Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-19
A TARIFF SYMPOSIUM.
LATIN AMERICANS DISCUSS PRO-
TECTION AND RECIPROCITY.
MANY FREE TRADE ARGUMENTS
BRAZIL's REPRESENTATIVE PRO-
TESTS AGAINST PROTECTION.
SAYS Ii Has Concluded Its Good Work
I'm America-COsta Ricnn Dele
gate UphOIds Republican
Policy - Commercial
Tour Is Ended.

Philadelphia. July 1S.-The commercial
Representatives of Mexico, Central and
South America, who last night returned
from their forty days tour Of the indus
trial centers of the country, assembled to-
day at the Philadelphia Commercial mu-
seums and held a symposium on the sub
| iect of reciprocity. The meeting was OF a
| parliamentary nature, and number of
| speeches were made, several of the dele
! gates expressing views on the tariff ques-
| tion. A general discussion of the subject
! followed.
! The most pronounced free trader Of the
party. Arthur S. II. Hitchings Of Rio de
Janeiro. had this to say:
! II beg, first. TO signify my sincere thanks
| for the exceeding kindness which l and
| the other delegates have met with in all
the cities We have visited i'm this country.
| We have been received in your chambers
/ of commerce. your universities, your clubs
and your homes. and on every occasion we
have been struck with the wonderful ad-
vancement which every branch has shown
US.
Reciprocity, if it were as easy between
nations as between individuals, would un-
doubtedly be a just definition Of fair and
friendly trade, but circumstances often, al
most always, create difficulties which pre-
vent Il practical realization of such dis
position. That friendly countries should be
inclined to make it system is natural
but do not think it can exist without Tree
trade and | would be wrong in holdlns
out prospects which would Indicate any
treaty bV which Brazil would bind itself
to favor one country more than others
IL believe that the eNceptonai ad-
are legislative bIunders, and time will prove
It. They are opposed to the broad ana
liberal laws which secured to England her
extensive foreign trade. WITH TINS view
cannot believe that their reciprocity LoT
such it, Isl will last for long and IL Woui1
be still more difficult to have exceptional
laws favorng the many nations on the
American continent. The interests OF these
are not alike nor can their produce ana
manufactures find an outlet and consump,.
tion within their respective or uhlteu
sought after both by North and South
America. and it would be inconslderate 10
propose any legislation that Wouia, exc eNcluGe le
treated alike. Such legislation would inter-
fere with production. for IL would LEAD 10
surplus stock and exact quantities Tor par
Ter would be required instead of progressive
increase which only greater ana sTtdttr
intercourse with the whole world can Ios'eI
Il have heard much of the Monroe doc
trine, but surely such ideas cannot apply
TO trade. Let Us, gentlemen, toreSo an
petty notions that eIS-not based on souhu
reasoning and let us Circumscribe our de-
sires within A possible scope. We nave seen
on our tour that the United States pro-
which we import at present from other
countries. and we have noticed that these
states also import many things similar TO
what we buy in Europe. l must say, now
ever, that the majority of your manufact-
ures. although in most ways fitted for our
markets. are too high priced, and there
will be no increase in foreign trade Until
there IS reduction in the general scale
of prices You have 10 appreciate your
dollars, which have hitherto been so cas-
lily earned; you must make their purchas-
ing power greater. so that cheaper living
will follow and more cOntentment. But,
with protective duties and inflated cur
rency, such results cannot be attained, and
IL was my pleasure in the intercourse with
your cOuntrymen to hnd that the majority
agree in the belief that protection has con-
cluded its good work; that its permanence
will be effectively pernicious and that your
currency requires, without delay, to be
placed beyond the reach of politics or the
manipulation of silver trusts.
We have seen how your factories employ
most advanced machinery, but these ma
chimes are exported, copied and in some
cases improved on; others are thereby en-
abled to compete with you by using your
own inventions, by reduced price Of labor
and untaxed cost of raw material. Compe-
tition is wholesome, for It corrects over
production but you require to produce
more for the employment of your skilled
workmen, and you must find markets
wherein to dispose of your goods. and all
this necessitates an altered system Your
machinery is most effective but do not ex-
pect too much Of il. Your workmen are
very skilled, but do not underrate the for
eigner and to all your advantages add
what free trade can alone secure-a per
nnanent and engrossing international COM
merCe, which shall insure. the future OF
every workman in this wonderful country.
This is what l understand by reciprocity,
and my most earnest wish is that in such
an example we in our country will find a
lesson and an incentive to do likewise.
Mr.. HitchingS' views were for the most
part seconded by Charles Lix Klett. an |
extensive exporter OF wool and hides from |
Argentine republic. but Mauro Fernandez |
formerly minister Of finance of Costa Rica. |
Central America, made a strong plea in |
favor OF protection. He declared that the |
the necessity of the politician, which was |
Profession. and the aspiration ton Of the scien- |
right to protect her Industries until she |
can walk alone" he exclaimed, for in |
some political respects she is still baby"
The meeting hereupOn resolved itself in |
to a debate between the free traders and |
the protectionists of the party Louis A; |
his country imported very much more from |
the United States than they exported TO |
them. but the business men or his country |
had found that they could do better with |
Europe where they were enabled TO Sc
cure very much smaller rates OF freight.
T. Ferrari Perez. special representative |
of the Mexican government. said that as |
his country increased its industries ii lad |
been at the same time reducing its tariff. |
Captain J. COrdera Da Graca, engineer !
and naval officer of Brazil, made another
free trade argument, CharacteriZing the |
present tariff bill as a monstrosity.
acter were made by Alejandero Garland. of /
Lima Peru; Henry S. Price, OF Columbia,
and Antonio E. DolfinO, of Caracas, Nen-
ezuela.
After the general discussion which fol-
lowed, the party went to Willow Grove
where dinner was served. Tomorrow there
will be another meeting at the museum,
and then the delegates will disperse. Many
will go tos Europe, others will remain in
this country to continue their studies of
its Industries. and some will return direct
" home. Those who will remain are solic-
iting additional information from the mer-
chants and manufacturers of the United
States and will reCiprocate with all the
data required pertaining to their countries.