The Tariff and the Farmer. 13 



Chief of these are coffee, raw silk, goat skins, jute and 

 sisal grasses and tea. Total value, $177,602,000, or 

 42.28%. Nearly all are on the free list. 



Class 2. Protected. That is, products similar to those 

 produced by our farmers that are effectively protected. 

 These include raw sugar material, wool, tobacco, semi- 

 tropical products, and rice. Their value in 1899, includ- 

 ing lambs dropped that year, was only about 4% of total 

 agricultural production. There is no dispute but those 

 engaged in these lines of husbandry are protected. But 

 what sort of protection is this for the farmers engaged in 

 producing the 96%? Because 45% duties are levied on 

 wool, and still higher rates on raw sugar material when 

 imported, every family of the agricultural community 

 has to pay more for clothing and the sugar it eats. 

 Also the food and clothing of all persons not engaged in 

 farming are increased in price, which causes a rise in 

 wages of those who handle farmers' supplies. Where is 

 there any compensation to the agricultural masses for 

 the extra gain made by the 4% fraction! 



About 83% of the $420,000,000 value has now been con- 

 sidered, and Uncle Sam's system so far has resulted only 

 in increasing the farmer's taxes. The value of the 

 importations of Class 2 was $146,908,000, or 34.97%. 



Class 3. Unprotected. These imports, as far as 

 they go, are similar to those produced by those repre- 

 sented by the 96%. We call these unprotected, though 

 nominal duties are levied on nearly every agricultural 

 product similar to those produced here, when imported, 

 with the exception of cotton. The value of this class of 

 imports was but $71,612,000, and of this amount $32,853,- 

 000 was on the free list. Of the $38,759,000 that was 

 dutied $19,408,000 consisted of hides. The value of live 



