Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-18
MUST Be RECIPROCAL
George E. Roberts Talks to the
Republicans.
SENATE MUST RECONSIDER ACTION
Says That the Policy of Reciprocity is
Synonymous With the Party Name
and That 1t Is Essential to CONNER
eial Growth.

Des Moines, June 12-"The action
of the senate in turning down all of
the reciprocity treaties negotiated by
the administration will embarass the
republican party not little in the next
congressional campaign, if it is not re-
considered in the meantime" said
George e. Roberts, of Fort Dodge, di-
rector of the mint. "The party is fully
committed to reciprocity. At this
stage of our industrial development it
is the natural complement of protec-
ton.
"The policy of protection has done
great work in the founding of our
industries. Without it England would
have gone on supplying manufacturers
to this market indefinitely adding
factory to factory for the American
trade The natural tendency of all in
dustries is to develop in the localities
that first obtain control of the mar
kets. The skilled labor is there, the
capitalists there are familiar with the
business, and have decided advantages
over beginners elsewhere. The protec-
tive tariff furnished an inducement for
removal of both capital and labor to
the United States, and greatly hasten
ed the development of this country.
But it is idle to maintain that condi-
lions relative to our industries have
not changed in the last twenty-five, or
even ten years. They are changing
constantly and rapidly. Industry af-
ter industry is reaching higher state
of efficiency in this country than at
tanned anywhere else in the world.
Instead of being solely concerned
about keeping rivals out of our mar
ket, we are becoming greatly inter
ested in how to get ourselves into 9TH
er markets.
at is apparent that we cannot Sc
cure the concessions we require to put
us on even terms with competitors un,
less we are prepared to grant some
concessions in exchange. 1t costs
about 20 per cent more in customs
charges to get an American moving
machine into France than it does a
machine made in England, because
England has commercial treaty with
France. We are under similar dis
advantage at the French custom
houses on practically all our products
and it is because other countries have
made reciprocal treaties and we have
refused to do SO. If the treaty sub
mitted to the senate had been ratified
we would have been relieved from
these disadvantages which prevent
our development of the French mar
ket, and obtained a guaranty of the
lowest rates granted to any nation.
"It is most desirable to secure def
mite rights for our exporters abroad
1t costs aTgreat deal of money. and per
sistent effort for years to build up {
new trade, and it may be destroyed al
a stroke by hostile tariff legislation
The only way to obtain security is by
negotiating treaties of this character
1--WE are out in the world now look
ing for trade. The republican party
has adopted foreign policy which is
inconsistent with commercial isola
ton. Commercial expansion is the
motto and ambition of the time. L
requires conciliatory policy TOWARD
the people whose markets we desire
to enter We must give and take, live
and let live; in other words, supple
ment protection with reciprocity, Civ
ing reasonable consideration to thost
who give it to us. That is the pro
gressive national policy. 1t is impos
sible to conceive of this country's real
izing it's highest possibilities withou
adopting such. policy, and the tim
has come to begin to shape it.
1.-THE money question is going to tn
rear as settled. In the next nationa
campaign the trusts and the tarif
will be more prominent than in tn
last. Some actual legislation to shov
that the republican party will not al
low the tariff to furnish shelter TO
monopoly and actual results in tn
line of reciprocal trade arrangement
which open up new markets will great
ly fortify the party for that campaign
ut is important that the republican