Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1916 — DISTILLERS HEP REPUBLICANS AS CORN IMPORTERS [ARTICLE]

DISTILLERS HEP REPUBLICANS AS CORN IMPORTERS

Goodrich and Hemenway Were the Original Political Shippers Frdm Argentine. TRYING TO SCARE FARMERS * Interesting Figures That Make Corn Growers Laugh at This Attempt Fk Whiskey Men and Republicans to Erect Scarecrow.

BY WILLIS S. THOMPSON

Indianapolis, Oct. 27. The first great American importers of Argentine corn were those distinguished friends of all the American farmers— Jim Goodrich and Jim Hemenway. They brought in their shipment in 1912, the object at that time being to defeat Woodrow Wilson for president. The same thing is sought now. At that time the Republican tariff was in effect and the price of corn in this country was so low that both, of these patriotic “Jims” lost considerable money on their Argentine corn venture. This year some distillers over at Peoria, who are anxious for the election of Charles E. Hughes and are anxious to elect a Republican governor in both Indiana and Illinois, have acted as the “official Argentine com importers for the Republican committees.” The Indianapolis Star announced on October 25 in great first page headlines that Argentine com is being ‘‘dumped in the United States to ruin the farmers of Indiana.” The story as printed in the Sta was prepared by the Republican press bureau as a scarecrow for the Indiana farmers. The trouble with all these press bureau stories is that they insult the intelligence of the people for whom they are prepared. We are informed by the Republican press bureau in the published in the Star that “nearly 1,000,000 bushels of Argentine corn has already been used in glucose” at Peoria, Illinois. In 1915 the Argentine Republic had an enormous com crop for that country—33B,ooo,ooo bushels—and it has had some for export though the amount is so small that it could not affect prices. In 1915 Illinois alone raised 376,164,000 bushels or considerably more com than the whole Argentine Republic banner year of 1915. In 1913 the Argentine Republic raised 196,642,000, or little more than the average Indiana crop. Ordinarily, corn counties of Indiana like Benton, Clinton, White and Rush will raise 4,000,000 bushels or over. That the importation of 1,000,000 bushels of com can ndt visibly affect the price here is apparent when one x considers that ordinarily three or four townships in an Indiana com county will raise more than that amount. A million bushels would supply the ordinary requirements of Illinois for one day and those of Indiana, for about two days. The Indianapolis Star is greatly alarmed about this corn shipment. The Star says editorially: “Corn from Argentine is being shipped to the distillers in Peoria, 111. It is reported that more than 1,000,000 bushels have been received. The Republicans protected the farmer with a duty of 15 cents a bushel on his corn and 25 cents a bushel on his wheat. The Underwood Democratic tariff puts both these commodities from Argentine on the free list. Underwood theory was to reduce the high cost of living. It is apparent they could not play that game with corn and wheat without leaving the American farmer holding the bag.” How this “dumping” of Argentine corn is depressing the market and threatening disaster to the Indiana farmer is shown by the Star’s market report of October 25, which shows car load prices for “No. 3 yellow, $1.02 and $1.03.” March 4, 1907, was the middle of the last term of Theodore Roosevelt, the Star’s patron saint, political. At that time the Dingley tariff of unfragrant memory was in effect, protecting the Indiana farmer against the “dumping” of Argentine corn. Strange to say the price then was, as shown by the Star’s market report of that day, only 47% to 47%. Wheat in Chicago market was quoted March 4, 1907, at 73@74. On October 27, 1916, under the Underwood tariff the same wheat was $1.80% @51.80%. Surely the gobelins will get the farmer under the Underwood tariff (law when he is only getting $1.03 |per bushel for his com. “Give us back ithe 47 cents com under the Dingley flaw,” cries the Star and the following of pughes, Fairbanks, Watson, New, Kealing, Hemenway, et al.