The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-03
ANlNnEFEAsIBLE POLICY


Washington tonight, an attempt will be
made by the intransigent extreme pro-
tectionists to defeat the 20 per cent con-
cession of tariff duties on Cuban products
agreed upon by the ways and means COM
mittee last week. The concession Is
meager enough, but it is not agreeable to |
the tobacco and sugar interests, although
conspicuous representatives of both have
fully demonstrated that neither can be |
approximately injured by so per cent
concession. These latter gentlemen, pro-
tectionists themselves, have emphatlcally
given warning that the cause OF protec-
ton will be wounded in the house OF its
friends If this persistent effort to main
tain duties far above the true protective
point is kept up. 1t seems probable that
the extremists will be defeated tonight.
The ways and means committee, In
agreeing to the 20 per cent concession,
yielded to public sentiment which Is
gathering volume and persistence ever
since the late President Mckinley earn
estly advocated a reduction of tariff du-
ties which are obstructive of commerce.
and proposed the definite abandonment of
the take and-not-give policy. Secretary of
the Treasury Shaw in his speech at Chi
cago before the national business league
last week, made the strongest kind of ap-
peal for the sedulous promotion of our ex-
port trade, the adoption Of means and pol
icies that shall open the way for yet in
crease American commercial activities.
''Discover means for informing our peo-
pie what distant portions of the world re-
quire and it shall be produced said he.
This utterance voices the policy of indus
trial and commercial America. The propo-
sitions to establish a department of COM
MERGE and to reorganize the consular and
| diplomatic service both look to the intel
| ligent promotion Of our foreign trade, the
expansion of the export market In these
| measures our industrial and commercial
forces are directly interested. Petitions
have poured in for the passage of both
| bills. Our consular officers abroad, obey
ing instructions, are making their reports
more and more useful through details of
business opportunities for Americans in
| the countries to which they are assigned.
| United States Consul General Mason at
Berlin earnestly sets forth the great i'm
portance to our government of participate
ing by negotiation in the advantages of
| the renewal of the commercial treaties of
the European nations next year, when the
present treaties expire. The firm and
significant note of Secretary Hay to the
Russian government, insisting upon the
maintenance of the open door for our
trade in Manchuria, is a fair sample Of
the stress laid by the administration upon
the great Importance of promoting and
maintaining our export trade. AS Senator
Beveridge said the other day, it must be
remembered that open doors will not re-
main open of their own accord. Our most
serious diplomatic activities are directed
toward the maintenance and promotion
of our export trade. 1t is recognized that
there is an enormous increase of our
manufactured product GO per cent be-
tween 1886 and 1900 alone) now aggregat-
ing over $4,000 100000, an increase of
over 40 per cent during the last decade.
The new plants established during the
last decade must have markets for the
output, while new and old plants together
require a continual foreign outlet for the
surplus over the requirements of the
home market. Mckinley read the present
and future situation we'll. The great
business and industrial interests are read
ing after him closely. The truest adher-
ents to the policy Of protection are those
who, protecting every American interest
from injurious competition seriously af-
fecting labor, would limit the protective
duty to sum equal to the difference be-
tween the cost of producing an article il
the United States and the cost of produc-
ing it in Europe. That is true protection
which will amply protect every interest
1t is absolutely fair and just We car
safely follow the liberal principle lail
! down by Mckinley and, in addition, am.
. plify our export trade to the point Of alb
, sorption Of our manufactured surplus.