DEPTH OF THE FURROWS 273 



time Lring about a great reduction in the cost of living 

 to our Canadian people ; 



AND WHEREAS the protective tariff has fostered com- 

 bines, trusts and " gentlemen's agreements " in almost 

 every line of Canadian industrial enterprise, by means 

 of which the people of Canada both urban and rural 

 have been shamefully exploited through the elimina- 

 tion of competition, the ruination of many of our 

 smaller industries and the advancement of prices on 

 practically all manufactured goods to the full extent 

 permitted by the tariff; 



AND WHEREAS agriculture the basic industry upon 

 which the success of all other industries primarily 

 depends is almost stagnant throughout Canada as 

 shown by the declining rural population in both 

 Eastern and Western Canada, due largely to the 

 greatly increased cost of agricultural implements and 

 machinery, clothing, boots and shoes, building material 

 and practically everything the farmer has to buy, 

 caused by the protective tariff, so that it is becoming 

 impossible for farmers generally to carry on farming 

 operations profitably; 



AND WHEREAS the protective tariff is the most 

 wasteful and costly method ever designed for raising 

 national revenue, because for every dollar obtained 

 thereby for the public treasury at least three dollars 

 pass into the pockets of the protected interests, thereby 

 building up a privileged class at the expense of the 

 masses, thus making the rich richer and the poor 

 poorer ; 



AND WHEREAS the protective tariff has been and is a 



chief corrupting influence in our national life because 



the protected interests, in order to maintain their 



unjust privileges, have contributed lavishly to political 



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