The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-19
MR.. SHAW ON
The TARIFF
The Secretary of the Treas
ury Defines His Present
Position.
Some Light Thrown on
Trusts and on the Prices
of Meat.

Morrisville,. VT, Aug. 1e.-secretary |
Leslie M Shaw, of the treasury depart
ment, who attended school at this place
when a boy, delivered an address here to-
day. He said in part:
Dangers of Tariff Debate.
have been quoted as opposed to a revision |
OF the tariff. have opposed read |
justment of the tariff. Whenever congress
Is of the opinion that the friends OF protec- |
ton are strong enough to modify the tariff
to meet conditions and conseryatively to meet
opposition to revision of the entire tariff law
thus paralyzing business for a season, l am
In favor of 1t. have expressed some doubt, |
however, about the wisdom OF instructing by
resolutions, or exacting pledges from can
didate5 for congress, when the effect is liable |
to preciptate a protracted debate with very
uncertain results.
Tariff Not Mother of Trusts.
have never seen the time since I have
given public questions consideration that I
would not reduce the rate on quite large
number Of items, nor when l would not in
is not likely that any member Of
either house of congress ever voted
Off tariff bill entirely to his liking,
nor is it probable that any president ever
signed bill that he would not have changed
In some particular had 1t been in his power
I willing to concede that conditions
CHANGE and that the old Morrill, bill of the
sixties, for instance, when the country was
involved in war, would not be appropriate for
US now, but I will not admit that the tariff
Is the mother of trusts, nor will l concede
that tariff revision will destroy trusts any
more than the theory that a fire in a
wheatheld will destroy Canadian thistles.
y,rN fya ri 10
trusts, though it is the parent Of conditions
that makes it profitable for capital to COM
bine and congenial for labor to organize
The Iowa Platform.
The republican party in my state recently
reafirned the tariff platform of 1901. This
has CAUSED considerable comment. This has
been Tsafirmed. not quite as persistently, but
In the same way, that the memorable speech
Of President Mckinley at Buffalo has been
mNsrepressnted, misquoted, nisconstrued and
misapplied. This platform was unanimously
adopted both years. 1t declares in favor OF
such changes In the tariff from time to time
as become advisable through the progress Of
our industries and their changing relations to
the commerce of the world
Is there any one who Is not 'in favor
Of such changes In the tariff from time to
time advisable?
am willing the jury shall be polled on
that proposition. So say we ALL 1t also de-
clares "in favor Of any modification of tariff
schedules that may be required to prevent
their affordlng shelter to monopoly And,
again, we all say, AYE, aye, SIR to the
proposition. There may be quite radical
difference Of opinion to the truth Of the
implied admission that the protective tariff
does afford shelter to monopoly, but there
would be no difference of opinion about re-
moving 1t If 1t did afford such shelter.
The Tariff on Cattle,
few days ago the butchers, in convention
assembled. declared in favor of abolishing
the tariff and in favor Of abolishing the tariff
on cattle but am Inclined to think the good
farmers Ut my state would vote quite unanl-
mously againat Euca an experiment. Sup
pose we take the tariff off beef and then sup
pose the herds Of cattle from Mexico and
South America are brought in by the hundred
thousand. They will find their way to the
stock yards and the butchers will be com
PEELED to bid against the packers then a:
now.
No. the removal of the duties on live bee
and stock would not restore the butchers
business. It might ruin the farmers. but the
packers could stand it; for nothing less thar
organized capital could enter the import mea
business with packing houses in foreign coun
tries, refrigerating ships and other expensive
equipment I happen to know that at leas
ona and I understand two of the big pack
Ing houses, nave QaQ Weu IOuhluS luIO Ill
South American field for more than tw
Jears.
The farmer, as it is, has ample reason t
b apprehensive.
Reason for Meat Prices.
Z have taken occasion to look this matte
ND since reading these resolutions and
think can find reason for the present pric
of meat other than the protective tariff
ind that there were received at the stoc
yards in Chicago in the one month of July
1902, $4,000 less beeves and 10000 less hog
than in the same month one year ago. Tha
means 1000 less animals per day. The
road alone, during the entire month brougl
from the southwest where the crop of cor
was failure last year, 1000 less fat steer
per day this year than last.
Let no one understand this to be a de
tense Of the packers an extenuation
their offenses. suit is pending agains
them and if the allegations of the petitio
are sustained land that seems probable), the
are going to have trouble, and it will take
very much more acute form than it woul
that their industry shall be opened to compt
tition from the unlimited ranges of Sou
America. -
The secretary appealed for the electio
Of republican congress. Then, he sai'
let the representatives from all section
of the country get together, and if the
can agree upon one or dozen items
the present tariff schedule that can be re
duced, let 1t be done and done witho,
three months acrimonious debate, :