Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-12-05

many cases be action by tho govern
( mcnt in order to safeguard the rights
} and interests of all. Under our consti-
. tuition there is much more scope for
! such action 10y the state aud the muuic-
/ ipaiity 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 q low moral
! tendency or Of unsayory reputation
and those who are below a certain
standard Of economic fitness TO enter
! our Industrial field as competitors with
| American labor.
/ The Tarin 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 ii is not only possible, but emi-
! nently desirable, 10 combine with the
| stability Of our economic system q sup
| Elementary system Of reciprocal bene-
| iii and obligation with other nations.
Such reciprocity is an Incident and re-
! suit of the firm establishment and
preservation of our present economic
| policy. II 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 reel
procity be sought for so far as II can
| safely be done without injury 10 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
here and abroad. The well being Of
the wagcworker Is a 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 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
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.
Ii 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
tests where we are not only able TO
supply our own markets, but to pro-
duce a 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
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 q 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 1t by
my predecessor.
The Merchant Marine.
The condition Of the American mer-
chant marine Is such as 10 call for i'm
mediate remedial action by the con-
gress. II Is discreditable to us as q
nation that our merchant marine
should be utterly Insignificant In com
pariSon 10 that OF other nations which
we oycrtop in other forms OF business.
We should not longer submit TO condl-
tions under which only a tritiing 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 II
would also result Ia benefit TO all who
are interested in the permanent cstab-
liShment of wider market for Amer
lean products and would provide an
auxiliary force for the navy. Ships
work for their own countries Just aa
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 1t 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 M
der certain great disadvantages when
put in competition with the shipping
Of foreign countries. Many of the fast
foreign steamships, at a 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,
have to meet the fact that the original
cost of building American ships 10
greater than is the case abroad; that the