Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1891 — Purpose of the Potato Duty. [ARTICLE]

Purpose of the Potato Duty.

The New York Press, a very simpleminded protectionist organ and yet recognized in the protectionist camp as one of the leading protection phonographic machines of the land, has performed or.e excellent service for the country. A correspondent has recently written to the Pie=s about the duty on potatoes He is much puzzled, being a city working man, to know just how the duty on potatoes helps the working people of the cities, since it adds 75 cents a barrel to the cost of imported Scotch potatoes. To this stupid correspondent the Press, somewhat peevishly and with superior protectionist wisdom, answers: “Have we had one full farming or potato season since the McKinley bill became a law last October? Of course not. How then can you reasonably expect an increased duty, in to increase production and reduce prices, to do its work before the first harvest under the new law?” This was for the consumption of New York City readers. Let the farmers note the innocent frankness with which this protectionist organ avows that the potato duty was intended not to raise prices, but to make him work harder to

produce more potatoes, and then So l them at reduced prices. Behold the beautiful truthfulness of the high tariff aivocates in the city.