The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-11
RECIPROCITY ADVOCATES
ONE HUNDRED IN ATTENDANCE AT
THE DETROIT CONVENTION.
Address by Governor Cummins, of
Iowa, Who Is I'm Favor of Re-
vision of the Tariff.

DETROIT, Mich, Dec. 10-''We are here
for mutual profit, to get thoroughly aroused
over this question of reciprocity so that we
can go home and do some effective work
to bring about the reciprocal relations that
we want said N. c. Staver, of Chicago.
as he took charge of the national reci-
procity convention in the Hotel Cadillac
to-day after it had been called to order.
There were present nearly one hundred
delegates from the northern tier of States
and several from Canada when F. ID. Smith,
of Detroit, president of the Detroit Cham
Der of Commerce, called the convention to
order. Mayor Maybury welcomed the dele
gates to the city.
At the afternoon session Governor A. b.
Cummins. of Iowa, spoke on Reciprocity
and the Tariff" He said in part:
Reciprocity will never win its way until
we are willing to treat the tariff nationally
instead of Historically; and the first step
in the process is to be willing TO make such
changes as from time to time may be nee
essary to bring tariff schedules into har-
mony with the principle which vindicates
their existence.
Il believe some changes demanded
now without respect to modification OF
duties levied by any other country on our
exports. L am unalterably opposed to read
justment for light or trivial reasons. No
changes should be made unless IL Is clear
that duties are too high or too low. Tariff
schedules, like all other laws, should be
made, unmade and remade according to the
public need; and we are not to be warned
off by the cry that we are on holy ground
and that the sacred vestments OF the
priests are not to be touched by profane
hands.
There are duties, notably in the iron and
steel schedule, although not confined TO II,
which are absolutely indefensible. which
no man will ever attempt to defend, and
which much at war with the real OBJ
ject of protection as free trade itself. They
can be greatly reduced and still the Ameri-
American market, pay the highest Ameri-
can wages and be rewarded with an ample
American profit; and. therefore. they ought
to be reduced not years hence, but now.
There are materials which our experience
has shown us should be admitted free,
simply because they would give our people
more work to do in preparing them for
their ultimate uses and IL should be done,
not years hence, but now.
1T is said that in order to change any
schedule or any part of any schedule the
whole tariff must be taken up and revised
the work Of years discarded and new law
| substituted. deny the proposition. IL is the
| unworthy shelter of two divisions in the
army of opposition; first, those who want
| to perpetuate something which they know
would be condemned under impartial inves-
| tigation, and, second, the timid souls who
would rather not vote at all than vote right
| or wrong. i, for one, have stood long and
| too often before the people OF my country,
| Qe1en0ing the principle OF protection, 10 a0-
nit that the schedules which carry IL into
! legislation are the result of a miserable and
contemplate barter and exchange among
the special representatives of industrial in
| terest
/ why should we not approach the con-
! sideration of change In the tariff sched-
ules in precisely the same spirit that con-
| trolls us we approach all other modifca-
! tons in existing statutes? Why should we
| not Danish forever this apparitlon OF imag-
mary danger perpetually invoked to par
nlx hA af
l toward tariff duties? Our motto should be:
Care in everything, fear in nothing.
ut is a SANDER upon the fundamental
| truths of the world TO say that the pros
| perity of the people ever has been ever
can be impaired by doing what is right and
| just and fair. What evidence is there to
sustain the assertion that a correction of
the grossly excessive duties could hasten
the day of extreme commercial activity TO
close? None whatever, save the cries OF
those who want to be let alone, but who
| ought not to be let alone. repeated by
| statesmen who have become imbued with
| the calm philosophy of the citizen of Ar
| kansas who refused TO mend his roof in dry
weather because it was unnecessary, and
| did not mend 1t when IL rained, because IL
| was impossible .
THE conclusion is inevitable that in the
| great majority of cases a reciprocal treaty
| respecting competitive commodities would
| interfere and inJure some home producer
! or producers: and IL that fact be a bar 10
| the operation OF the principle let us al once
abandon il. i. for one, however, am willing
to be counted among the ranks who believe
that this consequence is not a bar, and that
great public policies should not be viewed
| from so narrow standpoint. The purposes
of any such treaty on our part would be 10
| open up new market Or enlarge one al
| ready discovered for our products. and IL
those who charged with -the RESPONSE
| bility of making in our behalf CONNER
cial trade are Of the opinion that upon the
whole the market thus opened or enlarged
| to will take more OF our products. meas
ured by the labor required 10 produce them
than the new competition admitted TO our
I shores will obliterate, then we should make
! the trade.
! "The protective policy of the United
| States is impregnable against the assaults
of its enemies. and if the citadel ever falls
| Ii will be because its friends sleep while
| the world is awake-it will be because its
| friends make its excuses and perversions
so obnoxious that they obscure the right
eousness and glory of the principle itself.
Reciprocity between the United States and
| Canada was recommended by the speakers
| at the banquet rendered the delegates TO the
| convention by the Detroit Chamber of Com
| merce. Ths speeches OF John Charlton
member OF the Canadian Parliament. and