The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-09-13
OPPOSED TO REVISION
SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN Ex-
PRESS THEIR OPINIONS.
he Delusi0ns of Tariff Reformers" and
In-Informed Politicians Ably Dissected
and the Truth Clearly Set Forth-Peo-
pie Opposed to Tariff Revision.


One of the most comprehensive and
conclusive arguments supplied In re-
spouse to the American Economists
requests for expressions on the subject
of tariff revision is that contained in
the subjoined letter of Congressman
Burkett of Nebraska. There is, for
example. a world of sound sense in
this statement:
THE Dingley bill may not be per-
feet in its workings in every partlcu-
lar, but would the little that we could
hope to better it warrant the risk Of
the undertaking. especially when We
take into consideration the fact that
the machinery of commerce and indus
try are all adjusted to it?"
Congressman Burketts letter in full
follows:
In response to your letter of recent
date asking my opinion of general
revision of the tariff law in the hfty-
seventh congress, permit me to say
| do not find any demand In the Middle
West for tariff revision. In fact, l
should say it is not desired. The peo-
pie are prosperous, and in my Judg-
ment they do not forget with what
promptness their prosperity followed
the enactment of the Dingley bill. In
this | would differ with the eminent
statesman from Ohio, General Gros-
venor. in his letter of June /, copy
Of which is before me, and wherein ne
said:
"The great danger to the. future well
fare of the American people lies IN the
shortness of their memory"
The people" have not forgotten, nor
will they ever forget, the disasters IN
business during the unfortunate period
of free trade in this country.
The agitation for revision of the tar
if laws is neither the voice nor the
mind of 1.-The people" 1t does not
sound like the people; it does not
look like 1.-The people; it does not
come through proper channels to be
recognized as of 1.-The people" l nave
failed to find any expression OF the
people" whatsoever, either in election
returns or elsewhere, indicating their
dissatisfaction with the present condl-
| lions.
Agitators may always be found.
| Those who believe in free trade would
no doubt like to see the advocates OF
the American System" in CLASH
among themselves as to detail. FER
sons interested in certain ways no
doubt may pretend to believe a revi-
sion of the tariff desirable; but neither
the voice of the agitator, nor of the
free trader. nor the interested one,
should be mistaken for the voice OF
"the people,
Some may attempt 10 name particu-
lar faults in our present tarlff laws
but the chances are that they are not
in sympathy with the general policy
of protection.
It can be said without doubt that no
legislation could be enacted that would
suit everybody and every individuafs
interest. The welfare of the whoie
American people is the criterion by
which the American congress should
be guided. The farmer in the West,
the planter in the South the manutac-
turer in the East and the wool grower
in the Northwest and the laboring man
all over the country are prosperous at
present and in my judgment ask no
| change.
The Dingley bill may not be perfect
| in its workings in every particular, put
would the little that we could nope 10
better II warrant the risk of the I'M
dertaking. especially when we take in
to consideration the fact that the ma
| chinery of commerce and industry are
all adjusted to it? Besides, reciprocity
&c q wisely devised and constructed
safety valve to guard against any pos
sible danger of too high tension OF the
tariff law itself in any particular. A
tariff law Is the commercial policy OF
the nation. 1t Is the governor, SO TO
sneak on the commercial and INDUS
trial machinery of the nation, and II
we would take it off to mend it the
machinery would either run away with
itself or stop on a dead center. Any
threat of tinkering with the law
would create such fear in business
centers and among the people inter-
ested as to do much harm. even II the
only excuse therefor should prove to
be the familiar philosophy that the
bark Is often worse than the bite.
| Yours truly,
e. ]. BURKETT,
NJ. c., First Dist. Of Nebraska.
Lincoln. Neb., July "a, 1901.