Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-09-05
NOT AFRAID.

that tariff duties will be reduced
and free or freer trade get a loot
ing" In support of this it
quotes from one of our recent ar
tlcles in which we showed the
inconsistency of the enemies OF
protection in opposing rec'Proc;l,,
ty, In no sense whatever could
it be construed as an "apoiogy
for the abuses of protection"
The GAZETTE does not tear
that the American people will
consent to abandonment OF pro
lection. We are satisfied that no
party could carry the couatry on
a free trade, or OIL tarln-ior'
revenue-ouly issue.
That revenue legislation may
need revision is no strange th1ng'
for industrial conditions are con-
tinually changing. Legislation
framed to suit conditions OF live
or six years ago may not suit the
conditions existing today. Pro
tectionists freely admit this may
be true of some Of the tar1f1
schedules. The republican par
ty is pledged to make such revls- ss i,
ion as may be found needful.
This does not suit free traders
They desire that there shall be a
general and sweeping revision OF
Our tariff laws and surrender OF
protection. Reciprocity would
doubtless give "freer trade" SO
we are in favor of real reciprocity.
1t is not necessary to surrender
the principle of American pro-
lection to reach reciprocity.
Reciprocity would give reduc'
ton in rates of protection only in
exchange for favors equally val
uable to us. The GAZETTE
favors just such "freer trade as
reciprocity is planned to give.
We favor tariff revision just as
far as changed industrial conol-
tions require it. In neither case
do we favor nor fear any surren-
der of the principle of protection.
We are fully persuaded that a
sweeping revision of the tariff is
not necessary, and that to enter
upon such legislation would be
exceedingly mischievous.
But, say our free trade friends,
"behold the mighty, wicked
trusts; they do not know what
to do with the millions that come
to them largely through the
favor of the government" The
GAZETTE has never defended
trusts. It does not believe they
are the offspring of protection tol
the most powerful and evil-por'
tending ones receive no beneh'
whatever from protection. Such
are the great transportation mer
gers. The Standard Oil Co.,
which has brought many mil
lions into the private Golfers o
its promoters and for long quite
controlled the policies of a grea
state is not beneficiary OF pro
lection.
The manufacturing trust
which are made necessary by the
conditions of industrial develop
ment would doubtless continue
though wholly deprived of pro
lection. If these are hurttu
combinations, mischievious ant
oppressive they should be re-
strained without reference to tn
tariff.
That the steel trusts profit
reach $50, GOO, 900 is no argu
ment against protection for pro
lection contributes but a molet.
of this sum. When we reinen
Der that this is the earnings 9
$1,4oe, 900, 900 capital havln
control of unlimited natural re
courses, the profit loses the sens
of immensity usually attached t
such sums. When it is turthe
understood that not one, two or
dozen men receive these ''enol
nous profits but that they ar
devided among hundreds OF me
holding the company's stock as
safe investment for the accumu
latiou of their hard earned say
iugs we are better prepared to b<
lieve that trusts of this sort al
not unmitigated evils.
The republican party will re
strain those which are inimics
to public welfare just as certalnl
as it. will give our tariff law
needed revision.
Legitimate argument base
upon a correct statement OF tac
is to be commended; but whe
facts are misstated or set
wrong relations, and appeals al
made to ignorance and prejudie
it is altogether different. N
lust contention requires to t