Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-07-12
TELEPHONE TALKS.
SOUTH AMERICA MAKES A FEW RE-
MARKS ON RECIPROCITY.

- 80 ~
The Motives OF the Renl,o 6sanso Revealed
to tho Far.nerI High Wages and Home
Markets DO Not sIaserialixe-c -canaaa.s
Appeal for Recognition.
United states-Hello! Helloi
South America-Hello
y. Sis that you, South America2
$. A.-Yes; what do you wantP
U. S.-This is United States. You
know we put a reciprocity clause into
what we call the Mckinley bill, that we
passed here last fall?
S. A.-Yes, Eheard you did.
U.S.-Well, that clause authorizes the
president to put duties on tea, coffee.
sugar. molasses and hides.
5. A.-Aren't tyou mistaken? Thought
Your constitution gave your congress
full and exclusive power to lay and col
lect taxes, duties, etc.
u.S.-Yes, so it does; but haven't
time to discuss a constitution now more
than 100 years old. AS was going to
say, the president can put duty of
cents per pound on your coffee, IL cents
per pound on Your hides and 3 cents per
pound on your sugar, if in his opinion
you unduly tax the goods imported into
Your countries from the United States.
1t is to learn what you intend to do in
regard to this matter that have called
you up.
5. All your president wishes oput
tax on these articles, all OF which are now
on your free list, and your people don't
object to paying it, don't see why we
should. As to what kind of duties we
should have, think we can decide for
ourselves without any foreign interfer-
ence.
y. S.-Of course we don't wish to in
terfere, but don't you understand that
If we tax our imports of those articles
from your countries and NOT from other
countries you will lose some of Your
trade up here?
S. A.-0h, yes; of course we might
lose little with you, but we would gain
about as much with other countries, If
you tax raw hides and increase their
cost your manufacturers will make
fewer gloves and shoes, but Europe will
make more; SO if you tax sugar as you
have been doing your Gamers and pre-
servers will do less business and Europe
will do more in this line. see clearly
that while such policy might injure US
a little it would harm you much more,
so much more that l can't think you
would be so foolish as to adopt it but
only intend it for bluff. No, we don't
care to swap any tariffs this year.
U. S.-But wait little; don't talk
quite SO loudly. After / shall have ex-
planned few things you may take quite
a different view.
S. A.-Well, go on.
o. S.-You see we have had n high
protective tariff here for thirty years.
S. A.-Yes, ! know that's what you
call it. Iagree, though, that it's high.
U.S.-Well, the Republican party that
made this tariff has been telling the
farmers and laborers that it was to help
them by giving them home markets,
high wages, etc.
S.A.-You didn't have to give reasons
to your manufacturers, guess. They
didn't object to policy that would give
them exclusive ownership of your "home
markets" and
o. S.-Please wait until am through.
as was going to say, the farmers who
expected everything of protection be-
came spendthrifts, and, because nearly
half of their farms were mortgaged, and
because farmers east of the Aiississippi
river have lost half of their value during
the last fifteen years, they got it into
their heads that ''protection'' was to
blame for all their extravaganza and
foolishness. The same kind of an alb
surd idea was taking possession of the
wage earners, who, because they had to
do more work or see their wages reduced
nearly every year, began to think that
protection was at fault, though it was
explained to them that it was due to
overproduction, excessive competition,
etc. Well, anyway, by 1890, when Nc
kinley was revising the tariff, few of
us saw clearly that the projection sys-
tenn could not.stand much longer unless
1t was again repaired with view to
helping the farmer. Itwas for this pur-
pose that THAT is, we-hit upon this
scheme of reciprocity to open markets
in your countries for our farm products.
$. A.-Yes, see; bat you don't ex-
pect to find markets for farm products
down here? We are III the farming busi-
ness ourselves, and unless your farmers
look well to their Iaurels they will soon
lose some of their markets in Central
America and the West Indies, where we
are already selling four and other agri-
cultural products. 1t is implements of
agriculture rather than products of agri-
culture that we want.
o. Snow you understand our pre-
dicament. We must make the farmers
believe that we really expect that reci-
procity win open up new markets.
s. A.-But isn't the scheme a sad com
mentary on your lone market the
oryf Doesn't it admit that protection
can't make "home marketsY
States?
C.-I called you up tolearn what kind
of reciprocity treaty you intend to make
with us.
o. S.-We are not considering any
reciprocity treaty with you and am
not certain that we shall do so. We do
not care to dicker with you.
C.-But our 5000, 600 people purchase
as much of you as the other 81 900, coo
ON the western hemisphere. and this Is
the only country that buys more from
you than it sells to you. For the last
forty years you have had balance of
trade in your favor OF over $3.50, ,Oo0. GOO,
while the balance I,S trade against you
with these other 81 100000 people was
over 81 ,000, 900, 600.
U. S.-RealIy, Co NADIA, 1 don't care to
talk with you now; would have to ex-
plain too many things. l viii only aay
that the farmers of New York state, 80
far as can learn, don't want free trade
with you even "in spots, such IS reci-
procity would giYe-and you know New
York IS doubtful stf.te. Good day.