The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-23
TARIFF MODlFIERs.
Uneasy SESrits Always Looking FOE
a Chance Mt the Schedules.

Uneasy SNsrits Always Looking FOE
Chance at the Schedules.
There is q class of persons, wise in
their own conceit, always seeking to
modify in some way every tariff that
embodies the protective principle. 1t
may fairly be said of these individuals
that no protective tariff yet devised has
ever pleased them or subdued their de-
sire to rip it up at some point. When
once the work of alteration is begun,
no one can tell where it will stop. Be
hind these uneasy persons are massed
the whole forces of the free trade army
eagerly urging them forward and ready
to add their votes to every movement
whose object is disintegration. The
tariff law now in force in the United
States had for it's authors some or the
ablest tariff students of their time. Its
chief architect and spokesman was
Nelson Dingley. He had the full con-
currence of President Mckinley, who
signed the law without objections to
any Of its provisions or doubt as to its
practical results. These two men have
passed away while in the faithful serv-
ice of the people. The law they large
ly nodded has worked well. 1t is iden-
titled with a period of high prosperity
succeeding one of great depression. 1t
has yielded revenue to an adequate ex-
tent and that includes the repeal of the
war taxes.
In the course of future years there
will be tariff revision, and if the people
are wise it will be conducted by the
party of judicious protection. But that
time has not yet arrived. The general
business of the United States is at high
tide. So remarkable has been the eX-
pansion Of American activities since
1896 that the attention of other nations
is centered on this country, and they
are sending special representatives to
look into our financial and Industrial
conditions and methods. This situation
and Republican policies are identified
with each other. Democratic organs
deny that they are related as to cause
and effect, but the people know that
| prosperity and the ningley tariff, with
sound finance, stand together as an ac-
complished fact in our political history
| Nevertheless the tariff tinkers insist
| that if they can alter few schedules
| they can improve matters, forgetting
| that if allowed to have their way other
| tinkers would follow in their wake
| with fresh theories for few more
touches here and there.
Business men do not want the tariff
| disturbed at this time. A feeling OF
| confidence prevails, and, encouraged
by the prospect of stability, the most
enterprising class is branching out
Manufacturers can closely calculate
margins Of profit and afford to risk
much if the foundation is secure. But
| let the tariff thinkers get in their work
and what must happen? A change in
one schedule creates a demand to riI
up others, and in the end the whole
fabric would probably be involved
consuming the time Of congress that
could be much better applied to other
purposes. Meanwhile business would
halt because of the element of uncer
tainty introduced. Foreign commerce
would be thrown out of balance by an
ticipated reductions. Is it wise to LEI
we'll enough alone? Undoubtedly the
business interests Of the United State:
think the rule good one.-St. Loui:
| Globe-Democrat.