Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-11-22
TALK ABOUT TARIFF.
Subject of Much Discussion at Reel
procity Convention.
MANY DELEGATES IN ATTENDANCE.
Mr.. Search, of Philadelphia, Made
Permanent Chairman-His Speech
Outlining the Work of the
Convention.

Washington, Nov. 2O.-Many of the
manufacturing industries of the Unit
ed States were represented at the ma
tional reciprocity convention, which
began its sessions here Tuesday
There were 200 delegates present in re-
spouse to call issued by the National
Association of Manufacturers at a
meeting in Detroit last June. The con-
vention is representative of all sections
and it's object is to give expression to
the views of manufacturers generally
on the subject of reciprocity.
Omcers of the Convention.
D. A. Tompkins, of Charlotte, N. c.,
was chosen temporary chairman and
Theodore c. Search, of Philadelphia,
then was made permanent chairman.
The organization was completed by the
election of the following:
Vice chairmen, Gen. w. r. Draper. Mas
sachusetts; T. L. Hickman. Georgia;
Charles H. Harding, Pennsylvania; James
city, and Robert j. Morgan, Ohio. Secre-
taries, Edward H. sanborn, Pennsylvania,
and E. P. Wilson. Cincinnati
The convention adopted resolutions
of greeting to President Roosevelt,
pledging it's support and expressing
Its confidence in his administration.
Work Before Convention.
Mr.. Search, in taking the chair, out
lined the work before the convention.
He said, in part:
"Our aim has been to forestall tariff
agitation, not to encourage it. It is the
duty OF this convention to harmonic as
far as possible the widely differing opin-
ions represented in this body and to re-
duce to clear and forceful expression such
here to harmonic our views, not to en-
phasize our differences.
"This is no time or place for sentiment,
for theories, OF for statements that can
not be fully substantiated by facts. take
It we are all agreed as to certain general
propositions. such as these:
THAT some of the duties embraced in our
present tariff are no longer needful for
the existence of the industries for whose
protection they are imposed.
THAT many Of our industries have
reached a stage tn their development
where the home market alone cannot alb
sorb their entire product and consequently
new outlets are necessary for their con-
tfnuous operation and the steady employ
ment of their operatives.
THAT the Establishment of more cordial
commercial relations with other nations
by means of an exchange of tariff conces-
sions would enlarge the foreign outlets of
those industries for which increased ex-
port trade is necessary.
THAT If such applications of the prin-
ciples Of commercial reciprocity could be
made without injury to any of our indus
tries the consequent expansion of our for
eign trade would be beneficial to all our
commercial and industrial interests.
Coffee and tea are about the only great
staple articles OF commerce which we do
not produce. and II reciprocity be limited
to the use Of these two commodities as a
basis for negotiations we cannot expect
to make much progress. To insist upon
strict adherence to such principle in
making application of reciprocity is vir-
fually TO oppose Its use in any practical
form.
THE reciprocity that is wanted to-day
IS reciprocity that means something and
promises something In the shape of tan
gible advantages for our commerce, not
merely expressions of kind sentiment to-
ward all the business world, but an actual
giving and taking of concessions that will
open wider for us the markets of the world
and broaden the distribution of our prod
ucts."
The convention then took recess
lntil two o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
Committee announcements and the
reading of papers, largely technical,
occupied the afternoon session.
Charles Heber Clark, of Philadelphia,
made strong plea to the conyen-
ton for protection. He took a po-
sition against any modification of
the tariff, and against tariff conees-
sions such as he believed to be in
contemplation. He contended that
past experience showed that reci-
ProcitY treaty was not beneficial to
the country; that under the Dingiey
bill the balance of trade had swung
around in favor of this country,
while the balance was against us un-
der the Wilson bill.
Frank Leake, representing the
Manufacturers Club, of Phtladel-
phia, favored the creation of de-
partment Of commerce and manufac-
lures to avoid extensive fluctuations
In business conditions brought
about by ill-advised agitation.
Urges REORGANIZATION.
George J. Seabury, of New York,
the upbuilding of a strong
merchant marine and construction of
an isthmus canal as paramount in
Importance to reciprocity treaties.
He advocated reduction in the war
revenue tariff, but not in the Ding
Fey tariff. His speech, which he said
was New York's contribution to the
meeting, urged "procrastination in
general commercial reciprocity" He
said: "a disturbance in the present
tariff is absolutely unnecessary, and
gan be enacted only by those OPP
Grating in the interests of foreign
manufacturers"
Others who made addresses were A.
B. Farquhaf, York, Pa; George a.
Barbour, Detroit; William L. Bass,
Brooklyn; Henry Daley, New York,
and S. 0. Bigney, Attleboro, Mass.
A Might Session.
The night session, devoted to the
subject of reciprocity with the Span
ish-American countries, developed the
fact that the delegates were having
difficult time in avoiding making
straight-out high tariff speeches,
while striving to confine themselves to
the discussion of reciprocal relations.
One speaker said that he had heard
nothing but high tariff speeches all
day, and that, were the delegates not
80 earnestly trying to attain the ends
mapped out, one might believe that he
was attending political meeting at
the height of an important campaign.
The discussion AT night centered main
ly around the matter of the importa-