The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-04-05
TARIFF IMBROGLIO
SOME EFFECTS OF RUSSiAS
RETALIATORY POLICY.
Secretary Cages Action Regarding
CountervaIIing Duties Seems to Have
Emboidened Free-Traders and Fright
ened Some Timid ProtectionistS

called forth by the decision of Secre-
tary Gage regarding the enforcement
of the Dingley law relating to counter
: vailing duties and the retaliatory ac-
! ton Of the Russian government in con-
nection with, that decision. 1t is graf
! flying to encounter the cool common
sense, the level-headed logic, with
which this question is treated editor
tally by the Cincinnati "Times-Star. "
This Is all the more refreshing in
view Of the contrast which it presents
to the attitude of considerable por-
ton OF the newspaper press OF the
United States on the same subject.
With one accord and actuated by the
common impulse Of discrediting the
protection policy, the free-trade demo-
cratic Journals have sprung to the
front with imperative demands for the
repeal of the Dingley tariff. Nothing
short of wiping this law from the fed
eral statute books will satisfy them.
To these superior minds 1t does not
matter that the decision OF Secretary
Gage was rendered in obedience to a
mandatory provision which left him
no discretion or option; it is OF no
consequence that the decision serves
and was intended as the shortest posi-
BILE route to a judicial determination
of the question whether Russia has
been evading the sugar bounty pro-
hry q
methods; not of the least Importance
is, in their judgment, the plain fact
that the neglect of our government to
enforce countervailing duties on Rus
sian bounty-fed sugars would have
been construed and resented by other
bounty paying countries as discrimina-
ton against them and undue favorit-
ism toward Russia.
None of these considerations affect
the free-trade democratic newspapers.
They dencunce the secretary's decision
as provocatory of a continental COM
bine for the purpose of shutting out oil
imports of American products, and
they demand the repeal Of the Ding
ley law and the abandonment of the
American system of protection as the
only way out of the difficulty. Here
and there a weak kneed. half hearted
protectionist newspaper expresses
similar alarm and in effect counsels
similar surrender. To the latter class
of shiverers, as well as to the consld-
cradle element of domestic producers
to whom the programme Of European
retaliation presents itself as something
so terrible in it's consequences as to
Justify any and all sorts of concessions
for the sake of effecting compromise
to all such comes with peculiar per-
tinency this pointed interrogation of
the "Times-Star":
do the manufacturers who are pro-
testing against the present Russian
tariff imbroglo ever stop to consider
this propositions: If the American
tariff is to be altered every time some
European nation finds its provisions
Objectionable, what will ultimately be-
come of the protective policy?'"
"Oho." says the free-trade democrat
ic propaganda, ut is easy enough to
answer that question:" So 1t is. from
that point of view. The answer is as
easy and simple as was that OF the
eminent Tammany Office holder when
he disposed of a great issue with the
famous exclamation: ITO hell with re-
form!r Substitute protection for re-
form, and you have in very brief
phrase the free-trade democatic solu-
ton of the Russian tariff imbroglio.
But is that the answer to be given by
our industrial captains and by the
doubling Thomases of the half-breed
protectionist press? Says the Times
STAR:
They must not forget that there
Is in existence in this country party
which is wrapped up in the free trade
idea, and which in every speck on the
horizon sees a tariff war which will
justify them in shouting their disas-
trous doctrine. They must not forget
that this party is desperate for new
issue to present to the people, and that
If it could take up the tariff issue in
new form would willingly do so,though
their underlying hatred to the protec-
tive principle would be but lily con-
cealed.
1T is probably true that the pres
ent situation is disastrous to some in
dividual enterprises; but not in the de-
gree which 1t was at first sought to
impress upon the public. Don't let
European nations get the idea that
when Russia, to whom we sell less
than one-half OF one per cent of our
total exports, threatens to cut off that
infinitesimal trade, we are prepared to
bow down and alter our tariff laws.
or other governments Of more moment
to us as customers may decide that it
is possible for them to secure like
changes.
Don't forget all commercial Eu
rope is alarmed at the aggressive COM
mercial and industrial growth of
America. and that the leading econo-
mists of the continent are urging just
such a policy. Don't forget that these
features are not to be overlooked and
that they involve questions of more
moment to the American manufactur-
or than the trade with Russia"