The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-19

PHllAAlJHIfAlAt Ia, July lh,--lHe
commercial representatives Of Mexico,
Central and South America, who last
night returned from their forty days
tour Of the industrial centres of the
country, assembled to-day at the COM
mercial museum and held symposium
ON the subject OF reciprocity, The
meeting was OF parliamentary nature
and a number of speeches were made,
several of the delegates expressing de-
clded Views on the tariff question. A
general discussion OF the subject fol-
lowed.
Or. Gustav Neiderleln, scientific dlrec-
tor OF the museum, presided. BY way
of Introduction, he said: "The United
States congress is now passing tnrin
bill and in the amendments. q special
power is given to the President to lower
the tariff quotation 20 per cent for each
article which can be included In trea-
ties OF reciprocity. The question OF rec
iproclty is the most difficult in the
worlds economy and our institution
has been established with the aim to
come nearer the solution Of this great
problem. Our Congress is part of this
work, necessary 10 see clearer in the
worlds production and consumption.
We limited ourselves this time to Amer
lea as the part OF the world which not
only, historically and geographically
| shall be considered as one, but which
also commercially and economically
have common interests" -,..
A Free Traders Views.
The most pronounced free trader OF
the party, Arthur s. H. Hitchings, of
Rio de Janeiro. had this to say: II beg
first to signify my sincere thanks for
| the exceeding kindness which ] and
other delegates have met with In all the
cities we have visited in this country.
| We have been received in your cham
bers Of commerce, your universities,
your clubs and your homes, and on ev-
cry occasion we have been struck with
the wonderful advancement which every
branch has shown us.
"Reciprocity, IL 1t were as easy be-
tween nations as between individuals
would undoubtedly be Just definition
OF fair and friendly trade, but circum-
! stances often, almost always, create
difficulties which prevent a practical rec
| allzation of such n disposition. That
friendly countries should be inclined to
| make II a system is natural, but i do
| not think 1t can exist without free trade
and l would be wrong in holding out
prospects which would Indicate any
| treaty by which Brazil would bind IT.
| self to favor one country more than
| others,
~ believe that the exceptional advan-
| tages Canada Is giving Great Britain
| are legislative blunders and time Will
prove 1t. They are opposed to the
| broad and liberal laws which secured TO
England her extensive foreign trade.
| With this view, cannot believe that
their reciprocity (for such 1t is) VIII last
| for long, and II would be still more
difficult TO have exceptional laws fa-
voring the many nations on the Amerl-
can continent.
| The Monroe Doctrine.
'I have heard much OF the Monroe
doctrine. but surely such ideas cannot
apply to trade. Let US, gentlemen, fore
| go all pretty notions that are not based
on sound reasoning and let us clrcum-
scribe our desires within possible
scope. We have seen on our tour that
the United States produce machinery
and many articles which we import at
present from other countries and we
have noticed that these states also im-
| port many things similar to what we
buy In Europe. / must say, however,
that the majority Of your manufactures
although in most ways fitted for our
market, are too high priced, and there
will be no increasing foreign trade un-
| I'll there is n reduction in the general
scale OF prices. 1t has been my pleas.
ure in the intercourse with your coun-
| trymen to find that the majority agree
In the belief that protection has con-
cluded it's good work; that Its perma--
nence win be effectively pcrnlclous and
that your currency requires without de-
lay to be placed beyond the reach OF
politics or the manipulation OF silver
trusts"
A ProtoctIoniStE Plea.
Mr. Hltehlngs' Views We're for the
most part seconded by Carlos Lix Klctt,
an extensive exporter OF wool and hides
| from the Argentine republic, but Mauro
| Fernandez, former minister OF finance
of Costa Rico, Central America. made n
| strong plea IN Favor or protection ho
declared that the question came down
to contest between the necessity of
the politician and the aspiration OF the
sclcntlst-frco trade The United States
IL right to protect her industries until
shc can walk alone, he exclaimed, for
In some political respects she Is stlll n
baby,
The meeting hcrcupon resolved Itself
into debate between the free traders
and the protcctlonlsts Of the party
After the general discussion which
followed tho party went TO Willow
Grove, where dinner wns served,
Tomorrow there win be another
meeting at the museum aid then the
delegates viii dlspersc. Many VIII 10
to Europe, others viii remain In this
country to continue their studies OF itB
indullrlcH, and some viii return directly