The Tariff and the Farmer. 11 



Mexico and South America are brought in here by the 

 hundred thousand. It might ruin the farmers." ''The 

 farmer as it is has ample reason to be apprehensive." 



As it is, under the present rates of duties, in 1906 the 

 imports of meat and meat extracts from the countries 

 mentioned were less than $55,000. The value of cattle 

 imported from Mexico was $316,000, and none whatever 

 from Argentina. 



Of all South America only Argentina is in position to 

 compete with our farmers to any extent even under con- 

 ditions of free trade. That republic has a very large 

 number of cattle. The first obstacle in the way of bring- 

 ^ing them here is a long sea voyage of from 6000 to 8000 

 miles across the stormy equatorial regions. Many would 

 die on the passage, and those who lived through would 

 be in no condition for the butcher. They would have to 

 be refitted. 



Why, too, would these be unloaded at the doors of the 

 United States when prices are so much better in Great 

 Britain that our shippers can afford to send there $35,- 

 000,000 worth of cattle, as they did in 1901 ? 



Then, too, whether cattle or meat, the competition of 

 Argentina must be met either in the United States or 

 Great Britain. If met in the latter country, the less we 

 supply there the larger the number left in our home mar- 

 ket. So it makes little difference ; the result is the same. 



For some good reason, no doubt, the export trade of 

 Argentina is mostly made up of wool, hides and skins, 

 and mutton; only to a far smaller extent of cattle and 



meat. 



There is still Mexico to consider. What is the proba- 

 bility of our being overwhelmed by cattle and meat 

 invasion from there under free trade! Before serious 



