Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-10
RECIPROCITY
and THE TARIFF
Governor Cummins Addresses
Convention of National Re-
ciprocity League
rARlFF CHANGES DEMANDED
Iowa Governor Believes Some Modif-
cation Of the Tariff Should be Made
/ q Once, Without Respect to the
Duties Levied by Any Other Country
-unequivocal Declaration on Issue.

4
.-unequivocal Declaration on Issue.
Detroit, Dec. 10.--N. C. Staver OF
Chicago called to order the national re-
ciprocity convention at the Hotel Cad
lilac today. Nearly 100 delegates were
present, including several from Canada,
when President f. L. Smith, of the De-
kroit Chamber of Commerce, addressed
khe s.ssemblage. He said:
II give you a warm word of welcome
as president of the Detroit Chamber
pf Commerce. BY an actual report from
the various members of our association,
we find that there is not a dissenting
voice, not discordant note. but an
absolutely unanimous and hearty inter
est irl the subject Of reciprocity.
sReciprocity means something; 1t ap-
peals to citizens of all classes, but es-
pecially to the business men and COM
mercaal organizations of our country.
The merchants and manufacturers or
4iiis city feel that we should have the
privilege of placing in the hands OF our
neighbors the goods we have to sell TO
as great an advantage as possible; not
having in mind to cripple their indus
try, but to promote, by fair treaty, an
interchange of commodities, which will
be q benefit tp all"
Mayor Maybury time welcomed the
delegates to the city.
Governor Cummins of Iowa spoke of
ERecIprocity and the Tariff" He said
in pstrt:
eThere is a spirit abroad in some
quarters which condemns reciprocal
treaty without regard to the advantage
at tenders, IL it be found that any home
Industry, however, insignificant, may
be iliiurfously affected by it. If this
spirit is to continue, and to prevail, re-
cjprocity may as well be at once aban-
slonea and the country left to choose
between the unaiterahie schedules or
the highest possible protective tariff
and the disastrous, consequences of abb
eolu-e free trade.
"Little or nothing can be accomplish
ed until we are willing to approach
tariff schedules in precisely the same
spirit that we approach any other sub
ject of legislation. So long as the con-
trolling minds of congress insist that
the welfare of the country demands
that the tariff be let alone, there is no
hope for practical or substantial re-
ciprocity.
..There are many ardent advocates
for reciprocity. who believe that tariff
schedules should be changed only thru
reciprocal treaties. l am not one of
them. 1t seems to me manifest that
PREREQUISITE to any material or tmpor-
tant reciprocal tariff Is a willingness to
adjust, whenever fairly required, our
exclusive tariff to the conditions of the
times, Reciprocity Will never win its
way until we are willing to treat the
tariff nationally instead of hysterically;
and the first step in the process is to be
willing to make such changes as from
time to time may be necessary to bring
tarI schedules into harmony with the
principle which vindicates their exist
ence.
II believe some changes are demand
ed now without respect to a modifica-
tion of duties levied by any other coun-
try pon our exports. / am unalterably
opposed to readjustment for light or
trivial reasons. Changes should not be
made unless 1t is clear that duties are
IL
like all other laws, are to be made, un-
made. and renade according to the
public needs: and we are not to be
warned off by the cry that we are on
holy ground and that the sacred vest
ments of the priests are not to be touch
ed by profane hands.
"There are duties notably in the iron
and steel schedule, altho not confined
to it, which are absolutely indefensible,
which no man will ever attempt to de-
fend. and which are as much at war
with the real object of protection as
free trade itself. They can be greatly
reduced, and still the American manu-
facturer will occupy the whole Ameri-
can market pay the highest wages, and
be rewarded with an ample American
profit. and therefore they ought to be
reduced-not years hence, but now.
There are materials which our expert
ence has shown us should be admitted
free. simply because they would give
our people more work to do In prepar-
ing them for their ultimate uses, and
it should be done-not years hence, but
now
"Tt is said that in order to change any
schedule or any part of any schedule
Il the whole tariff must be taken up and
revised, the work of years discarded
and new law substituted. I deny the
proposition. 1t Is the unworthy shelter
of two divisions in the army of opposi-
tion first, those who want to perpetu-
ate something which they know would
be condemned under impartial inyesti-
cation, and, second, the tinid souls who
would rather not vote at all than vote
right or wrong. I, for one, have stood
too long and too often before the people
of my country. defending the principle
Of protection, to admit that the sched-
illes which carry it into execution are
the results of miserable and con-
temptible barter and exchange among
/ the special representatives of industrial
interests.
"Why should we not approach the.
reconsideration of change in the tariff
schedules in precisely the same spirit
that controls us as we approach all
other notifications in existing stat
ntes? Why should we not Danish for