officials, struck the prosperity
Of the farmer terrific blow
AT the same time the Republican
Fordney-McCumber tariff bill relieved
the industrial and manufacturing
groups of the evil effects of this de-
dation by giving artificial and exorbi-
tant profits to these classes of pro-
ducers.
The farmer then became the pre-
destined victim Of Republican policy be-
cause at the moment credits became re-
stricted the high tariff law lessened the
farmers purchasing power in two ways.
First, It increased the price of what he
must buy, and second, 1t restricted his
market and thus diminished the price of
what he had to sell.
''In this we find the real grievance which
the farmer has against the government as
administered by the party IN power
at will not do for the Republicans TO say
Nhae h. -wts. -.
Is due to the under production and the
misfortunes Of other countries. No per-
nanent prosperity can be built on the sur
.erings and calamities Of others. The nat
ural law is that prosperity should confer
its benefits upon all
"A tariff Is tax on imports, that is to
say, tax on our trade with all other
nations
THE Fordney McCumber tariff law is the
last, the worse and the most extortionats
Of all the Republican tariffs.
This tariff brings In a few hundred
millions Of public revenues yearly, and a
private revenue of upwards of three billions
Of dollars to those manufacturers who en-
Joy its privileges. To this extent 1t in
creases the cost of living.
"&nce the enactment of the Fordney-
McCumber profteers tax bill the consum-
ers of this country have paid a tribute of
something like nine billions Of dollars In
excessive prices to privileged manufactur-
srs. And yet so far as the farmer Is con-
eerned that is not the worst feature of the
law.
1.-The Fordney -McCumber law was de-
signed to prevent foreign nations selling US
their goods. But If Europe, Asia and South
America cannot sell to us neither can they
buy from US.
We raise more agricultural products In
this country than we can consume, hence
the farmer can only avoid disaster by dis
posing Of his surplus abroad. He cannot
they cannot buy unless they are also per-
United to sell which they are forbidden TO
do By the Fordnsy -McCumbsr law.
Therefore, the farmer Is doubly hit. The
very tarir law which compels him to pay
artifcially high prices for what he has to
buy at the same time restricts his market
| for what he has to sell.
at operates at one and the same time to
make him pay more ana to get less.
There never was in the history Of the
| Republic so little excuse for high pro-
| tecttve tariff than now.
Europe is impoverished and devastated
| Il win be long time before her industrial
| Life can be organized into effective com
petltion Hlln lne Ohlteu otales' At Ine
same time she needs 1000 and Ior this
her greatest necessity, she would IKE to
| exchange goods, but the Fordney -McCum-
| Der tariff forbids.
she can, therefore, only Dry hmlteo
amount OF our agricultural products
, Therefore, surplus is left in this coun.
| try which means disaster ana ultimate
| bankruptcy to the farmer.
| Every one knows how Immediately the
J Fordney -MeCumber bill anected the eco
nomic life Of the country
/ As soon as the Dill became law tns
| manufacturers realized the immense op.
| portunity for prohteering. They wanted
! to get while the getting was gooo' And
they did.
| "They secured the country for labor
taking thousands from the farms WITT
promises of high wages. They have taker
billions in excessive profits.
| "It cannot keep up, Of course, but tbs
manufacturers can shut down when tht
| demand slows up. But the farmer, from
| the nature Of his business, cannot shut
down. He must hold on, plant and reap
until he is dispossessed.
| What the farmer needs Is not nostrums
| or patent remedies. He needs square
| deal and when he gets it he can stand OF
his own feet.
! He is not getting square deal wher
| there is law upon the statute booki
which eompels him to pay excessive prices
for everything he has TO puy ana at I'M