Evening star., 1902-07-31
Iowa and the Tariff,

The Iowa republicans In state convention
yesterday expressed themselves on the sub
tect of the tariff in admirable terms The
chairman's address and the platform march
together. and taken together they contain
all that need be said on the subject from
the viewpoint of liberalized policy of pro-
lection.
This is what Chairman Smith said:
THE republican party Is welded to the
general principles of a protective tariff, but
not to any specific schedule. The tariff
should be revised from time to time to
meet changing conditions, and the reduction
of a rate, or placing an article on the free
list. is no evidence, much less confess
sion, that the original rate was wrong when
made. The republican party will modify
the tariff whenever new conditions require
such modification. and If in any specific case
a change IN the tariff will tend to relieve
the people from the oppression of a trust
without undue injury to American labor
that change ought to be made. Revisions
of the tariff, tending as they do to unsettle
business. should only be undertaken when
the wrong to be corrected Is SO serious that
the improvement contemplated will compen-
safe for whatever disturbance to business
will result from such revision
This is from the platform:
I'VE stand by the historic policy of the
republican party in giving protection to
home industries. and point for its ample
ylndicatiOn to the extraordinary rapidity
with which our national resources have
been developed and our Industrial and f1nan-
cial independence secured. We favor such
changes In the tariff from time to time as
may become advisable through the progress
OF our industries and their changfng rela-
tionS to the commerce of the world. We
indorse the policy of reciprocity as the nat
ural complement Of protection. and urge It's
development as necessary to the realization
OF our highest commercial possibilities"
That the policy of protection has fully
justified itself needs no argument. The
amplest proof stares one in the face on
every hand. Industries that have enjoyed
its care are all prosperous. AS a result. we
are to large degree the masters of our
home markets. and successful competitors
in many lines of trade in foreign markets.
AS a nation We are doing what in the YER
nacular Is called a land-offlce business
Now. 1t is this very prosperity that calls
for a readjustment of certain tariff sched-
ules. Rates fixed for the building up of an
industry are not, in Justice, the rates to
be continued after that industry has profited
by their stimulating effects. In other words,
after protection has accomplished its ap-
pointed task, it's longer service operates
against the general good. We have now
arrived at that condition, therefore, where
certain schedules. which were fixed at a
tA4le VI OuSiHeSS uepleSsIoH' anu "iLn tne
view of restoring confidence and inspiring
activity. may be. and should be, modified to
meet an enormous output and an abounding
prosperity. Protection as policy will not
be attacked. On the contrary, it's efficacy
Is certified TO by such a recognition of the
growth which it has promoted.
Tariff revision on conservative lines &C
companied by reciprocity. and with protec-
ton where protection is still performing an
equitable work kept in friendly view, is the
manifest duty of the party in power. 1t
cannot be shirked without danger to that
party's supremacy In affairs. Public senti-
nent. indeed. is rapidly taking this form.
Millions for protection of struggling indus
tries and American labor, but not a cent as
bounty for 1ourtshing giants shaking the
world with their might