Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-05


should be enacted to keep out not only
anarchists, but persons of n 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 unwisc 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 a 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
"
is needed is maintained. and that reel
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
ho ha on ~ n oil
fact that the duties must never be
reduced below the point that will cover
the difference between the labor cost
here and abroad. The well being of
the waGeworker is prime considera-
ton of our entire policy of economic
legislation.
Need For Wider Markets.
Subject to this provlso of the proper
protection necessary to our industrial
well being ut home, the principle of
reciprocity must command our hearty
support. The phenomenal growth OF
oar export trade emphasizes the ur-
gency of the need for wider markets
and for iberal 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
our tariff as to enable us to take from
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 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
tons which are so desirable will nat
urally be promoted by the course thus
required by cur own interests.
The natural line of development for n
policy Of reciprocity will be in connec
ton with those of our productions
which no longer require all of the sup
port once needed to establish 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.
gress. 1t is discredtable to us as a
nation that our merchant marine
should be utterly insignificant in com.
parison to that of other nations which
we overtop in other forms Of business.
We should not longer submit TO condi
tons under which only a trifling por.
ton of our great commerce is carried
in our own ships. To remedy this state
of things would not merely serve to
build up our shipping interests, but it
would also result in benefit to all who
are interested in the permanent estab-
lishmcnt of a wider market for Amer
lean products and would provide an
auxiliary force for the navy. Ships
work for their own countries just as
railroads work for their terminal
points. Shipping lines, if established to
the principal countries with which we
have dealings, would be of political as
well as commercial benefit From ev-
cry standpoint it is unwise for the
United States to continue to rely upon
the ships of competing nations for the
distribution of our goods. 1t should be
made advantageous to carry American
goods in American built ships.
At present American shipping is IN
der certain great disadvantages when
put in competition with the shipping
of foreign countries. Many of the fast
foreign steamships, at speed Of four
teen knots or above. are subsidized,
and all our ships, sailing vessels and
steamers alike, cargo carriers of slow
speed and mail carriers of high speed,