The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-27
Hoover and the Tariff

Hoover and the Tariff
Tariff has always played an important part in the sue
cess or failure of the Republican party. Deieat Oh inc
party has at times hinged on the protection or lack OF
protection of one or more important commodities Ihat
commodity has most often been a product OF the 1arn.
MANY remember still the defeat of Taft, the cause for
which can partially be laid at the door OF tariff tinker
ing. 1t was the treatment Of wool at that time. WIZ
wheat proye the undoing of President Hoover?
The Federal Farm board, for the time at least, VIII
cease a policy which had as its objective the staolizauon
of wheat. The general policy OF seeking 10 MAINTAIN
price levels Of agricultural products through heavy gov
eminent purchases in an effort to control the surplus has
been abandoned.
Economists within and without the Republican party
have been studying the question of the Sterilization OF
prices in the farm industry. Tariff bounties to other in
d,stries, virtually amounting to price fixing, have been
granted by the Republican party. When the same theo-
ries of tariff protection are applied to the producss OF Tie
farm. economists differ most bitterly and the party OF
President Hoover is badly split on the general issue OF
farm relief while it is not so divided in protection for
the manufacturer whose problems OF distribution are easy
compared to those which face the farmer.
Senator McNary of Oregon, father OF the equalization
fee, was quoted in Washington the other day as follows:
Il felt in the past that the equalization fee plan was
the sound way of dealing with the exportable surplus OF
wheat and other crops. I must be shown, however, that
we have markets abroad which will take our surplus
wheat before I undertake again legislation OF that kind"
He declared in addition that the solution of the wheat
situation called for increased consumption.
Farm relief will continue to be a distressing problem
for the Republicans. President Hoover tackled it with
fair chances of success in the opening months OF MS ad-
m;nistration but the inevitable log-rolling and legislative
trades and deals brought about the Smoot-Hawley tariff
which is generally unsatisfactory to the American farmer
and may prove a costly blow to Republican success in
1882. The Payne-Aldrich tariff did things to President
Taft and a like tariff was largely responsible for the re-
tirement Of many Republicans in the elections of last
year. The Democrats made effective use Of the Smoot-
Hawley schedules in 1880 and will probably employ them
more effectively in 1882 for the next congress promises
to give the Democrats considerable political thunder.
Relief for the industrialist is treated seriously. Any
method to alleviate the burdens of the farmer is tritely
referred to as a political panacea." It may be possible
to stabilize every industry through tariff protection ex-
cept that OF the great basic MISUNDERSTANDING. It may
be that the farmer will remain the economic goat, but if
the present inequalities obtain some surprising political
upheavals are sure to happen. The 1880 election results
were just the forerunners of these.
Taxes, freight rates and marketing conditions have not
been adjusted to the efficient marketing Of farm prod
ucts as they have been to the distribution of other COM
modities. It is not all the fault Of political inactivity or
governmental inertia. The farmers have to date per-
feced no driving and compelling agencies such as pro-
tect the vast industries Of the manufacturers which con-
sum many Of the raw materials which the farmer pro-
duces at a loss and sells them back to him at a profit; the
spread between what the farmer gets and what the man.
ufacturer receives, has caused great economic discomfort
and strife.
The farmer is probably the most advised" agent of all
industries. One school tells him to reduce his acreage of
wheat; another cautions against 1t. Some agencies agi-
tate greater credit facilities and lower interest rates to
make 1t easier for the American farmer to get deeper
into debt. Then there is the tariff advocate who urge.
political action as the proper way to relieve the present
situation. Finally there is a group Of economists wht
tell the farmer that wheat prices cannot be stabilized
They declare that the farmer sells on a world market
and tariff walls, price fixing, government control of sur.
plus and any Of the many remedies are powerless tt
sustain the greatest industry.
All must agree that to date none of the schemes triet
has awaited much to revive the farming industry. Nov
that other industry is to some extent in the same boat a
the farmers the contrast between his failure and tn
eastern induStrialist success is not so great. The grea
industries Of the nation are suffering despite the tariff
bonuses which they get in a much greater degree tina,
does the farmer. Several cogs have slipped in the in
dustrial world and no one yet knows the way out.
X X X
One thing must be apparent to the farmers and tina
is to turn a deaf ear in the future to vote-catchin'
promises and panaceas. The farmers are on the RICH
track when they organize to control their own output q
do othsr well ordered industries. Some governments
projection and sterilization OF all forms Of industry ar
necessary. and legitimate. but no plan viii succeed a
well as perfect oesanisation Of asricultursts to direc
their own marketing and to fight against unfair freish
rates, inequitable taxation and tributes levied upon then
because certain avenues Of distribution are unfairly close,
TO them or unjustly manipulated.
New Fingermen'
In gang parlance, the man who identifies the victim I
! murder plot 70 the paid executioner assigned TO r
move him fun this place q wrath and tears" Is know
g ! Ginger o. "fingerman" The act Of identifying II
intended victim y sid 70 be Laying the finger
There ~ slach : man In the JAKE Lnsle murder ca