New-York tribune., 1885-01-08
OPPOSING COMMERCIAL TREATIES.
SOME REASONS GIVEN BY IHE NATIONAL AssoCiA-
TON OF wooL-GKowERs

TION OF wooL-GKowERs.
BosToN, Jan THE National Association of
Wool Manufacturers has issued protest signed by
william Whitman. the president. and John L. Hayes the
secretary. against commercial treaties They present
among others the following Tor opposing such
treaties:
We object 70 The system Of commercial treaties because
# ySe FOR the adoption Of system in the deter
mnation OF measures Of public policy /. assumption
Of the advantages which follow he application OF
the system I'm particular cases and Involves reasoning
the assumed benefits Of the system. while the true
method Of procedure from thc fact. IN each 20
the measure required.
We object 10 the system of commercial treaties ON ac
Of susp cious origin pr commercial diplomacy
first instituted by England ~ device % Impose her
freo-tradc policy other nations We have Ir Glad
stones authority for this assertion aud have other
English authority for the assertion that freetrade
measures easily secured from Governments by
diplomacy than from parliamentary bodies by open dis,
cussiOn.
The system involving always some reduction Of pro-
tcctiye duties aud reuquishmaut of revenue. aud i'm
plying that frcsr TO foreign market Is full
equivalent tho surrender OF tho domestic market,
may be adapted "A nation like England. whose nrst
necessity AN extension foreign trade but certainly
not to nation like ours. whose frst neoessy-and all
sufficient field for the presents the Development OF It's
internal trade with such outlets for uporabuntant
agricultural products their Indispensable necessity
for other nations will always keep open, without
sion on our part.
The superiority OF population In numbers. wealth.
and in consuming and purchasing power, compared
with other countries this continent, Il overwhelm
ingly great reciprocal interchange of markets be-
twee and either OF those countries fail TO be
The stem Is Objectionable from the necessary incom-
potency OF any Secretary o Staeor diplomatic function
ary honest able decide wisely what rates
OF duiy wholesome for the interests Of the country
believe nothing but legislative wisdom eught
l,x "A
production consumption ana commerce, rs brought TO
light by snch open discussion thus responsive To pabc
opinion safely determine the vital questions pro
teotiOn and revenue involved In change OF customs du
to ntrigucs and nsidous Influences and closes the
Of information. The negotiation OF treaty, be
Sides commits the Executive, with all its weight Of in
Huonce forestas public opinion and places all interests
| opposed at "a disadvantage
BY commercial treaties the Nation IL cstopped from
any changes In the revenue laws which the unforeseen
emergencies OF the country may require the changed
conditions or industry or commerce may make necessary
The emergency OF the War of 1912 compelled at that
period suddenly 10 double all our import duties. This
commercial treaties would have forbidden. Recent ad
vices inform us that France hnd herself precuded by
commercial treaties from the legislation which the inter
ests OF her Government and people require.
| The extending OF the same concessions to other
nations that granted 10 u.s. which Is clearly conem
plated In the most important OF the treaties given
To the public and which will certainly insisted upon
the most formidable obstacle to exports Of
manufactures. viz competition with commercial rivals
having advantages for the production OF manufactures
n the chcapness Of labor which we cannot have, and
Considering this question. as a continental ono. we
that the consentng by treaties To the granting
OF equal privileges 10 other nations Is incompatible with
ZOllverein customs union. for this continent the
future possibility Of which. whether pcdent or at
present should not be excluded.
The extension OF the system contemplated would make
1t impossible for us to enlarge sphere upon the
tnent by political unions. adjacent countries.
tending to a complete union with ns through the attrac
tODs Of commerce. would cease In this ment
they have secured by treaties all the commercial
advantages they require.
As wool manufacturers, conscious that the sys
tenn proposed OF necessity coniemphtes the free intro
ductiOn from countries having enormous capacities Of
production, of the material OF our MANUFACTURES
However desrOus might be that the duties on wool
should he reduced through the those
affected by the duty, relations with the great allied
industry Of domestic wool growing the record Of
Association for nearly twenty years forbid by silence
this question to appear 10 consent that that may be
done through the articles OF diplomacy which may not
effected by open legislation Intelligent consultation