The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-10
A National Convention Assem-
bles in Detroit, Mich.
Delegates Present from Both
Sides of Canadian Border.
GOV. CUMMINS, OFIOWA,
Delivered FOrceful Address on
Sc Reciprocity and the Tariff"
SCOTS at Assumed Sacredness
of the Schedules.

Detroit. Mich. Dec. 1O-"We are here
for mutual profit; to get thoroughly
aroused over this question of reciprocity
so that we can go home and do some
effective work to bring about the recip-
rocal relations that we want" said n
c. Staver. of Chicago, as he took charge
of the National Reciprocity convention
IN the Hotel Cadillac today after it haa
been called to order. There were pres
ent nearly 100 delegates from the north
ern tier Of states and several from Can
ada. " hen F. d. Smith, Of Detroit. presi.
dent of the Detroit chamber Of COM
merce, called the convention to order.
lie said:
I give YOU warm word of welcome
as president of the Detroit chamber Of
commerce. BY an actual report from
the various members of our association.
we find that there is not a dissenting
voice, not a discordant note, but an alb
solutely unanimous and hearty interest
in the subject of reciprocity Reel
prccity means something; it appeals to
citizens OF all classes, but especially to
the business men and commercial or
ganizatiOns Of our country The mer-
chants and manufacturers Of this city
feel that should have the privilege
of placing in the hands of our neigh
great an advantage as possible, not hav~
ing in mind to cripple their industry.
but to promote by a fair Interchange
of commodities. which will be benefit
TO ALL"
Mayor W. c. Maybury then welcomed
the delegates to the city
Governor Cummins of Iowa spoke of
Reciprocity and the Tariff" He said
in part:
There is spirit abroad in some
quarters which condemns a reciprocal
treaty without regard to the advantage
1t tenders, if it be found that any home
industry however insignificant. may ke
injuriOusly affected by it. If this spirit
Is to continue and to prevail, reci-
procity may as well be at once aban-
doned and the country left to choose
between the unalterable schedules oc|
the highest possible protective tariff and
the disastrous consequences absolute
free trade
Little or nothing can be accomplish
ed until we are willing to approach tar
If 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
Tor practical or substantial reciprocity.
There are many advocates of reci-
proclty VINO believe that tariff schedules
should be changed only through recip-
FOcal treaties. / m not one of them.
1t seems to me manifest that a pre-
requisite to any material or important
reciprocal tariff is a willingness to ad-
Just whenever fairly required our ex-
elusive tariff to the conditions of the
times. reciprocity will never win its
way until we are willing to treat the
tariff nationally instead of hvstericaIlv
ana the first step in the process is to be
wiling to make such changes as from
ulne 10 time may be necessary to bring
tariff schedules into harmony. with the
principle which vindicates their exist
I believe some changes are demand
ed now without respect 20 a modifica-
tion of duties levied by anv other conn
NY upon our exports. am unalterably
opposed to readjustnent for light or
trivial reasons. Changes should nor he
made unless it is clear that duties are
too high or too low. Tariff schedules
like all other laws. are to be made m
made and remade according to the pub-
nc needs and we are not to be warned
on by the cry that we are on holv
ground and that the sacred vestments
profane hands.
There are duties notably in the iron
ana steel schedule although not CON
nned to it, which are absolutelv in6a-
Iehslble' which no men will ever at
tempt TO defend, and which are as much
at war with the real object OF urorac
ton as free trade itself They can he
greatly reduced and still the American
niaiuiecturer will occupy the whole
american wages and be rewarded with
an ample American profit and therefore
they ought to be reduced-not vears
hence, but now. There are materials
Whlch our experience has shown 11s
should be admitted free sinpI,y beca,,ee,
tney would give our people more work
70 40 IN preparing them for their ultt-
mate uses and it should he done. not a
year hence. but now. It is said thar in
order to change any schedule ar anx
part of any schedule the whole taris.
must be taken up and revised the 1t,o-lt
OF years discarded. and a new law sui
Atituted. deny the proposition IT is
the unworthy shelter of two diviefove i,
lhe army of opposition; first those v,te,
want to perpetuate something xx.,fr1,
they know would be condemned under
impartial investiga tion. and. second. the
tiInld souls who would rather NOT vote
too long and too often before the neonlt
OF my country, defending the princinle
OF protection. to admit that the scta,4
uies Whleh carry it into execution ar,
the results of misera BILE and con4er,r,
1ble barter and exchange among fba
SPECIAL reports Of Industrial interests.
W ny should we not approach tho eo~
sideration Of a change in the tariff soS,e,4-
ules in precisely the same spirit that con
trols US as we approach all other modif-
cations in the existing statutes2 Why
should we not Danish forever this a-,-,.rs
ton of imaginary danger. perpotualfV in
voked to paralyZe the mind of inu,,irD,
when it turns toward tariff duties2 Our
motto should be care in everything. fear
in nothing.
1T is a slander upon the funAamen+al
truths of the world. to saw that the pros
perity of the neople ever has been or ever
can he impaired b. doing what is right
and just and fair What evidence is there
to sustain the assertion that a correction of
the grossly excessive duties would hasten
the day Of extreme commercial activity
to a close2 None whatever. save the cries
of those who want it to be let alone. hut