The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-08-22
REPUBLICANS AND THE TARIFF.


Denison, was given the honor of open.
ing the republican campaign of this
year. Under the circumstances it may
be considered that he spoke with au-
thority and represented the admins
tration ideas of the tariff and other
questions. The Secretary was specific
in his declaration of endorsement of the
Iowa platform but at the same time he
pointed out ways in which the plat
form, smight be misinterpreted and
cause dissension and unrest in republi.
can ranks and throughout the business
world. We believe that the republi-
cans of the country would better devote
their efforts toward seeing how near
they can get together rather than try
ing to discover how far they are apart
The doctrine of protection is an in
grained republican doctrine 1t is a
doctrine that has always brought pros
perity to the country when put into
practice and which has always brought
disaster when disregarded. 1t can
safely be asserted therefore that pro.
lection is one of the fundamental prin-
ciples of republicanism and one upon
which all can unite.
1t is further safe to say that no re-
publican desires the protective tariff to
act as shelter for monopoly. The
protective tariff is designed not only to
protect American labor but also to pro-
tect capital to the extent of fair and
living profit. Unless capital is thus
protected, labor cannot be. When in
the course of industrial and commercial
changes the protection goes beyond
this it is wrong and unnecessary But
again when protection goes beyond this
point home competition steps in and as
rule counteracts the injustice of the
tariff. Let US be concrete in our state
ment Let US suppose that at Ameri-
can wages and with a fair allowance
for American profit to the manu-
facturer an article could have been
laid down to the consumer in this coun-
try five years ago for ten dollars. IN
der the European wage as scale the
same article could have been laid down
in this country for eight dollars. Az
that time a tariff of two dollars would
have placed the American manufact-
urer on an equality with the European
manufacturer and would have correctly
carried out the republican idea of pro-
lection. In the course of time the
American manufacturer is enabled to
produce the same article for nine dol
lars or even less. If his only competi-
tor were the European manufacturer
he would have an unfair advantage and
would be enabled TO reap an exorb itant
profit.
| This is the point at which home com.
petition steps in. There never was
time when capital could be more easily
attracted to any project which gives
promise Of fair returns, Other Ameri-
can manufacture enter the field and
it is but short time until the price to
The consumer is made on the nine dol
lar basis. In this case one dollar of
the protective tariff becomes practical
ly imperative and whether it remains
on the statute books or not is of small
concern. IT is only in case the Aneri
can manufacturers get together form
a monopoly completely annulling the
factor OF home competition that the
tariff becomes irksome and should be
repealed 1t becomes therefore the
duty OF those who urge tariff reduc-
lions to be specific. Secretary Shaw
points out that nothing will be gained
by the reduction OF the tariff on beef
cattle for instance as the beef combine.
if exists would be just as easily able to
control the mar6et and the only effect
would be to put the western farmer and
the stock raiser in direct competition
with the ''greasers" of Mexico The
REVIEW pointed out some time ago
what would be the effect of a reduction
in the tariff on anthracite coal How
it would simply place lever in the
hands of the coal combine that would
compel American workmen to accept
whatever wages the operators wished
to grant. Our reading the Secretary's
speech presents to US entirely different
views from those presented to the
Sioux City journal for instance. The
journal seems to think the Secretarvs
idea is to muzzle the republican press
and the republican voters We believe
the SecretarY's idea is that it is the
first duty of the republicans to elect a
republican congress so that whatever
tariff changes are necessary may be
made by the friends, not the enemies
OF protection and then not to persist
with cheap talk about protected
trusts" but TO point out the specific
cases where the tariff is hardship