The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-20
TARIFFANDTRUSTS
TWO TOPICS DISCUSSED BY THE SEC
RETARY OF THE TREASURY.
speech tn vermOnters on Questions
That VIII Be Debated on the
stump This Fall.
Mr.. SHAW IS FOR REVISION
WHENEVER CHANGES CAN BE MADE
WITHOUT INJURING BUSINESS.
He Believes New Conditions May
Make Notifications of Tariff
Schedules Necessary.
FREE CATTLE NOT DESIRABLE
BUTCHERS WOULD NOT BE BETTER
OFF THAN THEY ARE NOW,
And Farmers and stock Raisers
Would he Heavy Sufferers, While
Packers Would Not Be Injured.
He Believes New Conditions May
Make Notifications of Tariff
Schedules Necessary.
FREE CATTLE NOT DESIRABLE
BUTCHERS WOULD NOT BE BETTER
OFF THAN THEY ARE NOW,
And Farmers and stock Raisers
Would he Heavy Sufferers, While
Packers Would Not BE Injured.

MORRIsvILLE. VT. Aug. 19-Five
thousand persons listened to Secretary
of the Treasury Leslie NJ Shaw. who was
the principal speaker at Republican rally
here to-day. Secretary Shaw lived here
when he was a boy. and went to school
here. and the residents of all the section
roundabout came to hear him. He spoke in
part as follows:
Il have been quoted as opposed to a re-
vision of the tariff. L have never opposed
readjustment of the tariff. Whenever Con-
gress reaches the conclusion that the
friends Of protection are strong enough
10 conservatively modify certain schedules
so as 70 meet changed conditions and at
the same time successfully resist the eff
forts OF the opposition 10 revise the entire
tariff laws, thus paralyZing business for
season. 1 am in favor of 1t. l have ex-
pressed some doubt, however, about the
wisdom OF instructinS by resolutions or
eXacting pledges from candidates for Con-
gress. when the effect is liable TO precipitate
a protracted debate with very uncertain re-
suits. There ought TO be some more tan
gible reason for such a dangerous eXpe-
dent than the existence of a sentiment
In certain localities. a always, that
demands reduction of the tariff on arti-
cleS there consumed and not produced,
while IL stands ready 20 fight TO a finish
any reduction on the things there pro-
dGced- 1 for one must have a very bitter
and relentless enemy before / will con-
sent to carry yellow fever germs into my
home town. Don't misunderstood me. L
am not comparing the readjustment of a
schedule here and there TO epidemic.
But 1 do declare there has never been a
revision of the tariff I'm the interest of free
trade for revenue only that has not
proven as fatal TO business as the plague
or Egypt.
Il have never seen the time since I have
given public questions consideration that
/ would not reduce the rate on quite
large number of items nor when 1 would
not increase the rate on other items. 1t
Is not likely that any member of either
House OF congress ever voted Tor tarln
bill entirely TO his liking, nor is it probable
that any President ever signed a bill that
he would not have changed in some par
ticular had IL been in his power. I am
willing TO concede that conditions change,
and that the old Morrill, bill of the sixties,
for instance. when the country in
vOved in war. would not be appropriate
for Us now. but I will admit that the
tariff is the mother of trusts, nor Will /
cOncede that a tariff for revenue only will
destroy trusts on any other theory than
that a fire in a wheatteld will destroy
Canada thisties
DEPRESSION AND PROSPERITY.
Business depression dssipates both or
ganized and unorganized capital Enforced
idIeness means financial ruin to individuals,
10 business firms and 10 corporations both
great and small. on the contrary, business
prosperity inspires hopefulness. 1t encour-
ages the individual to reach out. to ex-
pand. 10 buy more land, more houses more
cattle, TO erect more stores build more
shops and to embark in new enterprises. 1t
leads TO the organization of more corpo-
rations. II inspires both dreams of great
things and the consummatiOn of gigantic
enterprises 1t leads to the combination of
capital and the organization of labor. Does
anyone suppose that the anthracite coal
miners would be kept together if there
were a million men out of employment and
their families begging bread? Will anyone
contend that they could be sustained were
"A
miners who are receiving such compensa-
tion as enables them TO contribute a dol
lar a week for the maintenance of their
brethren? The protective tariff is not the
mott er OF trusts, though IL is the parent of
conditions that make II profitable for cap
ttaI 10 combine and congenial for labor TO
organize.
''The Republican party in my State re-
cenly reaffirmed the tariff platform of 1901
This has caused considerable comment. Ii
has been misrepresented not quite as per
sistently but in the same way that the
memorable speech Of President Mckinley
at Buffalo has been misrepresented. mis-
quoted, misccnstrued and misa applied This
platform was unanimously adopted both
years. It's statments are academicalIy cor
rect. Every man In the United States Re
publican and Democratic. believes in the
truth OF its utterances Ii declares in IA
vor OF such changes In the tariff from time
10 time as becomes advisable through the
progress OF our industries and their chang
ing relations 10 the commerce or the world
Is there anyone who - not in favor of
such changes in the train from time TO
time as are adVisa bic p / am willing the
Jury shall be pOlled on that proposition.
So saw we all 1t also declares in favor of
any modification OF tarin schedules that
may be required 20 prevent their affor8ing
shelter TO monopoly. And again We all
say. Aye. sir TO the proposition There
may be quite d radical difference OF Opin-
ION 10 the truth OF the implied admis-
sion that the protective tariff does afford
shelter 10 monopoly, but there would be no
more difference OF opinion about remov-
ing IL II IL did afford such shelter.
"A few days ago the butchers, in con-
vention assembled. declared in favor of
abolishing the tariff on cattle and meat 10
the end that this supposed shelter for the
alleged meat trust might be removed; but
j am disposed 10 think the good farmers
OF my state would vote quite unanimously
against such experiment. BY the trend
OF the speeches made ut the butchers con-
veEtion | discover a sentiment well nigh
universally expressed there that meat is
being moEOpOhzed by the great packers
BuC happen to have a tenant out in Iowa
who has fine bunch OF cattle. on which
no packer holds a lien Of any kind. and ne
writes me thar he Is willing 10 sell them to
butchers II they Will pay as much as the
hackers Ofrer. I am quite sure the peODle
ers OF the packers. Thus there is afford
ed "A splendid opportunity cor any one to
make all kinds OF money If he Will but give
the farmer as much money for his beeves
and give the people as much beef for their
money. Suppose We take the tariff of beef
and then suppose the herds of cattle from
Mexico and South America ore brought in
bv the hundred thousand. They will find
their way 10 the stockyards and the butch
packers then. as now. No; tho removal Of
the tariff on live stock and meat would not
restore the butchers 10 business IL might
ruin the farmers. but the packers could
stand Il. FOR nothing less than organized
capital could enter the import meat bust
mess with packing houses In foreign coun-
tries. refrigerating ships and other expen-
sive equipment happen 10 know that at
least one. and understand two. OF the biz