Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-12-06

suit in ruin to the weaker competitors who
are struggling against them. Our aim
should be not by unwise tariff changes to
give foreign products the advantage over
domestic products, but by proper regula-
ton to give domestic competition q fair
chance: and this end cannot be reached by
any tariff changes which would affect un-
favorably all domestic competitors, good
and bad alike. The question Of regulation
Of the trusts stands apart from the ques-
ton Of tariff revision.
Stability Of economic policy must always
be the prime economic neef OF this country.
This stability should lot be fossilization
The country. has acauiesced in the wisdom
Of the protective-tariff principle. 1t is ex-
cee6!ngly undesirable that this system
should be destroyed or that there should be
past experience shows that great prosper
ity In this country has always come under
a protective tariff and that the country
sann01 prospect pndey T iarr ,S SaaSges
Laws as a whole work well, ana II business
mas prospered under them and is prosper
ing, II Is better to endure for time slight
schedules than to upset business by too
quick and too radical changes. II Is most
earnestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the standpoint solely Of our
hope that partisanship may be entirely ex-
cluded from consideration of the subject,
but at least II can be mace secondary TO
the business interests Of the countryIthat
Is, to the interests Of our people as a whole.
Unquestionably these business interests
will best be served II together with fixi:y
Of principle as regards the tariff We COM
time to time to make the necessary reap
plieation Of the principle to the shifting ma
care that the reapplication shall be made
in such a way that II will not amount TO
a. dislocation OF our system, the mere
threat OF which mot to speak OF the per-
formance) would produce paralysis In the
business energies Of the community. The
first cons liberation in making these charges
would. OF course. be to preserve the prin-
ciple which underlies our whole tariff sys-
tem-that is. the principle of putting Amer
equality. with Interests abroad, and OF al
ways allowing a sufficient rate Of duty to
more than cover the difference between The
labor cost here anc abroad: The well-be-
ing of the tillerof the soil. should be treat
ed as an essential in shaping our whole
economic policy. There must never be any
change which. will jeopardize the standard
OF comfort. the standard of wages of the
American wAGe-worker.
One way IN which the readjustment
sought can be reached Is by reciprocity
treaties. It is greatly to be desired that
such treaties may be adopted. sThey can
be used to widen our markets and TO
give greater field for the activities OF
our producers on the one hand and on
i the Other to secure In practical shape the
longer needed for protection among our
own people. or when the minimum OF
damage done may be disregarded for the
sake of the. maximum of good accom-
plished. II 1t prove impossible to ratify
the pending treaties, and If there seem
to be no warrant for the endeavor to
execute others. or to amend the pending
treaties so that they can be ratified, then
should be met by direct legislation.
Need Of n Tariff Commission.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
that a needed change cannot with adj
vantage be made by the application Of
the reciprocity idea, then II can be made
outright by lowering. of duties on a
given product. If possible. such change
should be made only after the fullest
consideration by practical experts, who
should approach the subject from bust
ness standpoint, having in view both the
particular interests affected and the COM
mercial well-being of the people as a
careful Investigation can readily be sup
piled. The executive department has al
ready at Its disposal methods of collect
ing facts and figures; and II the con-
Eress desires additional consideration to
that which will be given the subject by
its own committees. then n commission
of business experts can be appointed
whose duty 1t should be to recommend
a
and scientific examination of the various
schedules as they are affected by the
changed and changing conditions. The
unhurried and unbiased report OF this
should be made In the various schedules.
and how far these changes could go
without also changing the great pros
perity which this country is now enjoy
Ing. or upsetting Its fixed economic pol
The cases in which the tariff can pro-
duce monopoly are so few as to con-
stitute an inconsiderable factor In the
1t be found that a given rate of duty
does promote a monopoly which works
i'll, no protectionist would object to such
reduction of the duty as would equalize
competition.
In my judgment. the tariff on anthra-
cite coal should be removed, and anthra-
cite put actually, where II now IL NOM
inally. on the free list. This would have
crises it might be of service to the peo-
pie.
Labor Unions and Corporations.
How to secure fair treatment alike for
labor and for capital, how to hold in
check the INSCRIPTIONS man. whether
employer or employe, without weakening
individual initiative, without hampering
and cramping the industrial development
of the country. Is problem fraught with
great difficulties and one which II is of
the highest Importance to solve on lines
OF sanity and far-sighted common sense
as we'll as of devotion to the right. This
is an era OF federation and combination.
Exactly as business men find they must
often work through corporations, and as
It Is a constant tendency of these cor
porations to grow larger, so 1t Is often
necessary for laboring men to work in
declarations, and these have become i'm
portant factors of modern industrial life
Both kinds of federation, capltalistic and
labor. can do much good. and as nee
essary corrollary they can, both do evil.
Opposition to each kind OF organization
should take the form of opposition to
whatever is bad in the conduct of any
given corporation or union-not Of at
tacks upon corporations as such nor upon
unions as such: for some of the most
beneficent work for our peo-
pie has been accomplished through both
and unions. Each must re-
frain from arbitrary or tyrannous inter-
ference with the rights of others Or
ganized capital and organized labor alike
should remember that in the long run
he tnfo af hn