Agricultural Masses Not Protected. 29 



half the outrageous rates of duties levied on manufac- 

 tures of woolen, the average rate in 1900 being over 91%. 



Class 3. The Unprotected. These imports, as far as 

 they go, are similar to those produced by the great mass 

 of farmers. This division of farmers includes all en- 

 gaged in agriculture that are not indicated in the small 

 circle of Class 2. Let us try to realize something of the 

 vast interests and persons this division represents. The 

 value of their products in 1899, census year, was $4,717,- 

 069,973 less the value of products of the farmers indi- 

 cated in Class 2, $192,000,000. The division includes 

 those who grow the great grain crops, corn, wheat, oats 

 and barley ; all those engaged in the raising or fattening 

 of horses, cattle and hogs ; the producers of hay and for- 

 age, of cotton, of apples, small fruits, and vegetables; 

 also the persons engaged in the dairy, poultry and eggs 

 business, together with the growers of many other kinds 

 of products of minor importance. We should say that 

 the farmers whose chief interest lay in this direction 

 would number over 5,000,000 or a total of 5,700,000. 



The total sum of agricultural imports reported by the 

 Department of Agriculture for 1900 was $120,139,288. 

 About 83% of these have been accounted for, and so far 

 no protection has been discovered for the agricultural 

 masses. Whatever there is must come in this the remain- 

 ing 17%. The value of imports. Class 3, was only $71,612,- 

 000, and of this amount $32,853,000 was on the free list, 

 leaving the value of the dutied portion but $38,759,000. 



The matter sifts down to this: that the agricultural 

 masses, save a small fraction of 4%, were protected only 

 to the extent of less than one-tenth of the total importa- 

 tion of agricultural products in 1900. 



The table given in this chapter shows clearly what the 



