The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-12-04

trusts would inevitably result in ruin
to the weaker competitors who are
struggling against them. Our aim
should be rot by unwise tariff changes
to give foreign products the advantage
over domestic products, but by proper
regulation to give domestic competi- /,
tion fair chance; and this end cannot
be reached by any tariff changes which
would affect unfavorably all domestic
competitors. good and bad alike. The
question of regulation of the trusts
stands apart from the question of tar
iff revision.
Stability of economic policy must al
ways be the prime economic need OF
this country. This stability should
not be fossilization. The country has
acquiesced in the wisdom of the pro-
tective tariff principle. 1t is exceed
ingly undesirable that this system
should be destroyed or that there
should be violent and radical changes
therein. Our past experience shows
that great prosperity in this country
has always come under protective
tariff; and that the country cannot
prosper under fitful tariff changes at
short intervals. Moreover, if the tariff
laws as a whole work we'll, and If
business has prospered under them and
Is prospering, it is better to endure
for time slight inconvenience and
inequalities in some schedules than to
upset business by too quick and too
radical changes. 1t is most earnestly
to be wished that We could treat the
tariff from the standpoint solely of our
business needs. 1t Is, perhaps, too
much to hope that partisanship may
be entirely excluded from considera-
ton of the subject, but at least 1t can
be made secondary to the business in
tereSts of the country-that Is, to the
interests of our people as a whole.
Unquestionably these business inter-
ests will best be served If together
with fixity of principle as regards the
tariff we combine system which will
permit us from time to time to make
the necessary reapplication Of the
principle to the shifting national
needs. We must take scrupulous care
that the reapplication shall be made in
such a way. that it will not amount
to dislocation of our system, the
mere threat of which (not to speak Of
the performance) would produce par
alysis in the business energies Of the
community. The first consideration
in making these changes would, of
course, be to preserve the principle
which unde-lies our whole tariff sys-
tem-that is, the principle of putting
American business interests at least
on full equality with interests
abroad, and of always allowing a suf-
ficient rate of duty to more than cover
the difference between the labor COST
here and abroad. The well-being of
the worker, like the well-being of
the tiller of the SOIL should be treated
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 work.
er.
RECIPROCITY TREATIES.
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
treaties. 1t is greatly to be desired
that such treaties may be adopted.
They can be used to widen our
markets and to give greater field for
the activities of our producers on the
one hand, and on the other hand to
secure in practical shape the lowering
of duties when they are no longer
needed for protection among our own
people, or when the minimum of dam
age done may be disregarded for the
sake of the maximum of good accom-
plished. If it 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 the same end
to secure reciprocity-should be met
by direct legislation.
Whenever the tariff conditions are
such that needed change cannot with
advantage be made by the application
Of the reciprocity idea, then it can
be made outright by a lowering of du-
ties on given product. If possible,
such change should be made only af-
ter the fullest consideration by practi-
cal experts, who should approach the
subject from a business standpoint,
having in view both the particular in
terests affected and the commercial
well-being of the people as a whole.
The machinery for providing such