Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-06
THE TARIFF.
Any General Change i'm 1t Not to BE
Desired at This Time.


There is general acquiescence in our
present tariff system as a national policy.
The first requisite to our prosperity is the
continuity and stability Of this economic
Tran to disturb the 6 Business interestS Of
the country by any general tariff change
at this time. Doubt, apprehension. I'M
certainty. are exactly what we most wish
to avoid In the interest of our commercial
and material we'll being. Our experience
in the past has shown that sweeping revi-
sions of the tariff are apt to produce con-
business world Yet it is not only posi-
BILE, but eminently desirable, to combine
with the stability of our economic sys-
benefit and obligation with other nations.
Such reciprocity is an incident and result
of the firm establishment and preservation
of our present economic policy. 1t was
law.
Recommends Reciprocity.
Reciprocity must be treated as the hand
maiden of protection. Our first duty is to
see that the protection granted by the tar
maintained and that reciprocity be sought
for so far as 1t can safely be done without
injury to our home industries. Just how
far this, is must be determined according
to the individual case, remembering al
ways that every application of our tariff
policy to meet our shifting national needs
must be conditioned upon the cardinal
duced below the point that will cover the
difference between the labor cost here and
abroad. The we'll being Of the wagework-
policy of economic legislation
Subject to this proviso of the proper
protection necessary to our INDUS trial
vel being at home the principle Of reel
port. The phenomenal growth Of our
export trade emphasizes the urgency of
the need for wider arketS and for lib
tions. Whatever is merely petty and vex-
atious in the way of trade restrictions
should be avoided: The customers to
in the long run directly or Indirectly pur-
chase those surplus products by giving us
something in return. Their ability to pur-
sible be secured by so arranging our tar
iff as to enable us to take from them
those products which we can use without
harm to our own industries and labor or
to US.
Line of Reciprocal Development.
1t is most important that we should
maintain the high level of our present
p primt r. we have nov reached the
where we are not only able to supply our
own markets., but to produce constantly
EroTxi a4 Surplus spprpms fer which we must find
we can utilize existing duties in any case
where they are no longer needed for the
purpose, of protection, or in any case
where the article Is not produced here
and the duty. is no longer necessary for
revenue, as giving us something to offer
IN exchange for what we ask. The cor
dial relation with other nations which
are 50. desirable will naturally be pro-
noted by the course thus required by our
own interests.
The natural line of development for a
policy of reciprocity will be in connection
with those of our productions which no
longer require all of the support once
needed to establish them upon a sound
basis, and with those others where either
because Of natural or of economic causes
we are beyond the reach Of successful
competition.
I ask the attention of the senate to the
reciprocity treaties laid before it by my
predecessor.