The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-28
Editorial Comment
PathOs and Protection
New York T'imes)


Rising to speak in favor Of the Haugen Farm
BILL Senator Hiram Johnsn was confronted with the
fact that several farmer organizations in California
had declared against that measure. This did not
embarrass him. It simply filled him with grief. He
could hardly bear to think Of the spectacle of his
fellowcitizens in California refusing Iowa farm
ers the blessings of governmental subsidy which
they themselves were enjoying TO- the full. Senator
Johnson recalled his own noble efforts to get high
tariff duties laid for the special benefit Of Cali
forna. He said, almost with audible sob
recall the long, weary weeks and months Of
struggling by which obtained from the Senate
and from the House Of Representatives the tariff
on lemons, on walnuts, almonds, on olives and
on practically everything that comes from the
soil Of California. | think it an ungracous and
ungenerous thing that any farm organization in the
State Of California shall suggest to me, after the
extraordinary benefits obtained for California
from the tariff. that ] oppose the measure de-
signed to give to those who have received none Of
the benefits of the tariff law some protection and
part of the benefit of the tariff law which 50
generously aids US.
This example Of ingratitadc was not the only
thing that bowed down Senator Johnson's head in
sorrow. Worse was to come. As specialist in
detecting and rebuking mans nhumanity to man.
he could not CLOSE without mourning over Secre-
tary MELONS letter cviscerating the Haugen bill.
TO Hiram Johnson it brought not only depression
of spirit but indignation and exc eloquence Who
can fail to be moved, either to tears or laughter,
by his peroration?
Sitting there cOdly indting letter which cut
off every hope for those people who had little and
who begged Of their countrymen some relief, coldly
writing that he would not pcmt them to share in
what he has shared in such liberal and generous
extent in this country, thought that Secretary of
! <hn lsl.r Ao>
no conception after all Of the people in this land,
of their plight of their toll their hardships and
their sufferings, and as thought of those who in
ignorance would deny relief repeated the words
of Him upon the cross, Father forgive them; for
they know not what they do"
On lower plane sentimentality, yet with pers
sistence in plain speakng. Senator Cumn,ins took
up on Saturday the tale of the tariff and the bill
to give the farmers subsidy. He again asserted
that in principle the two things are identical If
aid to the farmer by buying up his surplus is spe-
cial legislation for the benefit of class, SO is
protective tariff Senator Cummins ridiculed the
objection, especially when it from champions
CT high protection, that the Haugen bill would raise
the price of the food to the consuming public
What else did the protective tariff aim to do ex-
cept raise prices? 1t couldn't do it for the farmer,
save in ptifully small degree, and it was
the turn of agriculture to demand truly effective
form of protection. Senator Cummns wound up
by making Cracular assertion that defeat of the
Haugen BILL the ground that it would tend to
increase the price of farm products to the American
consumer, means that the whole policy of protec-
ton is doomed to absolute extinction"
That may be true logically, but is it true political
,ly? 1t is doubtful if Senator Cummins himself
could be got to vote for lowtariff Democratic Rep
resentatives and Senator in Iowa. If he advises
Iowa farmers to support the Democratic candidate
for his own seat, Mr. Porter, shall be very much
surprised 1t will not be easy to cure Iowa of
the Republican habit The revolt against Senator
Brookhart two years ago not because he was
a Republican high-tariff otherwise but because
he was violently suspected of not being a Repub.
lican at all. 1t may be different next November.
| While it is wholesome to open the eyes of Mid
die Western farmers to the true nature of a high
tariff and of their disabilities under it, too much
must not at be expected in the way of a re-
alignment of voters and parties. If crops are
fairly good and prices do not fall too low, Iowa
farmers, albeit with much grumblng and wry faces,
will be very apt to give the Grand Old Praty enc
more chance.