The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1941-10-30
GA.PPIgTI,Q!5L
Farm Exports Decline
BY Representative Harold Knutson
of Minnesota

farm exports declined to their low
est level since 1912, or in 6e
years. Competitive farm imports
however, increased over last year
and the year before. Following are
i the trade figures for the last three
years:
Fiscal Farm Competitive
Year Exports Imports
1889 1888, 100000 $4S6, ZOO, 600
1939-4O $73S,0OO,00O ssh, 000, 900
1940-41 $3.50, 100000 S62S, 600, 900
This year was only the second
time on record that agricultural ex-
ports were exceeded in volume by
imports of competitive agricultural
products from other countries.
One of the chief increases in
competitive imports was in wool,
which jumped from 10000, 900
pounds in 1939-40 to 473,000, 900
pounds in 1940-41. In the same
period, coconut oil imports increas-
ed from 320,000,000 pounds to 372,-
100000 pounds.
A most striking development of
our agricultural import situation is
the increased shipment of Latin
American farm products into the
domestic market. Argentine i'm
ports, for example. have increased
from a value of 10000 in 1888
80 to $72,0O0,000 in 1939-40, and to
S113 100000 in 1904. OF course
it is well known that the Argentine
produces much the same agricult-
ural products as we do in this
country, and in view of the Ad-
ministration's good neighbor" pol
icy, we may expect increased COM
petition from that country under
the lowered rates of duty announc-
ed by the State Department two
weeks ago.
The day following the announce
ment of the ratification of the Ar
gentine trade agreement, N. X.
Carnes, General Manager of the
Central Cooperative Company of
South St. Paul, made a statement
over the radio that hit the nail
squarely on the head. Mr.. Carnes
has had a great deal of experience,
with background of many years
in cooperative marketing, which
qualities him to speak with auth
ority. His statement follows:
Those of us primarily interested
in the welfare Of Northwest agri-
culture were not surprised, but we
were very much disappointed to
ha f~o do o.
tween the United States and Ar
gentina, signed yesterday, will re-
duce the tariff on flax seed, casein,
canned and corned beef so percent,
and bring about a material reduc-
ton in the duties on Italian-type
cheeses, wool, fruits and hides.
1.-THE injurious effects Of these
reductions in tariff on agricultural
commodities may not become APP
parent until the emergency Is over,
due to the abnormal demand at
this particular time. But when the
war is over, and that day will come,
these reductions in tariff will be
a real factor in decreasing the pur-
chasing power of the American
farmer. The State Department has
attempted to justify a trade agree
ment with Argentina partially on
the grounds that 1t will pave the
way for increased trade in indus
trial products, especially automo-
biles, radios, refrigerators, and
electrical appliances. This may be
true, but 1t does seem rather incon-
sistent for the State Department
of our present Administration to
attempt to curb initiation by de-
creasing, through taxation, the
domestic consumption for these
particular commodities, the pro-
duction of which Is already being
reduced through the
activities of the Supply Priorities
and ALLEGATION Board, and at the
same time attempt to increase the
demand for these very same COM
modities through new trade
agreement. 1t just doesn't make
sense, folks, viewed from any an
gle."
Coffee Toll Heavy
Labor" the official organ Of the
Railroad Brotherhoods, and usually
a well informed publication, has
this to say about the coffee pro-
fiteers who are yearly taking a toll
of 200 million dollars from Amer
lean homes:
American housewives are pay