The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-04
Mckinley and Reciprocity.

One of the charges which has long
been held over the head of Major Nc
kinley is that he was determined foe
OF the Blaine doctrine Of reciprocity
when that idea was first presented for
incorporation in the Mckinley tariff
bill. Relying upon reiterated news
paper statements heretofore never de-
MED, we have ourselves, in times past,
laid this charge against McKinley's
door. 1t Is no more than just, there
fore, to give him at this time, the bene-
lit of a conclusive defense, voluntarily
rendered by William f. Curtis, who
was one of Mr.. Blaine's most intimate
and trusted assistants in the prepara-
tion of the reciprocal trade treaties of
1890 and 81. Says Mr.. Curtis:
"The international American confer
ence which was in session in Washing
ton during the winter Of 1SS9-9O, had un-
der consideration the subject of estab-
fishing customs union under which
1t was proposed to have a complete in
terchange Of products among all the
nations Of the American hemisphere,
without import duties, similar to the
German zollverein and the free trade
that exists between our states. This
was declared impossible so far as 1t in
cluded articles of luxury, for the reason
that the other American republics are
entirely dependent upon import duties
for revenue; but it was agreed and
recommended that q series Of reci-
procity treaties might be negotiated be-
tween them for the free interchange
Of food products and other necessaries
of life.
While the discussion was going on
the foreign delegates observed with
great solicitude the progress of the
preparation Of the Mckinley law. The
conflicting reports in the newspapers
Of what had been or would be done with
the tariff schedules in which were in
cluded the staple products and chief
exports Of the country from which they
came afforded a topic Of more interest
ing discussion than the questions under
discussion in their own councils. To
allay their apprehensions concerning
the proposed changes in the duties up
on sugar, hides, carpet woods and some
other articles, the secretary of state
asked the committee of ways and
means not to disturb the existing tariff
schedules so far as those articles were
concerned. He assured them of his
confidence that valuable concessions
might be obtained by diplomatic ne
gotiations from the other American re-
publics in favor Of the agricultural and
mechanical products of the United
States, which would be impossible If
the duties on hides and sugar were re-
moved and the duties upon carpet
woods and other articles increased as
was then proposed. In lieu of such ac-
tion he suggested an amendment to the
bill carrying out the recommendations
Of the conference and embracing his
own ideas as to what might be done by
the United States.
"One morning in February, 1890,
think 1t was the 7th or Sth, Mr.. Blaine
asked me to take that amendment to
the capitol' and hand 1t to Representa-
tive Mckinley, with a request that it
be added to the tariff bill. I knocked
at the door Of the room of ways and
means and found the committee in ses-
sion. Mr.. Mckinley came out into the
corridor, where handed him the
amendment, explained to him what It