The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-29
ECONOMIST ELIEVES
Home MARKET BEST
ASSET TO TILLERS
Thinks Duties Have Not Helped
Agriculture Much Directly
but Through Industry
FOR TIGHTER PROTECTION
Former College Head Favors
Excluding Several Foreign
Products Produced Here

DR.. John Lee Coulter. president Of
the North Dakota Agricultural col
lege. In accepting the position Of chief
economist of the federal trade COM
mission. states that he is very much
interested in helping the American
people maintain their high standard
OF living.
It GEMS to DR.. Coulter that Amer
lea has attracted the people with the
most initiative from all lands. He
also calls attention to the fact that
in America the individual is made
~king-that is, he is protected in his
individual rights and efforts. The
patent laws secure to the individual
the returns from any invention he
may make. The copyright laws Sc
cure to the author any profits that
there may be in creation. Through
the tariff the government has pro-
tected the Americans from the COM
petition Of people living on a lower
plane OF life. Through the consular
service the American nation is kept in
touch with all parts Of the world as to
opportunities for trade or sources of
raw material.
Coulter Strong for Tariff
These factors have all been ilnpor-
tant In making America the most
progressive and the richest country in
the world. All are interested in know
ing II the United States with but 6
per cent Of the worlds population can
maintain its position on the present
lofty plane.
DR.. Coulter contends that the tariff
is one Of the factors that is Of great
importance. It is not only Of con-
Germ between the United States and
foreign countries. but 1t is a big tao
tor In building up or destroying in
dustries within the country. just as in
the past the tariff has made many in
dustries prosperous but has not helped
agriculture much. In fact. agriculture
has had to pay more for the things 1t
uses but has not received the ibene-
fits Of the tariff except insofar as the
manufacturing centers were good
markets for agricultural products.
and. In the cas- of products, on an
import basis.
Or. Coulter. early In the farm-aid
campaign, called attention to the fact
th:t the United States imports large
quantities Of wool. cheese, casein, veg
etable oils, fats, flax, flax fiber. mo-
lasses for making industrial alcohol
starch. beef. hides, eggs. often making
their production improbable or the
products that they are substituted
for. A slight adjustment of the tar
1T on these products would save this
market for the American farmer. An
increase In the production of these
products and the products that they
are substituted for would cut down
the acreage In wheat and other sur
plus crops and put their production
on Z domestic basis.
Scientific Tariff Regulation
Tariff legislation. he feels, has toe
often been the result Of log rolling
The tendency now is to put the tariff
on . scientific basis. During the
Harding and Coolidge administrations
the tariff commission va strength
ened and the president was author.
lied to raise or lower the tariff up OF
down 30 per cent, upon recommends.
ton Of the tariff commission. anc
that such rulings can be made effec.
tive In 80 days. When it was entirely
UP to congress to make changes in thu
tariff It usually took several years tt
make needed changes. In many case.
industries were j%eopardized. due Il
some foreign country being able It