Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-08-06
The Tariff And The Farmer.
BY REPRESENTATIVE CoRDELL Hull,
Former Chairman Democratic National
Committee.

Houc WAL ptoSHcoo III thdt tuo fAhfCitSoh
farmers have finally realized very def
nitely that typical Republican high tariff.
written by the manufacturers. work more
serious injury than benefit to agriculture
that instead of promoting agricultural pros
perity it has wrecked it.
1t is now patent to every one that under
the tariff and trade policies Of the present
administration there is an irreconcilable
conflict between the eastern wing of the
Republican party. dominated by the high
tariff manufacturers. and the western Re-
publican wing. The former always controls
the entire Republican party Of the nation
and its administration at Washington.
II is apparent. therefore that farm
spokesman undertaking to support the
Coolidge administration and its economic
policies is simply following the leadership
of the high tariff manufacturers.
Since the Fordney tariff is admittedly
the seat OF the farm disease the manifest
remedy is tariff reduction. Any other course
plays into the hands Of the high tariff
manufacturers. Tariff reduction means
lower production and markets.
Secretary Mellon and other authorized
spokesman for the Coolidge administration
and eastern wing of the Republican party
in recently denying the right Of agriculture
to some appreciable benefits. while selfish
and inconsistent in one sense. was. not
withstanding. entirely consistent accord
ing to the longtime viewpoint of the high
tariff manufacturers and the teachings of
the eastern wing OF the Republican party
during the past fifty years. They have
invariably taught the doctrine that high
tariffs afforded benefits alike to all per-
sons. classes, and sections.
The Coolidge administration and its chief
support, the high tariff manufacturers. are
astute enough to realize that the last con-
fession high tariff champions can afford to
make is that. after all, typical Republican
high tariffs only confer benefits on the
American manufacturer.
To admit that more than thirty million
Of the farm population are experiencing
tariff burdens rather than tariff benefits
would Immediately call for many other and
similar admissions One such admission
would apply to the 35 to 81 millions wage
earners associated with avocations not
pretending remotely to receive high tariff
benefits. but only its burdens.
The remaining 6 or 7 millions wage earn
ers in this country are in tariff-sheltered
industries, but even they receive on the
average lower level of wages and main
tain lower standards Of living than the
tens of millions of laborers in the boot and
shoe, the building. the automobile. the rail-
road. the packing. the lumber, the oil. the
paper and printing. and scores of other
industries not pretending to receive any
tariff benefits
From these conditions is revealed an
other high economic fact. which is that
high wages and high standards OF living.
as in the building trades. the automobile
industry, and most of the others just re-
fefred to, have no relation whatever to
tariffs, and appeared first and have de-
veloped most in the non-tariff industries.
And again, how do the low wages paid
In the high tariff protected textile indus
tries raise the WAGES or the living stand
ards in the non protected industries Ali
these kinds of economic absurdities and
falseholds that have been hammered into
the American people SO long by paid propa-
ganda are now being exposed in striking
way.
Another economic fact the average citi-
zen should now understand is that high
tariff benefits are limited not only to
small segment of American business, but
TO a diminishing number of American
manufacturers. while their labor. as stated,
is subject as rule to lower wages and
lower living standards than any non-pro-
tected industry.
Those tariff fattened manufacturers, how
ever. have been all powerful in this country
much Of the time for two generations.
They have dominated the Republican party
through its eastern wing and written their
own high tariff and exorbitant tariffs, I'M
der the operation of which we have seen
farm conditions slump some 80 billions
dollars since 1920. while these same tariff
sheltered manufacturers have been en-
riched to the same extent.
To growing number Of business men
In this country the vital question of how
long great creditor nation and erea,
surplus producing nation. with unlimited
food stuffs and raw materials and with the
greatest and most efficient industrial plant
in history. can safely proceed under exist.
ing high tariffs and their accompanying
trade restrictions, cannot further be over.
looked or evaded.
Our foreign Indebtedness of more thar
20 billions dollars. with interest. cannot
possibly be repaid il existing economic
policies are indefinitely pursued. Our eveI
increasing SURPRISES with diminishing out.
let's will bring on inevitable stagnation
and idleness Of both labor and capital in
this country. For every 100000, O0O
Of customs revenue that flow into the
Treasury under the Fordney high tariff
system. the volume Of our exports Of sur.
pluses Is diminished in the amount of a,
least $500I000.O00. We cannot sell I'm.
less we buy.
The outstanding question before the coun-
try. therefore, is whether the high tariff
manufacturers through such corruption and
debauchery Of elections as was recently
witnessed in Pennsylvania. shall control the
government at Washington and to conduct
1t primarily for the purpose of gross favorit-
ism to 10 per cent or is per cent of the
American people at the tremendous ex-
pense Of the other IS or 80 per cent.
The proper determination Of this ques-
ton win require the people to divorce
fsnu, nnwet.nnak.z