The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-14
TARIFF STRIFE IN GERMANY.

~ EPORIS from Berlin show that the tariff con-
F troversy in that country is being carried
with much more heat and bitterness than such
controversies ever excited here In fact, the German
agitation approaches the ervor that marked the free
trade movement in Great Britain when for time the
demand for a repeal OF the laws
breaking out into something like civil The
German opponents Of the Kasers tariff scheme are
not talking Of Instruction. but nevertheless they are
displaying antagonism that threatens array class
against class and seriously disturb the whole social
organism.
The Kaiser desires an increased revenue and has
sought to obtain it partly by increase of customs
duties. He himself mas in all probability no preju-
dice in favor of one kind of duty rather than an
other. He has always held himself carefully aoef
from parties and therefore it is hardly fair to hold
him responsible for the schedules of the tariff that
has been submitted His Chancellor has doubtless
drawn up the bill best he could obtain the sup
port needed to carry it through the legislative
bodies. In doing so he has conceded so much to the
agrarans that he has aroused the intense opposition
OF the workers in the cities, who perceive that higher
duties on agricultural products will mean an in
creased cost Of bread Their fight therefore is the
that the British factory workers made against
the laws It is cry for food.
The bitterness with which the debate is carried on
was shown by a recent incident in the Reichstag
Herr Bebel, in opposing the BILL denounced it as
hunger tax and argued that its direct tendency is
toward a reduction of the working people to starva-
ton. Warming to his theme he appealed to the SEN
timent Of his hearers and told pathetic story of a
dying child in Berlin who said, 81 will be glad to
get TO heaven because there is no hunger there The
Pathos was spoiled by shout of mocking laughter
from the agrarians and one of them said the childs
hunger doubtless due to the fact that her parents
spent their money on beer rather than bread
That meant of course that the agrarian landlords
have no sympathy with workngmen and are not to
be moved by tales Of starvation Those stories how
ever, have profound effect upon the working
classes, and will be seen there is an antagonsm of
sentiment and sympathy that is decidedly dangerous
Free trade was carried in Great Britain by series
OF bad years that ruined crops and brought something
like famine to the people. In the face of the need
OF more food IT was impossible for the Government
to retain the corn laws What would happen in Ger
many if at the present juncture bad year should
and the people actually feel the pinch of star
walton is impossible to say 1t is certain however
the agrarians are playing in big luck in having a
chance to present their tariff at time when crops
are abundant and food is not scarce in any part of
the civilized world, unless certain remote parts OF
Russia be called civilized
The international effect of the tariff is not likely to
be anything like so acute as the domestic effect
There has been much talk of its interference with
American trade, but it may prove less hurfu than is
feared Our chief interest in it lies in the reported
statement of the Kaiser that if he did not get re-
ciprocty he would get in and smash things" Well
he is not going to get reciprocity, and if the new
German tariff is an illustration of his idea of smash
ing things we need not be alarmed hereafter by any,
thing he may say in his moments of exuberance.