Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-02


ever keep in mind that it may be null
lifted by bad legislation, and that it
can be given chance to develop I'M
der the most favorable conditions byI
good legislation.
Probably the most important aid
which can be contributed by the na--
tional government to the material
well-being of the country is to insure
its financial stability, An honest cur
rency is the strongest symbol and eX--
preston of honest business life. The
business world must exist largely on
credit and to credit confidence is es--
sential Another essential for any
community is perseverance in the eco
nomic policy which for course of
years is found best fitted to it's pecul-
lar needs.
THE question of combining such
tixedness of economic policy as re-
CARDS the tariff, while at the same time
allowing for necessary and proper
readjustment of duties in particular
schedules as such readjustment be-
comes a matter of pressing import
ance, is not an easy one.
What we really need in this coun-
try is to treat the tariff as a business
proposition and not from the standpoint
of the temporary needs of any polit--
ical party. 1t surely ought not to be
necessary to dwell upon the extreme
wisdom, from business standpoint
from the standpoint of national pros
perity Of violent and radical changes
amounting to the direct upsetting Of
tariff policies at intervals of every few
years.
Evils of Tinkering.
"a nation like ours can adjust its
business after fashion to any kind of
a tariff. But neither can our nation
nor any other stand the ruinous pol
icy of readjusting its business to rad
ical changes in the tariff at short in
tervals.
Continual sweeping changes in
such a tariff, touching so intimately
the commercial interests of the nation
which stands as one of the two or
three greatest in the whole industrial;
world, cannot but be disastrous. Yet,
on the other hand, where the industrial
needs of the nation shift as rapidly as
they do with us, it is a matter of prime
Importance that we should be able to
readjust our economic policy as rap
idly as possible and with as little fric
| ton as possible to these needs.
| 1--WE need a scheme which will ena-
| BILE us to provide reapplication of the
principle to the changed conditions
The problem, therefore, is to devise
some plan by which these shifting
needs can be recognized and the ne
cessary reimbursement of duties pro-,
videl without forcing the entire bust
ness community, and therefore the en-
| tire nation. to submit to a violent sur
| gical operation, the mere threat OF
| which, and still more the accomplished
| fact of which, would probably para
| lyze for considerable time all the in
! dustries of the country
I'VE need to devise some machinery
by which, while preserving in the pol
| icy Of protective tariff in which
| think the nation as a whole has now
| generally acquiesced, WE would be able
to correct the irregularities and re-
move the incongruities produced by
the changing conditions without de-
| stroying the whole structure.
Offers Remedy.
There are two or three different
methods by which it will be possible
! to provide such REIMBURSEMENT without
any shock to the business world
/ My personal preference would be fol
action which should be taken only at
ter preliminary inquiry by, and upoI
the findings of a body of experts OF
! such high character and ability thai
| they could be trusted to deal with The
| subject purely from the standpoint Of
4 our business and industrial needs, but
1 of course congress would have t,
determine for itself the exact method
to be followed.
AT all hazards. and no matter wha
else is sought for or accomplished b,
i changes of the tariff, the American
1 workingman must be protected in hi:
/ standard of wages, that is, in his stan
i dard of living, and must be secured
fullest opportunity of employment.
i Our laws should in no event affort
j advantages to foreign industries owe
American industries. They should il
i no event do less than equaliZe the diff
II ference in the conditions at home ant
!, abroad. The general tariff policy t.
: which, without regard to changes il
) detail, | believe this country to be IT.
/, revocably committed, is fundamental.
j based upon ample recognition of TIL
!! difference of labor cost here AM
abroad; in other words, the recogni
| ton of the need for full development
: of the intelligence, the comfort, tn
high standard of civilized living an
Of the inventive genius of the Ameri
: can worlSingman as compared to tn
: workingman of any orher country il
/, the world
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