Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-12-05
THE TARIFF.
1t Is a Subject That Stands Apart from
the Trusts.

the Trusts.
One proposition advocated has been the
ing the evils of the trusts which fall with
in the category I have described: Not
but the diversion of our efforts in such a
direction would mean the abandonment of
ALL all intelligent attempt, to DO away with
tainly be included in any proper scheme Of
save as such change iPteFferea with III tie
lions as a whole is that the. tariff makes
remedy PROPOSED Wouid be a in effect Simply
to make MANUFACTURES Improbable. TO
directed against trusts would inevitabIy r. re-
suit in ruin to the weaker competitors who
heu9 be- not bS anWie tar u5
Domestic Products, but by proper regula-
chance: and this end cannot be reached by
any tariff changes which would affect un-
faVorably all domestic competitors, good
and bad alike. The question Of regulation
Of the trusts stands apart from the ques-
Stability Of economic policy must always
be the prime econ omic need of this country.
In Tbs afan1tY shoold Lot De ISL
of the protective-taTif principle. 1t is ex-
sSGua by that this IN
violent and radical changes therein. Our
past experience shows that great prosper
a protective tariff; and that the county Stry
cannot prosper under fitful tariff changes
laws as a whole work wen, and if business
has prospered under them and is prosper
Inconvenience and Inequalities in some
schedules than to upset business by too
earnestly to be wished that we could treat
the tariff from the Standpoint solely of our
ay Be- entres to
GUIDED from CONSIDERATION of the subject
the business interests of the country-that
is. to the interests of our people as whole
Unques tionably these business interests
bine a system which Will permit US from
tional needs we must take scrupulous
in such way that it viii not amount to
anr dstocsstiSSn Of our system the mere
formance) would produce PARALYSIS " in p the
first consideration in making these changes
tem-that is. the principle of putting Amer
equality. with interests abroad. and of al
ways allowing sufficient rate of duty to
labor cost here ane abroad The weii-be-
ing of the Wage-worker: like the well-be-
ea as an essential in Shaping our whole
economic policy. There must never be any
! change which will jeopardize the standard
of comfort, the standard of wages of the
American wage-worker.
One way in which the readjustment
sought can be reached is by reciprocity
such treaties may be adopted They can
be used to widen our markets and to
give a greater field for the activities of
our producers on the one hand and on
the other to secure in practical shape the
lowering of duties when they are no
longer needed for protection among our
own people. when the minimum of
sake of the maximum of good accom-
plished. If 1t prove impossible to ratify
] the pending treaties. and if there seem
/ to be no warrant for the endeavor to
execute others. or to amend the pending
! treaties that they can be ratified then
/ the same end-to secure reciprocity
should be met by direct legislation
Need of n Tariff Conamfssion.
Wherever the tariff conditions are such
! that needed change cannot with adj
vantage be made by the application OF
| the reciprocity idea, then it can be made
! outright by a lowering of duties On a
! given product. If possible, such change
| should be made only after the fullest
/ consideration by practical experts. who
| should approach the subject from .busi-
particular interests affected and the com
| mercial weli-being of the people q
| whole. The machinery for providing such
| careful investigation can readily be sup
piled. The executive department has al
| ready at its disposal methods of collect
ing facts and figures: and If the con.
gress desires additional consideration tt