Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-29
Professionalism Doomed.

ProtectiOuism Doomed.
The discomfort of the people under
the tyranny of protected monopolies is
spreading rapidly. Farmers are tired
of paying two prices for the commodi-
ties they buy, while they get only the
competitive prices of the world mar
kets for the products they have to sell.
Laborers are tired of paying monopoly
prices for the food, clothing and other
articles they consume, while their
wages are depressed instead of raised
by so-called protection from foreign
"pauper labor" Last and not least, the
independent manufacturers are very
tired Of paying heavy duties on raw
or partly manufactured materials used
in their manufactures. They are man
ufacturing more than can be sold in the
home market, but they are doubly hand
icapped in their attempts to secure for
eign markets, first, by the high prices
of the raw materials they need, and,
secondly, by the prohibitiye duties on
foreign goods which effectually prevent
any exchange of commodities. The at
titude of the protectionists is curious.
They profess great anxiety to extend
our export trade. They are eager to
pay bounties and subsidies to secure
larger foreign markets, but they per-
sistenIy refuse to receive any compen-.
sation for the American goods export
ed This is world wide philanthropy in
the most acute form. Meanwhile the
people must pay the bills unless they
have the courage and intelligence to
rebel against this senseless and re
pressiye system. The Philadelphia
Record sums up the situation admir-
ably in the following editorial:
"a recent official statement of the
trade of the country shows that ou1
imports of crude and partly crude ma
terials of manufacture have reached
the heavy aggregate of a million dollars
per day The tariff taxes upon wool,
hides, iron, steel, lead, lumber, tibres,
ores. coal. chemicals and other neces-
sary materials of industrial use are so
burdensome and in many instances so
needless for purposes of revenue that,
furnishing as they do serious handi-
cap upon the manufacturers of the
country in their struggle for place in
foreign markets. they are building
within the Republican lines a growing
disaffection. President Mckinley rec
ognized the fault in the Dingley tariff,
and sought to bring about measurable
relief through the negotiation of
schemes of reciprocity. But there is no
real solvent for the trouble except in
the reduction or repeal of the duties.
THE working of the taxes on the raw
material of industry is illustrated by
the tax on imported hides. By increas-
ing the cost of leather in the home mar
ket the manufacturer is put at disad-
vantage in selling his wares abroadsat
the same time commodity of the first
necessity is made dearer for the con-
sumner. But this is not all. The rebate
paid to tanners on exported leather
made from imported hides enables the
foreign buyer to purchase American
leather or 10 per cent cheaper than
our own shoe manufacturers can buy
it. The purchase of imported hides,
with the assurance of rebate of duty
when exported, enables the importer to
keep the home price at the level of for
eign prices, so that no protective adj
vantage results to the home producer.
In its operation the tax on hides is Of
no service except to the foreign buyer
of leather. 1t is a direct injury TO leath
er makers and leather users, and fail
ure for purposes of revenue.
1T is against this sort of backhanded
boomerang protection that there is a
steadily growing cry of revolt within
the lines of the party which upholds a
monster it fears to attack"