The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-12-06

I'm thu bill introduced at the last ses-
sion uf the congress. 1t should be HE
province to deal with commerce in itl
broadcast sense. including among many
other things whatever concerns labor
and all matters affecting the great
business corporations and our mer-
chant marine.
The president declares that he re-
CARDS II necessary to re-enact the Chi
nese exclusion law. In regard to labor
he says that the government should
should be done under "fair' conditions
and that all night work should be for
bidden for women and children as well
as excessive overtime. He continues:
Very great good has been and will be
accomplished by associations or unions
of wagcworkers when managed with
forethought and vhen they combine in
sistence upon their own rights with
law abiding respect for the rights Of
others. The display Of these qualities
in such bodies is duty to the nation
NO less than to the associations them
selves. Finally. there must also In
many cases be action by the govern
ment In order to safeguard the rights
and interests Of all. Under our consti-
tuition there is much more scope for
such action by the state and the munic.
ipality than by the nation. But on
points such as those touched on above
the national government can act.
He asserts that the linn igration laws
are unsatisfactory and that q law
should be enacted to keep out not only
anarchists, but persons Of low moral
tendency or Of unsavory reputation
and those who are below q certain
standard Of economic fitness to entel
our Industrial field as competitors with
American labor.
The TariR ana 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 1t Is not only possible. but emf
uently desirable. to combine with thu
stability OF our economic system q sup
Elementary system of reciprocal bene
fit and obligation with other nations
Such reciprocity Is an Incident and re
suit of the firm establishment ant
preservation Of our present economi,
policy. 1t was specially provided 70
in the present tariff law.
Reciprocity must be treated as tn
handmaiden Of protection. Our frs
duty Is to see that the protection grant
ed by the tariff In every case where
is needed Is maintained. and that reel
procity be sought for SO far as 1t cal
safely be done without injury to on
home Industries. Just how far this
must be determined according to tn
individual case. remembering Away
that every application Of our tariff POI
| icy to meet our shifting national need
must be conditioned upon the cardina
fact that the duties must never
| reduced below the point that will cove
the difference between the labor cos
here and abroad. The well being o
the wageworker is a prime considers
| ton OF our entire policy Of economi
legislation.
Need Fer wider Markets..
Subject to this proviso Of the prope
protection necessary to our industris
| well being at home. the principle O
| reciprocity must command our heart
support The phenomenal growth @
our export trade emphasizes the nj
gency Of the need for wider market
and for a liberal policy In dealing wit
| foreign nations. Whatever Is merel
petty and yexatious in the way 9
trade restrictions should be avoidet
The customers to whom we dispose q
our surplus products in the long rul
directly or indirectly. purchase thos
surplus products by giving US SOM
thing in return Their ability to pu
chase our products should AZ far q
possible be secured by SO arrangiu
our tariff as to enable Us to take fr0l
them those products which we can US
without harm to our own industrit
and labor or the use Of which viii :
Of marked benefit to us.
1t Is most important that we shoul
maintain the high level Of our presel
prosperity. We have now reached Il
point in the development Of our u
terests where we are not only able
supply our own markets, but to pr
duce a constantly growing surplus Il
which we must find markets abroa
Ito secure these markets we can utl
ize existing duties In any case whel
they are no longer needed for the pu
pose of protection, or In any cai
where the article is not produced he
and the duty Is no longer necessal
for revenue, as giving US something
offer in exchange for what We as
The cordial relations with other n
tions which are so desirable will na
urally be promoted by the course th'
required by our own interests.
The natural line Of development for
policy of reciprocity will be In come
ton with those of our production
which no longer require all Of the su
port once needed to establish the
upon a sound basis and with those OF
ers where either because of natural
Of economic causes we are beyond d
reach Of successful competition.
ask the attention of the senate
: the reciprocity treaties laid before it
J my predecessor.
The Merchant Marine.
= The condition Of the American me
chant marble Is such as 10 call for h
mediate remedial action by the Gu
gress. 1t IL discreditable to Us as
nation that our merchant mari
: should be utterly Insignificant In CO.
parison to mat of other nations Will
: we overtop In other forms Of busine
J We should not longer submit to con,