Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-03


other things whatever concerns labor
and all matters affecting the great
business corporations and our mer-
chant marine.
Labor.
The president declares that he re-
CARDS it necessary to re-enact the Chi
nese exclusion law. In regard to labor
he says that the government should
provide in its contracts that all work
should be done under fair" conditions
and that all night work should be for
hidden for women aud children as well
as excessive overtime. He continues:
Very great good has been and will be
accomplished by associations or unions
of wageworkers when managed with
forethought and when they combine in
sistence upon their own rights with
law abiding respect for the rights of
others The display of these qualities
in such bodies is a duty to the nation
no less than to the associations them
selves. Finally. there must also in
many cases be action by the govern
ment in order to safeguard the rights
and interests of all. Under our constl-
tuition there is much more scope for
such action by the state and the munic-
/ ipality than by the nation. But on
points such as those touched on above
the national government can act.
He asserts that the immigration laws
are unsatisfactory and that a law
should be enacted to keep out not only
anarchists, but persons of a low moral
tendency or of unsavory reputation
and those who are below a certain
standard of economic fitness to enter
our industrial field as competitors with
American labor.
The Tariff and Reciprocity.
The president declares that nothing
could be more unwise than to disturb
the business interests Of the country by
any general tariff change at this time.
He adds:
Yet it is not only possible, but emf
nently desirable, to combine with the
stability OF our economic system sup
Elementary system of reciprocal bene-
fit and obligation with other nations.
Such reciprocity is an Incident and re-
suit OF the firm establishment and
preservation of our present economic
policy. 1t was specially provided for
in the present tariff law.
Reciprocity must be treated as the
handmaiden Of protection. Our first
duty is to see that the protection grant
ed by the tariff in every case where it
is needed is maintained. and that reci-
procity be sought for so far as it can
safely be done without injury TO our
home Industries. Just how far this is
must be determined according to the
individual case. remembering always
that every application OF our tariff pol
icy to meet our shifting national needs
must be conditioned upon the cardinal
fact that the duties must never be
reduced below the point that will cover
the difference between the labor cost
the wageworker is prime considera-
ton of our entire policy of economic
legislation.
Need For Wider Markets.
Subject to this proviso OF the proper
protection necessary to our Industrial
well being at home, the principle of
reciprocity must command our hearty
support. The phenomenal growth of
our export trade emphasizes the ur-
gency of the need for wider markets
and for a liberal policy in dealing with
foreign nations. Whatever is merely
petty and vexatious in the way of
trade restrictions should be avoided.
The customers to whom we dispose of
our surplus products in the long run,
directly or Indirectly, purchase those
surplus products by giving us some
thing in return Their ability to pur-
chase our products should as far as
possible be secured by so arranging
Ill 90. 4.N-
them those products which we can use
without harm to our own industries
and labor or the use Of which will be
of marked benefit to us.
1t is most important that we should
maintain the high level of our present
prosperity. We have now reached the
point in the development of our in
terests where we are not only able to
supply our own markets, but to pro-
duce n constantly growing surplus for
which we must find markets abroad.
To secure these markets we can util-
iZe existing duties in any case where
they are no longer needed for the pur-
pose 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 cordial relations with other ma
tions which are so desirable will nat
urally be promoted by the course thus
required by our own interests.
The natural line Of development for a
policy of reciprocity will be In connec-
ton with those of our productions
which no longer require all OF the sup
them
upon a sound basis and with those 9th
ers where either because of natural or
of economic causes we are beyond the
reach Of successful competition.
ask the attention of the senate to
the reciprocity treaties laid before it by
my predecessor.
The Merchant Marine.
The condition of the American mer-
chant marine is such as to call for i'm
mediate remedial action by the con-