Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-05-07
"SOME" TARIFF LAW

Inc HdWley-SImOOC ldTlII Dlll
which was fought strenuously by
citizens of the Northwest who
were more interested in the well
fare of all than in the securing of
political appointments or other
political plums, is having some
hard shedding these days, and it
is very difficult for it's proponents
and advocates to prove its worth
in these days of low farm prices.
1t will be recalled that the
Askov American sponsored petit
ton to Congress in June of 1929,
protesting against this unfair tar
iff bill, the petition being signed
by about 800 Pine county citizens.
Newspapers and individuals who
were carrying water for the ele-
plant" and fought hard to get
the Hawley-Smoot tariff act put
over will likely be remembered
for their kindness to the masses
in the next political campaign.
The Minneapolis Journal-the
chief Northwest advocate of the
tariff steal-sometimes also called
the Grundyized billiard the
newspaper which chased around
with Minnesota plan" and much
other like propaganda that is now
"deader than door nail" is of
course still obliged to defend the
tariff bill, though it is some task.
In opposition to The Journals
defense of the law The Mime
apolis Tribune, which put up a
gallant fight against the Grundy-
lied measure, wrote the other day
editorially as follows:
Under the title False Alarm" the
Journal seeks editorially to defend its
advocacy of the Hawley-Smoot tariff
bill by that peculiar system of mathe-
MATES of which it appears to be the
sole exponent. The Journal finds, by
a simple system of price subtraction,
that the farmer is much better off
under the Hawley-Smoot tariff than
he was before. Despite the fact that
the farmers position is actually
worse, fact that any grade school
pupil would see at glance or else
be classified as subnormal, the Jour-
nal iterates and reiterates it's eco
absurdities for three-quarters
of column.
Here is the Journals first proof of
the beneficial effect of the Hawley-
Smoot bill:
1.-The Minnesota farmer today is
buying cement at his nearest market
town for about IS cents a sack. These
prices are the lowest in years, if not
in history. They are down nearly Is
per cent from the level of year or
two ago."
All of which may be true if we
stupidity shut our eyes to the fact
that the farmer is buying this cement
with wheat that is not only 25 per
cent lower than two years ago, but
SO per cent, with eggs that are down
Is per cent, with butter fat that is
down 4S per cent.
What in the name of Joe Grundy
does it profit a farmer to buy cement
25 per cent cheaper if he has to
buy it with farm products that are
so and IS per cent cheaper. The
tariff, according to the Journal, has
not only helped the farmer in the
matter of cement, but in shoes, cloth
ing and sugar. We quote:
What has actually happened since
the Hawley-Smoot act was passed?
Shoes are down 10 per cent or more
Clothing is down from 5 to 80 per
cent. Sugar sells at the lowest price
in history"
Well, what actually has happened
is this: Eggs are down from 80 to
IL cent a dozen. Wheat from SLAB
q bushel to n cents, and about 20
cents of this is government bounty.
Butterfat is down from 40 cents to
% cents. Cattle, hogs and sheep are
down likewise. Shall we praise the
bill for these blessings?
If the price of shoes is down 10 per
cent because of the Hawley-Smoot bill,
then isn't the price of eggs down rs
per cent for the same reason?
1t is when the Journal gets right
On the farm that it reaches the SUI
preme height of agricultural econom-
ics. 1t is here that it proves con-
that the Hawley-Smoot tariff
has heen Of the greatest benefit TO