130 The Tariff and the Faryner. 



little, if any, more than half the earnings of the work- 

 man's family. 



As having an important bearing, it should be said that 

 the Massachusetts State census for 1895 returned a far 

 greater value of agricultural products than ever before, 

 or was returned by the national census of 1900. Yet $416 

 was the labor earnings of the farmer's family, from 

 which further charges to the amount of from $50 to $100 

 were still to be taken. 



Strongly confirmatory of above figures is the evidence 

 of ex-Congressman J. H. "Walker, formerly a prominent 

 shoe manufacturer, and for many years one of the fore- 

 most in New England in advocating the cause of protec- 

 tion. He was credited by many as very well informed in 

 statistical matter. In 1878 a Congressional committee 

 was on an investigating tour, and this question was put 

 to Mr. Walker: ''Is it practical for the government to 

 assist laborers to become land owners and farmers?*' 

 He replied : " I think that scheme one of the most imprac- 

 ticable of the long list of proposed remedies for the inevi- 

 table. The wages of agriculturists, including the income 

 of small farmers, is not half that of the average mechan- 

 ics, excepting cotton and woolen operatives ; and as it is a 

 question of wages more than of work, the average 

 chronic beggar for work would only be insulted when, 

 being upon his land, he learned the abstinence practiced, 

 and work done by small farmers." 



We have always thought that this statement of an 

 advocate of protection was made at an unguarded 

 moment. 



The number of ''farmers, planters and overseers" was 

 given in 1900 as 5,674,875 ; of " agricultural laborers ' ' as 

 4,410,877. The labor bill for the average farm was but 



