The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1928-10-17

Law in court AS one of the worlds most out
standing economists, who is not given to wild
statements and who has been highly successful
in every task he has undertaken, it may be wis.,
dom to give him chance to present his half of
the picture
At the outset, Mr. Hoover would concede that
on farm products on which we now produce sur
plus, our present tariff law does not operate
However, because it does not OPP
crate satisfactorily under the present law as to
crops on which we have surplus, this is no rea-
son why ALL protection should be taken away
from the farmer on these crops ON WHICH HE
DOES NOT PRODUCE A SURPLUS, which
would be done if the Underwood bill is followed.
But Mr.. Hoover goes much further. He propos
es to make the tariff effective on the very crops
on which we produce a surplus, that is on our
major crops such as wheat, if wheat can be
called major crop in Redwood county His rea-
son is logical and clear. While Smith indicts
the big criminal of two and half billion I'M
ports. Mr. Hoover proposes to raise the tariff SO
high on the big criminal two and half billion
imports that it will be shut out Of the local mar
ket altogether. The American market is the
best market in the world and if the American
farmer can be given the whole American market
So that the imports cannot be used to beat down
price for the benefit of our farmers on all foods
now imported and make the raising of these
crops highly profitable for our farmers. At this
point another economic law steps into action.
1t is natural that farmer will want to produce
crops which are profitable. He will abandon the
Improbable crop and raise the profitable crop.
When cattle and hogs are low and wheat is high,
the farmer quits raising hogs and cattle and be-
gins raising wheat Likewise, if the farmer be-
gins producing at profit this two billion five
hundred million now imported, it will automatic
ally cut down his Improbable wheat acreage,
thereby reducing the surplus of this Improbable
crop. And when the wheat acreage is cut
down so that no surplus is produced, then the
tariff wheat at once becomes effective and
raises the price of wheat, because no longer bur-
dened with surplus.
1t appears to us that Mr.. Hoover's argument,
from an economic standpoint, is entirely sound
and unanswerable 1t is grossly unfair to the
American farmer that he should be compelled to
compete with Argentine, Canada, Denmark and
other countries in his home market. Argentine
can raise beef for two cents per pound and ship
it to New York by water for one third what it
costs the Minnesota farmer to ship it by rail-
The tariff of three cents per pound furnishes no
protection whatever. In other words, if the AM
erican farmer be given the whole American
market the best market in the world for his pro-
duce and not brought into competition with cheap
foreign labor, it will go long way toward solv-
ing the farmers battles. Is there any valid
reason why the farmer should not have the
protection enjoyed by other industries?
New Yorks 100000 inhabitants are battl-
ing for cheap food. A low tariff will give it to
them In hattie after hattie thew have stood by
Governor Smith. His war New York's farm
ers on the milk question will not be forgotten by
his neighbors, and the farmer who expects Gov
ernor Smith to turn his back his 100000
cheap food neighbors is expecting miracle.
In any event farmers will be called upon
to choose President between who says he
can make the tariff effective for the farmer, and
one who says he cannot. Which Doctor will he
choose, the one who says he can't cure or the one
who says he can