The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-05-02
rs 1T OUT OF DATE 9
CLAIM THAT PROTECTION HAS BE-
DOME OBSOLETE
Has tho Doctrine of blaine. McKinlcy
and DIngIoy Served Its Day aud Out
lived Its Usefulness to American Labor
and Industry"

In its issue of March "a the Pough-
keepsie Eagle" says:
THE American Protective Tariff
League asks us to join in protesting
against any change in the Dingley tar
if in connection with the pending re-
ciprocity treaties or reciprocity con-
cessions. We respectfully decline. We
believe with all our heart in protec-
ton. but We believe just as fully in
| reciprocity. The old-fashioned pro-
| lection, which built up wall around
our country to keep foreign imports
out, has served its day and become OBJ
solete The protection of the future
will take into consideration all Amer
lean interests and will be as much con-
cerned with bringing into the coun-
| try things that we need, and in pro-
| noting the export of things which
others need, as in keeping out arti-
cles which compete with our produc-
lions. The American Protective
Tariff League has in time past done
some very good service, but it wants
to get out of Its rut and take broad
er view of things. Some of those who
assume to speak for it are showing
such disposition to initiate the DEM
ocratic policy OF organized negation
that the. are greatly reducing its rep
utation and influence"
Welcoming fair criticism and hon
est controversy, concerning our aims
and methods, we gladly print the
above expression. 1t is typical of the
view entertained by a very consider
able number of important newspapers
of Republican proclivities, newspapers
which, like our Poughkeepsie neigh
Dor, formerly believed unreservedly in
the principle and policy of protection,
but now are of the opinion that it
"has served it's day and become OBJ
solete." The American Free Trade
League hold precisely this view, with
the difference that 1t never held any
other view it always believed that
there should be no wall around our
country to keep foreign imports out.
Free Traders never did and do not
now want to keep foreign imports out.
They want them to come in without
restriction of any kind. On that line
Protectionists and Free Traders have
divided ever since the organization of
our government.
Is the line about to be obiterated?
Shall we now tear down the wall and
let in the foreign imports? Is that
what the Poughkeepsie Eagle" means
when it avows its acceptance of the
new doctrine of reciprocity" and its
rejection of the old-fashioned pro-
lection which built up wall" etc?
If it does not mean that, what, then,
does it mean? Reciprocity, as now
advocated by many newspapers of Re-
publican proclivities, either contem-
plates a larger importation of COM
petitive articles and an equivalent dis
placement of domestic production, or
it amounts to nothing. Reciprocity
Sin articles which we do not ourselves
produce" and which will not lessen
the sum total of employment and
wages in this country, would be of
relatively little value to foreign pro-
ducers. That kind of reciprocity we
already have. With "the things we
need" we are amply supplied, and
they are nearly all on the free list.
A trifle less than half of the'total bulk
of our imports are non-duitable. We
are liberal buyers of "the things we
need and there is no tariff on those
things. Reciprocity takes no account
of articles of this kind. They are
wholly excluded from the scheme.
that we shall tear down the wall and
let in lot of things which we do not
need. If We don't do that, we don't |
'reciprocate." That is the situation in
a nutshell, and we are indebted to the |
Poughkeepsie Eagle" for presenting |
the issue in a shape so practical and
tangible. 1t has assisted in the plain |
Of the question, Has the |
protection Served its |
day." and is it "obsolete?" The Re-
publican party is now engaged in
wrestling with that problem in con-
nection with the domestic production
of sugar and tobacco. What will be
the solution? Not such, we hope, as
shall register the decision that pro-
lection for each and every domestic
industry is "old-fashioned," is ''obso-
lete," and has Served it's day."