Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-06-12
PF,cIAL PAPER OF FERGUS COUNTY.
PROTECTION AND RECIPROCITY.

In its poverty of issues and being in
the throes of disintegration, there is a
possibility of the Democratic party re-
viving or giving prominence to the
question of free trade. 1t is already
showing a spark of life owing to the
fact that a few Republican leaders and
Journals have taken a stand in favor of
tariff revision. some far more radical
than others. 1t is the hope of the OPP
position that the extremists will be so
strong numerically that a breach will
be made in the Republican party that
will result to its advantage. While
there are low and high tariff Republic
can all recognize the benefits of a pro-
tective tariff and what it has accom-
plished for the various industries of the
country, both as il relates TO raw ma
terial and the manufactured products.
That there should always be an IRON
clad tariff law, subject to no change or
modification with the growth or vary
ing conditions of the country and its
industries, has never been ~contended by
the Republican party. II we have
reached that point where certain Of our
industries can get along or do not need
protection, such as iron and steel fab
RIGS. then it should be removed. But
this will not be done before the advisa-
bility of such a step is thoroughly dis
cussed and considered. The cry of
trusts should not frighten the party
leaders to take a step that will work to
the injury of an industry that pays out
100000, 900 in wages annually simply to
crafty the calamity bowler. If these
industries have outgrown the need of
the tariff, well and good. Some advo-
cate that the tariff should be removed
on all products controlled by the trusts.
But there are other industries depend
ent on these that are not in the trusts
that will I've entitled to consideration
before action is taken.
The Republican party has always
been in favor of reciprocity. In fact it
is a cardinal doctrine of the party that
protection and reciprocity go hand in
hand" and that reciprocity builds NJ
foreign trade and finds an outlet for
our surplus" This was the doctrine OF
James G.. blaine and it is the doctrin,
of William Mckinley. A dozen or more
reciprocity treaties negotiated by Com.
missioner Kasson with Spanish-Ameri
can countries and with France and
other European countries, We're held up
in the senate at the last session of con
gress. These should be taken fromthe
pigeon hole and promptly acted upona,
the next session Of congress, or new
ones negotiated. This would be in line
with the party declarations and policy,
and cannot be construed into Il recogni,
ton of the free trade policy of tn,
Democracy.
That tariff revision on safe and con
servative lines will engage the atten
ton of the next congress is quite like
ly, but that the Republican party has
any intention of deserving its protec
tive policy, which is the chief factor il
our present prosperity, is simply alb
surd and not worthy of n moment
thought. Not when old England i
about to give up free trade and adop
protection to resuscitate and restor,
her languishing industries. There /
little chance for serious party division
on this question.