New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-11-20
UNFOLDING PROTECTION
THE RECIPROCITY CONVEN.
TON BEGINS WORK.
CHARLES II. CLARK SOUNDS KEYNOTE
OF OPPOSITION TO WHOLESALE
TARIFF CONCESSIONS
[sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

washington. NOV lJ--Ihe most prODa bic NJ
mediate result of the National Reciprocity Con-
vention, which met this morning in the audi
toriurn of the Raleigh Hotel for three days
session. will be petition to the President to ask
Congress for authority to appoint commission
carefully to investigate the merits OF the who'll.
subject of reciprocity and the general theme Of
adjusting tariff schedules to changing con-
dtions of business at home and abroad. From
the opening TO the close of to-day's meetings It
evident that the convention is not favorabie
to any scheme of reciprocity which would not
add more to American trade balances than 1t
would take away that would encourage any
movement for the revision of the present tariff
law. The dominant note of the proceedings was
one of jubilant satisfaction with the present
business conditions of the country and of pride
in the marvellous strides by the commerce Of the
United States in the four years that have
elapsed since the passage of the Dingley Tariff
bill
A REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLAGE.
No such body of men as those who compose
the convention was ever before seen in WASH
ington Mo- was there ever before a conven-
ton held in the national capital for the purpose
of discussing single economic theme in which
the entire population of the country is so d.
rectIy and keenIy interested. Every line OF
manufactures in the nation is represented in ths
assemblase by an expert Every man Who oc-
cupies seat as delegate or alternate UNDER
stands fully the effecr the present economic
policy of the government has on his business.
and he does not need the guidance OF advice
of political leader to learn what is best for hfs
interest. On the contrary. the men who for the
most part comprise the convention have plainly
assumed an attitude of authority toward the
politicians and oficeholders- While the pro-
ceedfngs to-day showed that the delegates were
considerably short parliamentary knowledge.
there was visible through the fractures they
made in the parliamentary code grim de-
termination to keep Congress from being
stampedod by the new alarm raised by tho old
free traders and other maIcontents
AGAINST LOWERING TARIFF BARS
The proceedings were somewhat haltins and
hesitating at first, because few OF the delegates
knew the proper forms that govern motions,
etc. but in the afternoon things went with
snap because the lines of division in the con-
vention were clearly marked by the appearances
on the rostrum. first of a special pleader for
a particular form of reciprocity. whose specious
arguments and bold assertions were pounded
10 snnitkereens, to the delight of the great ma
jority of delegates. by the sound logic OF ractS
presented in unyarnished terms by an exponent
of that conservatism and caution In the reci-
procity movement advocated by the Republican
national platform of 1900. and proclaimed both
speech and his successor, President Roosevelt.
in a speech at Minneapolis four days before the
Mckinley reciprocity policy was announced
One of the most significant features of the con-
vention was the difference in the receptlonS
accorded TO the special pleader and the tariff
advocate represented respectively by A b
Faruuhar and Charles Heber Clark, ootn OF
Pennsylvania Mr. Farquhar is a manufactures
of plouehs and like nearly all the manufact-
ertS iS an advocate
of letting down the tariff bars Mr. Clark repre-
seuts the textile manufacturing interests, and IS
a stout and unyieding supporter of the present.
tariff system without surrenderinS point any
where along the line. When he announced tnis
fact he was cheered quite as wildly as when ne
quoted in turn from the last Republican na-
tionaI platform on reciprocity and from the
speeches of President Mckinley and President
Roosevelt on the same subject Mr.. Farquha'
was applauded. too. but for such rounded periods
of his carefully prepared essay as I'VE must no
longer gorge the strong with the spoils OF the
weak" rather than for the soundness OF MS
arguments or the popularity of his contentious
THE CONVENTION ORGANIZED
Tho convention was called to order by ]. A.
Jeffrey of Ohio and was organized oy the eiec-
tion of d a. Tompkins of North Carolina. as
tennorary chairman. and E P. Wilson, Of ONO.
as temporary secretary. Mr. Tompk1ns started
the enthusiasm of the day in rafting speech
In which he declared that the manufacturing
interests of the country demanded the CON-
str,ction of an isthrnian canal. the extension ot
aid to shipping and the maintenance unlmpaireo
of the present tariff system, with such reci-
procity arrangements as would admit 1ree 10 lhe
markets of this country only such commodltles
as are not produced here In assuming tna
duties of permanent chairman. Theodore C.
Search of Philadelphia. emphasized IN mora
elaborate form the principles enunciated by Mr..
Tomnkins. z. P. Wilson, of Ohio. and E. H
sanhorn of Pennsylvania. were elected perrna-
mont secretaries and General W. F. Draper, or
Massachusetts: T. L. Hickman. of Georgia:
Charles H Harding. OF Pennsylvania; James
Deering. of Illinois: Titus Sheard. of New-York.
and Robert j. Morgan, of Ohio. were chosen
vice-presidents. The only test vote OF the Jay
showed that there were 126 delegates present.
with an equal number OF alternates
SPEECH OF CHARLES HEBER CLARK
The principal speech of the day was delivered
nv CHARLES Heber Clark Editor of The Phila-
,daInbia Textile Record" Mr.. Clark declared
that the only form of reciprocity that should De
IA vored was that advocated by James G. Blame
the onening of our markets upon fayoraoie
+arr,s for that which do not ourselves pro-
duce" On the subject of reciprocity Win Cah-
ada Mr. Clark said:
In 1854 the United States and Canada put, into 70
operation Ieepr1eity t9ea5s TsfeTTed To- The
treaty remained in existence for twelve yeags r Ili
5scste the Character the influence exerted upon
our trade by this treaty;
AMERICAN EXPORTS TO CANADA
1854. ........ s2a 157, ,6r2I 1ss6------ 2s'4S''iS
AMERICAN IMPORTS FROM CANADA
,s.. IS 1sI. 4-2l 1886 -..-------.--- S4,.1 1SSSe8