The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-06-28
TARIFF REVISION.

The Review has always maintained the principle
OF protection. 1t has believed and does believe
that the theory of protection has been one of the
wisest elements of American statecraft. Protec-
ton has been endorsed by the people time and
again and even when democracy came into power
under Grover Cleveland and a tariff for revenue
only platform, it was unable to get away from the
principle of protection and its tariff legislation was
but a bungling piece of work along protective lines.
The tariff schedule and the theory of protection
are two different things. The schedule may con-
tain blunders and injustlces, but that does not eff
feet the righteousness of the principle nor its value
to the American people. The Review has often
Hkened the different tariff schedules to the asses
SCISSORS rolls. The assessment of your township
may have been absolutely fair at the time it was
made, but none of you would wish that assessment
to stand for ten or even five years. Changed CON
ditions would soon make the most just assessment
unjust. In the same way changed business con-
ditions soon give rise to inequalities and ~injusticess
in tariff schedules. Let 1t be understood that the
theory of protection is to add to the cost of i'm.
ported goods, that they cannot be sold here for a
less price than the same goods can be made in
America at American wages.
Let US suppose a case. Presume that a certain
pair of shoes can be made in America for ST. 90 and
in Germany for 81. 50, the difference being in the
cost of labor in the United States and in GERMANY.
The tariff under the protective theory should be
high enough to protect the American workingmen
IN their labor and in their wages. BY the inven-
ton of new mechanical devices the cost of produc-
ton in America is reduced to 81. 90, then after such
a lapse of time as shall prove that the cheapening
OF the cost of manufacture is permanent, the tariff
should be reduced on shoes r,a1-;rr +l,, ,olj:..
price such that there may be fair competition be-
tween American and German made shoes on the
basis, however, of the American wage scale. Tariff
revision IS then a necessity from time to time but
the revision should be made by the friends and not
the enemies of protection. The object should not
be to spite the successful manufacturer. We need
successful manufacturers in this country. The OBJ
Ject should be to protect the manufacturer from
unfair competition with foreign goods, the laborer
from unfair competition with foreign labor, and the
people at large from unfair and unreasonably high
prices. We believe in tariff revision along such
Just and equitable lines, but believe more firmly
than ever in the principle Of protection, which has
IN every instance proved a blessing and a help to
the American people. Sane and intelligent dis
cusslon OF tariff schedules are always in order.
Wherever lnjustices exist they should be pointed
VI duQ corrected DIV
them. A good law may be made odious bv unjust
application. Not long ago the mayor of Omaha
tired to make the Sunday laws obnoxious by lust
such a method. The people wanted a quiet and
orderly Sabbath, but the mayor sought to wean
them from that desire by imposing all sorts Of re-
stnctlons, by preventing the sale of newspapers,
by closing many necessary avenues of trade. The
protective tariff may become obnoxious to the peo-
pie unless it is constantly kept up-to-date in its
provisions. we DO not want any sweeping tariff
reductions. Business has adjusted itself to the
present schedule just as it has adjusted itself TO the
gold standard, and any sweeping change would re-
suit IN business disaster to interests which it is for
the best OF the whole people to sustain and cherish.
Sensible and timely tariff revision is, however, the
only sure method by which the theory Of protection
can be maintained in this country, and the friends
OF protection should see to it that such revisions
are made.