Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-27
WILL THERE BE
TARIFF REvIsIc

To the Editor Of The Journal:
Whatever may be the wish or the
viction Of Mr. Roosevelt. the shire
leaders of his party realize that living
they do in house of cards that no mo &
ment looking to revision of present ia.
can be safely undertaken at the presea
indeed such movement would be dif1ci
at any time The immediate effect Of a.
tarif is to produce artificial condition
and any discussion or criticism becomes
menace of danger to the community i
ing under its influence and practie-
workings.
Tariffs, do not, in the opinion of MAJ
thinkers, greatly influence the rate
wages In the United States we ha
high protection" and high wages.
In Great Britain there is near approa
to free trade; wages are lower than vi
us. So the influence may be drawn hi
tariff induces high wages
But turning to highly protected Germ
n.y. we find wages lower than In Gre
Britain. So the unbiased observer reaiiz
Of wages In the United States accses 4
the land is practically possible to eve ;
wage Garner so that he may not be COL
PEELED to work at starvation wages j.
other lands the peasant has no such pr
ilege, he must accept current wages q
starve.
We find In this statement that tar.
is secondary in Importance to the que
ton Of, who is the rightful owner OF q
land? Who may possess 1t without inJuf
tice to others? So the contention or u
single taxer' forces it's way to the fros
and becomes of greater Importance
population increases and land become
absorbed by those who. rtghtfully, q
wrongfully, claim to be its owners.
"A recent writer who has just returnc
from Europe advocates a strengtheniI
of our navy so as to enable us TO resi-
an attack which is certain to come.
II we are to continue the exclusive PC
icy now in vogue, as well as our aggres
i've policy abroad, together with our ov
misconstruction of the Monroe doctrtn
II seems probable that hundreds Of m
lions must be expended in building OF o..
structive battle ships. as well as hume Z.
Gus forts in defense of thousand Of mil ("
Of seat coast; and for all this the Peep.
must toll and pay, because we cannot SC
the unwtsdom OF such a course and wise
turn in the direction Of peace, and peace
full methods
The Saturday Night club has Just q,
cided that tariff revision is not SAFE
desirable. and this coupled with the polii-
ical necessities of the party in power wi
overcome the scruples of those who ar
prehend danger from delay; an electio
is not far on and there is danger In ar
tampering; In some way the issue mus
be avoided and panic averted. Betwecr
the advocate Of a high protective tart
and those who desire a tariff for reve-
nue. only there seems little choice. ''Ths
incidental protection becomes a parc-
mount issue and the people are saddle :
with burden in order that a few me-
derive benefit from the policy OF exclr-
sion induced by either system.
Four and forty states of the federf
union grow and prosper under systel
of absolute freedom of trade: there seen.
no valid reason why the area OF induE.
trial freedom may not be extended so g.
to embrace the people of the world, thus
practically realizing the brotherhood o.
all men
But the world is not yet prepared for sc
great change as this. 1t must wait.
There are but few avowed free ira
ders." A visitor to Glasgow once asked
a charming young lady. Are there many
beautiful women in Glasgow" mot
more than half dozen of us" was the
reply. do not know the number OF
free traders in Atlanta but as interview
my newspaper friends realize that these
are subject ITO limitations. and that the
tariff virus has entered into many who
accept the name but who tarry at tho
threshold and dare not enter in
deprecate sudden and radical change
but II a commission Of business men were
chosen and authorized to make list OF
all dutiable articles. subdivide this into
say five classes; the first to be declared
at once free, the second free after three
years, the third after five years, and so OF
until at the expiration of ten years the
last vestige Of the hateful tariff tax haa
disappeared, we should be rid Of useless
hindranee During this interval ans
change or discussion should be forbidden.
This seems to me reasonable, desirable
and eminently practicable.
WILLIAM RILEY BOYD.
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