Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-09-14
A BUSINESS view.
The Tarin. Seen Through pu.ip... spec
tacte-.
LNpecIal Corroanondcnce.

Especial CorrCspondcnce.l
Nrw YoRK. Sept. 5.-As was pre-
dicted by its author. tho Mckinley tar
if law Is vindicating itsolf. Evidence
to that effect vs. accommodating all the
time. Thousands Of people who con.
demncd the mckinley bill" whom Il
was passed as being "a step too far"
now frankly admit that thcy were mis-
taken. as many New Yorkers arc also
doing.
George w. Betta, OF the firm Of r.
w. Devoe 81 Co., corner Of Fulton and
William streets. makes most interoat-
ing statement as TO the ofroct OF the
Mckinley bill on his business. Mcssrs.
Dcvoe a. Co. are wholesale dealers In
paints, oils and artist materials. They
have been established since 1852. and
nave ~ very extensive trade. both do
nestic and foreign.
Air. Belts Is n typical independent.
AS such ho has held moro or less pro-
nounccd-yicws on tao subject OF tariff
reform.
81 confess that was opposed 10 tho
Mckinley bill when IL WINS undor consid-
Grafton in congress-" said Mr.. Belts. 81
thought II went too far aud believed that
the Republican party wns making ~ seri-
Gus mistake in passing II. did not think
that should ever vote tho Republican
ticket again. Many Of my friends who
had Republican antcccdents felt the
same way. But since | have observed
the actual operations Of the Mckinley
law and its effect on tho business inter.
ests OF tho country my views have
changed.
There are still many things In the
Mckinley bill TINT | believe could be
improved; but take it as whole. judy
ing from results coming under my per
sonal observation, have no hesitation
In saying that the law Is positive benefit
TO the country, and Is "A vast improve
mcnt over the Legislation tho Democrats
have suggested 20 take its place. Take.
for instance, the reciprocity and draw
back clauses. Reciprocity IS opening mp
the markets Of Cuba, Jamaica, Porto
Rico, Brazil, Mexico and other countries
10 the south OF MS. We are shipping
more goods TO these countries than ever
before, and II is all on account Of reci-
procity.
"Under tho reciprocity agreement our
goods are admitted 30 these countries
under a tariff % per cent. less than the
commodities Of England or any other
country. That gives as "A great adyan-
tage, and we arc beginning TO reap the
benefit Of H.
''Business Is business the world over
and merchants are going 70 buy their
goods whore they can get them tho
cheapest. II we can underseli our Eng.
ali 80 IHaf,afs a.
tninly gain tho bulk Of the trndo of tho
countries 20 tho south Of us.
81 believe" added Mr.. Belts, many
independents will vote the Republican
ticket on account Of reciprocity There
is very little politics in business. A bust.
ness man viii not support either party
II he believes IL is against his interests TO
do 80. / would not myself.
''Ihe drawback clause s. another mat
ter. Reciprocity gives US new markets
In certain cOuntriea Tho drawback
clause In the Mckinley tariff law II Of
almost equal Importance, although II is
less understood and appreciated. Tho
drawback law enables our people "
compete with the world. Under IL we
can import raw materials or manufac-
tured articles from abroad aud get all
the duty back except l per cent. when
we export them.
This applies % every line of goods.
There are many things we can make
cheaper here than IN England. and yet
we can buy the raw material that enters
into their composition Tor less money
abroad. Thus by importing the material
and making tho articles here we can
undersoll England Or any other country
The tariff "a d business qucstion. ! am
not politician and have never been
partisan. ~ theory free trade is all
right, but my observation has been that
the the0rist makes a very poor business
man"