22 The Tariff and the Fanner. 



CHAPTEE II. 



The Agkicultueal Masses Not Pkotected. 



Because a duty is named to be paid by all agricultural 

 j)roducts similar to those grown in this country, except 

 cotton, when imported, many farmers are under the 

 impression that the value of their products is thereby 

 increased. Now a duty of 1000% may be named for an 

 article and the producer never gain one cent by it. All 

 depends on whether or not there is a large supply abroad 

 of such product that would come in were there no duty. 

 A foreign nation may produce a $100,000,000 worth of 

 wheat, or corn, or potatoes, or hay, and all be reciuired to 

 feed its own people and animals. If such is the case, it 

 is not in position to compete in our markets. It is only 

 those nations who have large surplus supplies whose com- 

 petition is to be feared. If farmers would keep in mind 

 that the United States is the world's headquarters for 

 agricultural products, and that we are exporting these to 

 almost all nations, which means that these are produced 

 here cheaper than abroad, they could not have their fears 

 so easily excited. If farmers abroad cannot undersell 

 and keep out American goods from their own markets, or 

 if the quantity they produce is insufficient to supply their 

 own people, they are not in position to compete in our 

 markets. In refuting the expressed views of three prom- 

 inent advocates of protection in the last chapter^ it was 

 indicated that it was for the reason just given why the 

 farmers of the United States need not fear the farmers 

 of foreign countries. 



