The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-19
TARIFF THE TOPIC.
PAx-AMERICAy BUSINESS MEN IN
FERCHANGE VIEWS.
Representative From the indassrfaA
Cent~rs Of the New World DISCUSS
Recilrccity-Meetfn in the Fhft-
ndeipNia Commercfai museum
Arthur $. Hitehinxs Advocates
Free Trade-Forci5ly Answered oy
PrOtectionixts.

TitLaAIE14cHIAs July 10. AHe ~NNA
Enerciai Representatives of Mexico CsntfaI
and South America. VINO last night return
Ell from their forty days tour OF the ihaas-
trial centers of the country, assembled az
the Philadelphia Commercial museum anu
held symposium on the suoJer, OF reti-
procity. The meeting was or a Iar1iasfssn n
tary nature. and a number or speeches.
were made. several or the oe7ega,sS ex-
pressing decided views on the tariff quas-
tion. A general discussion OF the subject
followed. Dr. Gustav Neideriin. scientific
director Of the museum, presided BY way
or introduction, he said:
The United States congress Is now pass
Ing the tariff BILL and IN t1e alhei1i'sehtS
special power is given 10 ife PfesiaeAt 20
lower the tariff quotations - per cent foE
each article which can be tncindsd IN Tue
rules OF reciprocity. The question OF reel
procity is the most difficult IN the Worid
economy. and our institutions nave peen
established with the aim 10 come nearer the
solution of this great problem
The most pronounced free trader of the
party, Arth.ls S, Hitchings, or Rio de ia
h.iTo, hau this 10 say
Il beg. first. TO signify nay sincere thanks
Tor the extreme kindness which ana the
other delegates have met with IA an the
cities We have visited in this country He
have been received In yoar chambers or
commerce, your universities. yauf ciuns
ana Your homes. and on every occasion we
nave been struck with the wonderful 2f-
vancsrnent which every branch has shown
us. reciprocity. If il were as easy petween
countries as between industries, would ull,
douStedly be a just definition OF fair ana
free trade. hut circumstances often, almost
always. create difficulties, which prevent
a practical realiZa ton Of such q clsposl-
ton. That friendly countries should ne
inclined TO make IL a system Is natural. bur
| do not think il can exist without free
trade. and | would fe+ wrong in holding ont
prospects which would indicate any treaty
by which Brazil would bind itself 10 favor
one country more than others.
Il believe that the exceptional advan-
,ages canada Il giving Great Britain are
legislative blunders and time viii prove
n. 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 IT is Will last for long. and it viii be
still more difficult 10 have exceptional
laws fasoring the many nations on the
American continent. The interests OF these
are not alike, nor can their product or
manufactures find an outlet and consumr-
ton within their respective or united
boundaries. Europe must necessarily be
sought after, both by North and South
America, and 1t would be inconsiderate to
propose any legislation that would ex-
Guide existing equality whereby all ma
tions are treated alike. Such legislation
would interfere with production, for Ii
would lead 10 surplus stock. and exact
quantities for barter would be required in
stead of progressive increase. which only
great and greater intercourse with the
whole world can foster and regulate.
have heard much of the Monroe doc
trine. but surely such ideas cannot apply
to trade. Let us, gentlemen, forego all
petty notions that are not based on sound
reasoning. and let us circumscribe our de-
sires within possible scope. We have
seen on our tour that the United States
produces machinery. and many of the ar
ticles which we import at present from
other countries, and We have noticed that
these states also import many things sim
liar to what We buy In Europe. | must
StN hnf hS. mo jnf~f Nf rnt.r
manufactures. although in most ways
iitted for our markets, are too high priced
and there will be no increase in foreign
trade until there Is a reduction in the
general scale OF prices. You have TO APP
preciate your dollars which have hitherto
been so easily earned. You must make
their purchasing power greater. so that
cheaper living Will follow and more con-
tentment. But with protective duties and
inflated currency. such results cannot he
attained.
ploy most advanced machinery. but these
machines are exported, copied and in
some cases improved on: Others are here
by enabled 10 cofapete with YOU by using
your own inventions. by RED seed price of
labor and uEtaSed cost of raw material
Competition Is wholesome for il cofrects
oVer-pToduction. but You require 10 pro-
duce mere for the employment of your
skilled workmen and you must find mar
kots wherein 10 dispose of your goods
ana all this neceSsitates altered sys-
quantities of much OF the raw material
used, Your machinery is most effective
but 40 not expect too much of IL. Your
%orknen are very skilled but do NOT ,In-
der-rate the foreigner. and TO all your ad-
Nantages add what free trade can alone
secufe-a permanent and engrossing in
ternationai commerce, which viii insure
the future OF every workmen In this Won
derfuf country. This is what | understand
hy reciprocity. and my most earnest wish
Is that In such example we in our country
VIII ind lesson and an incentive to do
likewise
Mr.. Hitchings' views were for the most
part seconded by Carlos klett an extern
sivc exporter of wool and hides from Ar
sentina. but Muro Fernandez. minister
OF Costa Eica. Central America made a
strong plea for protection. He declared
that the question came down to a con-
test between the necessity of the 1oliti-
clan, which was protection and the as
piration of the scientific free trade. .1'he
United States Is right TO protect her In
dnstries until she can walk alone" he
exclaimed. "for IN some political respects
she Is sim a baby"
The meeting resolved itself into a de-
bate between the free traders and the pro-
tectionlsts of the party. Louis a. Dillon,
of Ecuador. told his hearers that the ma
ton imported very much more from the
United States than they exported TO this
country, but the business men Of his coun-
try had found that they could DO better
with Europe. where they were enabled to
secure very much smaller rates OF freight.
Other addresses were made by Henry 5,
Price. of Colombia. and Antonio +. Dol
mo. Of Venezuela
After the discussion the party went to
Willow Grove. where dinner WAS served
Tomorrow there will be another meeting
at the museum and then the delegates
Will ats.,4rSa