Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-10
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN
OPENS CAMPAIGN
Former Go'cher Of British Cabinet
States his Views Oh Protection.
MAKES A MASTERLY ADDRESS

the opinion held regarding the great
question which Mr. Chamberlain has
raised or the probable issue of his
campaign, it is generally admitted that
he has opened it in a mastery man
ner, betting the momentous occasion,
and that he can no longer be accused
of nebulosity in presenting his case.
For nearly two hours, only referring
occasionally to fairly full notes for
figures and statistics, he held a vast
and enthusiastic audience absorbed by
one Of his finest oratorical efforts.
The points of his speech attracting
remarkable attention were in eulogy
of Mr.. Balfour and his Reputation of
the idea of superseding him; his rep
resentatiOn of the coming struggle as
the Boer war; his declaration that all
worhngmen in the colonies were pro-
tectionists. and that any labor leader
visiting the colonies would inevitably
be converted to protection; his de
scription of the American tariff as an
abomination, and his curious presen-
tation of the case as affecting the
workmen's eXchequer. Thus, according
to him, the increased cost of the new
duties to the laborer would be Az
cents, to the artisan cents, while
the saving by the proposed reductions
to the laborer would be 8 cents and
to the artisan 91s cents.
Adducing statistics, Mr. Chamber
LAIN contrasted the moderate increase
of ~ per cent. in the export trade
of Great Britain and the increase of
80 per cent. in her population since
1872, with the enormous increase of
trade in the United States and Ger
many, and he asked how the country
could expect to support its growing
population with its trade practically
stagnant for 80 years. He proceeded:
ION the other hand the protected
countries which you have been told
and | myself one time believed were
going rapidly to wreck and ruin, had
progressed infinitely better in proper
ton than ourselves, and instead of
our remaining the workshop for the
world, we are sending less and less
of our manufactures abroad, while the
protected countries are sending more
and more of their manufactures here.
Thus our manufactured exports from
G1I6,000,000 in 1872 have gradually
dwindled to G73, 100000 in 1902 to the
protected countries OF Europe and the
United States.
''The countries 20 which I have re-
ferred are in different stages Of the
protective process. In the United
States the process is completed. She
produces everything and excludes ev-
erything. There is no trade to be done
with her for a paltry six shillings per
head
Mr.. Chamberlain continued by say
ing England can intervene now and
save a vast amount Of commerce by
reciprocity relations with the colonies.
which 20 years hence would be lost
forever. After outlining q reciprocity
! proposition. he said:
Suppose we had made such an offer
! to the United States 10 or 20 years ago.
do you suppose that we should not
have been able to retain a great deal
of what we have now lost and cannot
! recover? l will give you an illustration.
America is the strictest of the pro-
tective nations. 1t has tariff which ia
me is an abominatiou, unreasonable
and unnecessary, and although Amer
lea has profited enormously, / think il
, has been carried to excessive lengths.
and l believe that a great number Of
| intelligent Americans. would gladly
negotiate with us for its reduction. But
! until very recent times even this i'm
moderate tariff left us the great tin
| plate trade. amounting to millions Of
pounds per annum, and which we
might have kept if we had given some
reciprocal advantage. 1t would not
! have been worth Americas while TO
| put duty upon an article of which it
/ had no particular use or special apti-
| tude"
He proposed to put, low duty, not
! exceeding rs cents. an foreign corn
! but none on corn from the British pos
| sessions. lie proposed no tax on maize
! He proposed a corresponding tax on
/ tiour, and he would give special pref
/ srence to the miller with the object of
/ re-establishing one of the ancient in
! dustries and of preventing a rush FROM
the counry to the town, and also OF
placing corn. offal and feeding stuffs
more cheaply within the possession of
| the farmer. A small tax of about per
cent. on. foreign meat and dairy prod
uce would be imposed, excluding ba-
con, which was the food of so many a
the poorest population. Lastly, he pro-
posed 20 give substantial preference Ia
the colonies on wines and fruits.
Against these Increases, he proposed
some, great renissions. He proposed 80
take off three-quarters of the duty on
tea, half the duty on sugar, with cor
responding reductions upon cocoa and
coffee.
Reformed Chassis Wins Suit
Easton, Pa. Oct. g. Judge Scott