The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-08-21
REVISION OF TARIFF.
Secretary L. M. Shaw Explains
His Position.
Morrisville. vermont. Ang. 1a.


Secretary of the Treasury, Leslie M.
Shaw, who attended school here when
boy, spoke to his old friends and
neighbors this afternoon. He said, in
part:
Il have been quoted as opposed to
the revision or the tariff have never
opposed REIMBURSEMENT of the tariff
Whenever congress reaches the con-
clusion that the friends of protection
are strong enough to conservatively
modify schedules, so as to meet chang
ed conditions and at the same time
successfully resist the efforts of the
opposition to revise the entire tariff
law, thus paralyzing business for a sea-
son, | am in favor of it. l have ex-
pressed some doubt, however, about
the wisdom of instructing by resolu-
tions, or exacting pledges from candi-
oates for congress, when the effect is
liable to precipitate a protracted de-
bate with very uncertain results.
There ought to be some more tangible
reason for such dangerous expedient
than the existence of a sentiment in
certain localities, now as always, that
demands the reduction of the tariff on
articles there consumed and not pro-
duced, while it stands ready to flight to
finish any reduction on the things it
produces. l for one must have a very
bitter and relentless enemy before
will consent TO carry yellow fever
germs into my home town. Don't mis-
understand me; | am not comparing
the REIMBURSEMENT of schedule here
and there to an epidemic. But | do
declare there has never been a. re-
vision of the tariff in the interest of
free trade or for revenue only, that
has not proven as fatal to business as
the plague in Egypt.
Il have never seen the time, since
have given public questions considera-
ton, that l would NOT reduce the rate
on quite large number of items, nor
when would not increase the rate on
other items 1t is not likely that any
member of either house of congress
ever voted for tariff bill entirely to
his liking, nor is it probable that any
President ever signed bill that, he
woulu not have changed In some par
ocular had it been in his power.
am willing to concede that conditions
Change, and that the old Morrell bill
of the sixties, for instance, when the
not be appropriate for us now, but
will not admit that the tariff is the
mother of trusts, nor will concede
that any trust owes it's existence to
the protective principle. Neither will
| concede that tariff for revenue only
will destroy trusts on ony other theory
than that a fire in a wheat field will
destroy Canada Lhistles.
organized and unorganized capital. En-
forced idleness means financial ruin
to individuals, to business firms and to
corporations, both great and small.
On the contrary, business prosperity
inspires hopefulness. 1t encourages
the individual to reach out, to expand,
TO buy more land, more houses, more
cattle, to erect more stores, build more
| Stops and to embark in new enter
prises. 1t leads to the organization of
corporations. 1t inspires both dreams
of greatest things and the consumation
OF gigantic enterprises. 1t leads to the
combination of capital and the organ
ization of labor Organized capital
dissipates and labor unions perish
with the approach of hard times, what
ever the cause. Does anyone suppose
| that the anthracite coal miners could
be kept together if there were mil
| lion men out of employment and
their families begging bread? Will
anyone contend that they could be sus-
| tanned were it not for a great army of
bituminous coal miners who are re-
ceiving such compensation as enables
them to contribute a dollar per week
for the maintenance Of their brethren
| The protective tariff is not the mother
of trusts, though it is the parent of
conditions that makes it profitable for
capital to combine and cOngenial for
| labor to organize"