Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-03-01
LET THE LAW ALONE
UNcoMPRoMIsiNG ATTITUDE or
ORTHODOX PROTECTIoNfsTs
Tariff Revision Would Be a DepIorabIe
Blunder, While General Reciprocity Is
Characterized a Blind Leap Certain
Land Us on Free Trade Ground.

l. ne dltlluue OIL luc AIACi ACoh = ~
tective Tariff League on the subjects
of tariff revision and reciprocity is
plainly defined in the preamble and
resolutions as reported by a special
committee appointed by President
Moore at the regular annual meeting
of the league on Thursday. January
16, 1902. The committee consisted of
Messrs. F. S. Witherbee. John A.
Sleicher, George ]. Seabury and It. r.
Cowles, and the resolutions are as fol-
lows: sh@ Ta 8-
Whereas, At time when the entire
civilized world is fixing its attention
upon the extraordinary condition of
prosperity prevailing in the United
States as a direct result of the econom-
ic policy for which this organization
stands, and when our foreign and do
nestle commerce and trade have in
creased to a degree far beyond pre-
vious human experience in this or
any other country. Be it
Resolved, That the American Pro-
tective Tariff League earnestly pro-
tests against the insidious attacks upon
the principle and policy of protection
to American labor and industry that
have made themselves manifest in
marked and unusual degree within the
past year If there. ever was a time
when the principle and policy of pro-.
lection had justly earned public con-
fidence and approval and had demon
strated its value as an agency for the
highest material welfare of the coun-
try, that time is now. AS the recog-
nized representatives of that principle
and policy we protest against the COW
ert assaults upon protection that are
being made in the name of tariff re-
vision and reciprocity, and urge that
the friends of protection throughout
the country should more than ever
show the faith that is in them by
vigorous and unceasing resistance to
all efforts to unsettle or in any way
discredit the policy for which we have
stood and shall continue to stand.
To seriously agitate the question of
tariff revision at this time is i'll advised
and mischievous, while to deliberately
enter upon the readjustment of the
schedules of the Dingley law would
be legislative blunder certain to be
productive of deplorable consequences
to all industries and all trade.
Reciprocity is the handmaiden of
protection only when devised and ex-
ecuted in absolute harmony with the
principles and equities of protection;
when conceived in accordance with the
Republican national platform of 1900
viz, in articles which we do not our
selves produce when carried out on
the line laid down by the late Presi-
dent Mckinley in his speech at Buff
falo, Sept 5. 1901. by sensible trade
arrangements which will not interrupt
our home production and whereby we
should take from our customers such OF
their products as we can use without
harm to our industries and labor.
Reciprocity in any other form or on
any other basis would be dangerous
experiment, a breach. of faith on the
part of the government toward those
who rely upon the measure of protec-
ton guaranteed by the Dingley law, j
long step in the direction of unre-
stricted competition by. foreign pro-
duction. a leap in the dark which will
land us squarely on free trade ground
On the subjects of the restoration OF
the American merchant marine, the
creation of a department of commerce
and the construction of an isthmian
canal the resolutions are follows:
Resolved. That present and future
commercial interests imperatlyely de-
mand, in justice to our immense vol
ume of export and import trade. and as
means of further stimulating AMI
increasing that trade, the creation OF
an American built merchant marine
not alone for the transport annually
of over 1880 100000 of our varied
products, but to prevent the annual
export in gold of 5000. OG0 900 in trans
portation charges, and to restore to
our country the maritime independ-
ence and supremacy which it enjoyed
prior to 1851; furthermore (see history
of the war with SPAIN to provide an
adequate system of transports in time
of war.
Resolved, That the erection of 4
department of commerce as an adj
junct to the executive branch of the
Federal government is imperatively
demanded in behalf of trade, com
merce and Industry
Resolved, That the early construc-
ton of an isthmian canal. supplement-
ed by cable communication with ouI
Pacific possessions and with the coun-
tries of the far east. is indispensable
to our commercial supremacy"
Wanted. Profit for the Farmers
Henry T. Oxnard is largely interest
ed in the manufacture of beet sugar