The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-12-19
TIE TARIFF AID RECIPROCITY.
The Tariff Needs to be Modified to
Meet Changed Conditions.
Few Aneriean Industries Need Protection
Interests OF American Commerce
and Rights Of American Crit
zens Require Change.


Interests OF American Commerce
and Rights Of American Crit
zens Require Change.
Congress being IN session the subject
of reciprocity with Cuba and the modi
fcati0n Of the tariff TO meet changed
conditions IS bound to be largely dis
cussed, and bills viii be introduced pro
viding for changes demanded BY the
times IN both equity to our own people
aud other nations and for the promotion
and extension Of our foreign commerce.
Suppose 1t were granted that protection
to infant industries has been = wise and
beneficial policy, when these same in
dustries have grown to gigantic proper
tons Cypress our own people and hinder
the extension Of our commerce with 9TH
CT countries, wisdom, justice and public
policy demand the withdrawal Of the
protection and the change Of policy.
Few if any industries in this country
need protection any longer. We have
changed from an importing nation and
have become q world wide exporting ma
ton. We can successfully meet all
competition and at the same time con-
tinue good wages to American labOrers.
The tariff should be lowered to improve
the business conditions of the United
States. The leaders Of both political
parties agree to this proposition. A big
reciprocity meeting was held in Detroit,
Mich, last week from the report Of
which some extracts are given as fol-
lows:
eve are here for mutual profit to get
thoroughly aroused over this question of
reciprocity so that we can go home and
do some effective work to bring about
the reciprocal relations that we want,
said n. G. Staver, of Chicago, as he took
charge OF the national reciprocity con
vention in Hotel Cadillac to-day. There
were present nearly LOG delegates from
the northern tier Of states and several
from Canada we're present when F. D.
Smith, president Of the Detroit chamber
of commerce, called the convention tc
order. He said:
I give you a warm word Of welcome
as president Of the Detroit chamber oil
commerce. By an actual report from
the various members of our association
We find that there Is not a dissenting
voice, not a discordant note but an absO
luteIy unanimous and hearty interest il
the subject Of reciprocity.
Reciprocity means something. II
appeals to citizens Of all classes, but
especially to the business men aud com
mercial organizations Of our country
The merchants and manufacturers Of
this city feel that we have the privilege
Of placing in the hands Of our neighbor'
the goods we have to sell to as great ad
vantage as possible not having IN MIND
to cripple their industry but to promote
by fair treaty an interchange Of com
modities which will be q benefit to ALL
Governor Cummings, Of Iowa, spoke
of reciprocity and the tariff. He said il
part:
There is a spirit abroad in some
quarters which condemns a reciprocal
treaty without regard to the advantages
it tenders, if it be found that any home
industry, however Insignificant, may bt
iniuriously affected by it. If this spirit
is to continue and prevail reciprocity
may as well be at once abandoned anc
the country left to choose between the
unalterable schedules of the highest pos
sible protective tariff and the disastroul
consequences of absolute free trade.
Little OF nothing can be accom-
plished until We are willing to approach
tariff schedules in precisely the same
spirit that we approach any other sub
iect of legislation. So long as the con
trolling minds Of congress insist that thu
welfare of the country demads that thu
tariff be let alone there is no hope 70
practical or substantial reciprocity.
a'There are many ardent advocates TO
reciprocity who believe that tariff
schedules should be changed Onl,
through reciprocal treaties. 1 am no
one Of them. 1t seems to me NANTES
that prerequisite to any material O
Important reCipFOcai IaFlH IS Wiling
ness to adjust whenever fairly requires
our exclusive tariff to the conditions O
the times. Reciprocity will never vii
its way until We are willing to treat tn
tariff nationally instead of hystericall.
and the first step in the process Is to b
willing to make such changes as iron
time to time may be necessary to briD
tariff schedules into harmony with tn
principle which vindicates their exist
enee.
8" i believe some changes are de
manded now without respect to a mod
fcation Of duties levied by any othe