Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-13
DEMAND FOR REctpBocrTY.

DEMINp fbh hEtith'' ~ -
owing to changed conditions It may
be necessary, In framing the new tariff
bill, to somewhat modify the scheme
of commercial reciprocity provided for
in tho act of 1880. II has been pointed
out that it will hardly be practicable
to negotiate reciprocity arrangements
upon the precise terms of the Mckinley
! law and 1t Is suggested that for this
reason some difficulty may be found in
arranging the reciprocity feature of
the now bill Tine demand, however,
for restoration of this policy will be
met. The republican party is fully
committed to this, the prosidcnt-elect
is heartily in accord with the platform
promise and whatever The difficulties
to be overcome the next administration
will be given the opportunity to carry
out the reciprocity principle to the
greatest practicable extent
Perhaps the most urgent demand for
reciprocity comes from the wheat mil
lors, that industry having realized large
benefit from this policy whilN it was
in effect According TO the statement
of the president of the Wheat Millcrs
league in II letter to Chairman Dingley
Of the ways and means committees, I'M
der the stimulating influence of the
reciprocity of lSDO the milling industry
of the United States has, since then,
nearly doubled its capacity. He states
that the investment of capital in this
business and the annual output is
greater by many millions of dollars
dian any other industry in the land,
while back of it lie the interests
of great share of our agricultural
classes, composing IS per cent of our
population. This representative of the
milling industry urges that the object of
reciprocity legislation should be to lind
more markets for the constantly increas-
ing volume of our food products in Il
manner that would not endanger Il loss
of revenp nor permit the admission here
Of commodities that would seriously
| compete with our own manufactures.
He would have n broad policy that would
open the markets of the most populous
and wealthy nations of the world for the
absorption of the surplus of our farmers
and millcrs. that weighs so heavily on
the milling and kindred industries.
There is II hardly less earnest demand
for reciprocity from other industries,
Various manufacturing interests have
declared in favor of it and it is safe to
say that there is II practically universal
desire among all classes of producers
hn hn1
and n fair trial. The opposition to ii
does not come from the great Industrial
interests of the country. 1t does not
come from the greater agricultural in
tereSt These are united in demanding
reciprocity as in the interest of COM
mcrcial expansion and increased pros.
perity. They recognize in it Il means
of establishing closer trade relations
with large portion or the world, en-
bracing not only the countries of this
hemisphere. but also European nations
and especially those which are now dis
eliminating against our food products.
And this may be accomplished without
sacrificing a proper measure of protec-
tion to American Industries and labor.
The application of reciprocity has been
found to be entirely compatible with the
protective principle-indeed protection
and reciprocity, as declared in the re-
publican platform, are twin policies,
which will operate together in perfect
harmony in stimulating and building up
our industrial interests and in extending
and increasing our foreign commerce.