Defenseless Trade Position of Agriculture . 91 



ignorance gave opportunity. Give the average business 

 man of to-day opportunity, and not only will liis own 

 countr^onen be likely to be imposed upon and cheated, but 

 his near relatives mav fare no better. He is inclined to 

 be good to himself. He is not apt to be deterred by a 

 high sense of honor or justice. His rule is not fair 

 profits, but get all he can. Said Senator Hoar of Massa- 

 chusetts, in his speech in the Senate upon trusts, in Jan- 

 uary, 1908, speaking of the corporation and corporate 

 control of wealth : ' ' It is not zealous for its own honor or 

 reputation, except so far as its honor or reputation is 

 essential to its getting money. It has no soul and no 

 conscience. In general, the men who are most powerful 

 in its management can, if they see fit, avoid responsibility 

 to public opinion. They always expect to avoid personal 

 liability for obligations." 



Thus spoke a noted lawyer, held in high esteem by the 

 nation, one of Massachusetts' most prominent Republi- 

 can citizens, one not given to making rash statements. 



It is men like those to whom Mr. Hoar referred, whom 

 our agricultural leaders have left in full control to dic- 

 tate the policy of the nation, who insist to-day that there 

 shall be no lowering of tariff bars. Is it strange, then, 

 that the interests of farmers in foreign trade have been 

 sacrificed? 



Makket Conditions. 



Most of the time since 1860, with the exception of war 

 period and a few years after, there has been a great sur- 

 plus of agricultural products; and for the same time, 

 with the exception of a few years of depression, a great 

 demand for manufactured products. 



Since 1860 two-thirds or more of the vast territorial 



