The Van Buren press., 1902-08-23
AT his BDYHOOD'S HOME.
Secretary Of the Treasury Leslie III.
Shaw Delivers an Address at
Morrisville, VT.
HIS VIEWS ON CHANGES OF THE TARIFF.
He is Not Opposed to Readjustmeh'
of Schedules as the Necessity
Therefor Arises. But Would Like
to See Ii Done without Long ana
Acrimonious Debate.

Morrisyille, VT, Aug, l9.-Secretary
of the Treasury Leslie NJ. Shaw, VINO
attended school at this place when a
boy, delivered an address here Tues
day. 10 an audience of over 5000 peo-
pie. The secretary said in part;
81 have been quoted as opposed to
revision Of the tariff. l have never op'
posed readjustment of the tariff. When,
ever congress reaches The conclusion tha'
the friends of protection are strong
enough to conservatively modify certain
schedules so as to meet changed condl-
tions. and at the same time successfully
resist the efforts Of the opposition 10 re-
wise the entire tariff law, thus parslyzins
business for a season, l am IN taNoV ol
IL | have expressed some DOUBT nov
ever, about the wisdom OF lnsuucuhs ps
resolutions, or exactins pleuses iro W. 90" is
didates for congress- when the eHoIt IL
liable TO precipitate protracted uepae
with very uncertain results,
II have never seen the time since
have given public questions consideration
that | would not reduce the rate on quiu
a large number of items. nor when !
would not increase the rate on otneI
items. II is not likely that any member
of either house OF congress ever voted
for 2 tariff bill entirely to his liking MOI
is II probable that any president ever
signed bill that he would not nave
changed in some particular, had II peer
in his power | am willing to conceoe
that conditions change, and that the oio
Morrell bill, of the sixties, for instance
when the country was involved III war
would not be appropriate for us now
but | will not admit that the tarln Is
the mother of trusts, nor Will ! concede
that a tariff only will destroy trusts or
any other theory than that a hre IN
wheat field will destroy Canadian TINS
ties. The protective tariff is not the
mother OF trusts, though II is the parenl
of conditions that make II profitable foi
capital to combine and congenial Tor Ia
Dor to organize.
1.-THE republican party in my state &c.
Gently reaflirmed the tariff platform OF
1901. This has caused considerable com,
ment 1t has been misrepresented. not
quite as persistently, but in the same
way that the memorable speech or Pres
ident Mckinley has been misrepresented
misconstrued and misapplled
This platform was unanimously adopted
both years, 1t declares in favor OF such
changes In the tariff from time to time
as becomes advisable through the prog
ress Of our Industries and their changing
relations to the commerce OF the world
Is there anyone who is not in favor OF
such changes In the tariff from time &c
time as are advisable"
II am willing the jury be .polled on
that proposition. SO say we all. IL alse
declares in favor of any Modification OF
tariff schedules that may be required to
prevent their affording shelter 70 monop,
oily And, again, we all say Aye, sir,
to the proposition. There may be quite
q radical difference of opinion as to the
truth Of the implied admission that the
protective tariff does afford shelter to
monopoly, but there will be no differ
ence of opinion about removing II II II
did afford such shelter.
"A few days ago the butchers, In con.
venton assembled declared In favor Of
abolishing the tariff on cattle and meat,
to the end that this supposed shelter for
the alleged meat trust should be removed,
but / am disposed to think the good
farmers of my state would vote quite
Suppose we take the tariff off beef and
then suppose the herds Of cattle from
Mexico and South America are brought
In by the hundred thousand. They VIII
find their way to the stock yards, and
the butchers will be compelled to bid
removal Of the tariff on live stock and
meat would not restore the butchers to
business. 1t might ruin the farmers, but
the packers could stand IT.; for nothing
the import meat business, with packing
houses In foreign countries, refrigeratiny
ships and other expensive equipment. ]
happen to know that at least one, and
understand two of the big packing
house companies have had men looking
into the South American field for at least
two years The farmer, as 1t Is. has am.
pie reason to be apprehensive. | have
taken occasion to look this matter up
since reading OF these resolutions, and
| think ] can find reason for the present
price Of meat other than the protective
tariff. ! find that there were received
at the stock yards In Chicago In the one
month OF July, 1902, Go, 900 less beeves and
10000 less hogs than In the same month
one year ago, That means 1000 less ami.
mails per day,
1.-THE O. road alone. during the entire
month, brought from the southwest,
where the corn crop was a failure last
year, 900 less fat steers per day this year
than last, Let no one understand this
to be n defense Of the packers or an ex.
tenuation of their offenses, A suit Is new
pending against them, and " the allega,
tons Of the petition are sustained land
that seems probable) they are going TO
have trouble, and It win take very
much more acute form, that II would 10
say to the farmers OF the United States
that their Industry shall be opened &c
competition from the unlimited ranges OF
South America,
Let the representatives from all sec.
lions OF the country get together, and II
they can agree upon one or "A dozen Items
In the present tariff schedule that can
be reduced, let II be done, and done with.