The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-04
Step In the Right Direction.


be confused by intelligent men, except for
partizan purposes
Step In the Right Direction.
W. s. Dwinnell says:
''The so called Iowa idea,' as expressed
by Senator Dolliver in his Chicago speech,
Is a, step in the right direction, only it
doesn't go far enough. I favor a reduc-
tiOn Of the tariff on all trust made arti-
cles, so that any industry which has
abused the privileges derived from a pro-
tective tariff will thereafter be deprived
of such benefits to such an extent as
will prevent it from taking advantage of
the public. In brief, we should revise all
tariff schedules that shelter a monopoly.
in my opinion, the tariff Is no greater
than the difference in cost of labor be-
tween this country and. competing coun-
tries. The present tariff schedules have
not been framed along these lines. For
thatSreason, In my judgment, there should
be quite a general reduction in the pres
;ent tariff rates. This is particularly true
with regard to Canada, with whom we
have a rapidly increasing commerce. The
tariff rate on imports to this country from
upon exports to Canada. Expectations
from this country to Canada during the
last fiscal years were three times as great
as those coming this way. This market is
at present in its infancy. Yet if a more
liberal disposition is not shown to our
neighbor on the north, it, will be but a
short time when we will be entirely de-
'priyed Of its market by our retaliatofy
tariff.
II think President Roosevelt came even
nearer the solution of the tariff and trust
question than Senator Dolliver or the
Iowa idea when, in his Cincinnati
speech, he strongly urged the adoption
of a carefully graduated tax on all arti-
cles manufactured by the trusts"
w. D. Washburn, Jr., says: II think
that the people of the Mississippi valley
stand almost as unit for reduction in
present tariff duties. While still loyal to
the principle of legitimate protection, as
they have always been, they are opposed
to system which in its highest n,anifes-
tation, compels the people of the west
to pay profits Of from 80 to 40 per cent
on most manufactured articles They are
not opposed to the republican theory of
protective tariff as originally voiced by
Alexander Hamilton, which was based on
the belief that home competition would
reduce the price of all commodities to a
point where they would simply give a fair
profit.
CAS- matters stand to-day; we have a
prohibttive tariff which prevents the i'm
while wholesale competition has been
nearly crushed by illegal combinations in
restraint Of trade and fair and open busi-
ness rivalry. Most manufactured articles
now, consumed in the west are produced
by these illegal combinations, called
trusts the capital Of which has been in
hated, beyond the law, to almost twice
the value, ofsthe plants. =. ,
I'm order to pay interest on this over
capitalization, it has. been found neces-
| sary to advance the price Of, all articles
and the west, which Is the heaviest con-
sumer,| has to-. pay the. lions share of
these illegal profits. On the other hand.
/ the agricultural products whoch are
produced in the Mississippi valley are
still sold in the open markets of the
world in competition with the cheapest
products Of all nations.
ITO put it another way, we sell in the
cheapest market in the world and buy in
the highest.
| while the west is. prosperous. it
! should not be forgotten that its wealth is
being drained by the east under the pres
| ent unjust system of tariff taxation. The
vast profits which result from increased
| prices on manufactured articles to meet
| the lexaettons of trust management all
accumulate in the east. The west does
not even get the advantage of the vast
| sums paid to labor. which are for the most
| part distributed in eastern manufacturing
centers. * ,-*~. r~>~ p. -. a.,
| LAS long as times and crops continue
good the west can probably stand this
+ paradoxieal system, but any financial
stringency will be quickly felt in the west
because of the tariff burdens which nov
oppress the people of that section. -
| while a reduction of the tariff nigh,
not entirely solve the trust question, II
| would certainly do so in connection with
those trusts whose enormous profits arc
i dependent on monopoly reared on the
| foundation Of crushed competition. I,
| It should not be forgotten that three.
| quarters OF the population: of the Unitoi
| States and three -quarers2 Of the consum.
| ers OF manufactured products have their
residence west of the Allegheny noun
| tains. f - ya-, i .-. r
I'm conclusion, think that any politi-
cal party or any political leader who pre-
| sulnes for moment that the people OF
| the west will permanently endure the
present system OF tariff oppression will
| soon learn that they are thinking deeply
upon this subject and in time will demand
| q more equitable adjustment Of tariff
schedules st-.t3