The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-06
The Scramble for Protection.

II is quite evident that there isn't going
to be any hesitation about demanding pro-
lection in the tariff BILL which win be re-
ported to congress very soon after that
body meets on March Is. 1t is well under
stood that the party in power believes in
the protection principle. and consequently
all who have interests which they believe
they could make more profitable with the
assistance of protective duty, are going
to insist that they shall have a share of
whatever advantages there are to be gain
ed from protection.
The following extract from a letter, re-
ceived yesterday by MIR. II. p. Smart OF
this city from the head of one Of the larg-
est lumber concerns in the country shows
quite clearly the feeling which prevails
among the owners of the various indus
tries of the country:
Il realize how difficult 1t is to
get an expression from our
democratic senators on a general tariff
bill but in view of the fact that what we
are asking on lumber, namely, 500 per
thousand feet, is so far below revenue
producing point, no one but a rank free
trader can object; and, as our friend Win
chester says, the north has been these
many years taking all the protection and
giving the south all the free trade Now,
the south, having interests in manutac-
turing, mines lumber, etc, is beginning
to look at the thing differently. AS the
policy OF the administration is for pro-
lection. there is no reason based on com
mon sense why the lumbermen should be
left out"
In other words, the writer of the above
takes the position that If everybody else
is going to get some of the expected ad-
vantages of protection, there is no reason
why lumbermen shouldn' be put in a po-
sitlon to demand better prices for the
product of their mills. Those who have
other interests advance about the same
argument that the lumbermen do.
And isn't it a good argument? Why
should there be any discrimination? If
the cotton and wool men are to be pro-
tected, why shouldn't the lunbermen be;
and why shouldn't the growers of sea is
land cotton be? The lumbermen have just
as strong a reason as any other producers.
In fact, the reason holds good as to any
and every producer. who thinks he could
get higher prices for his product if given
protection.
We don't know whether or not southern
democrats will support a tariff bill framed
on protective lines, but 1t is quite evident
that they are going TO be asked to do so
by very large part of their constituents.
Some of these constituents favor a tariff
for revenue only, but if a different sort
of tariff is to be enacted they must have
protection for the interests in which they
are concerned, or else they will be placed
at a great disadvantage in comparison
with northern producers. They cannot af-
ford to pay protection prices for their sup
plies and sell their products at free trade
prices.
There is no doubt that strictly revenue
tariff would be for the best interests of the
country. If that is not the kind of q
tariff we are to have, however, southern
producers must be put on a footing with
northern producers in whatever kind of &
tariff measure the party In power choose.
| TO pass.
| We do not believe that democrats SHOULD
| lend the republicans assistance in passing
a protective tariff bill, but they SHOULD
see to it that there is no discrimination
against the south simply because the soutl
is democratic.