Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-30
SHAW UPHOLDS BICH TARIFF
Says Free Trade is Only theoretically
Desirable Policy.
PRoTEcrOwSTs TAKE LOCAL VIEWPOINT
see Interests of One Ountry only
whereas Their Opponents Look on
Nations OF world as init with
Identical Interests.

NEW YORK. Jan. 29.-Leslie NJ. Shaw,
secretary Of the treasury, was the princi-
pal speaker at the Mckinley dinner given
by the. West Side Republican club at the
Waldorf=Astoria tonight.
Mr.. Shaw dealt at length with The rival
claims Of protectionists and free traders,
claiming that while the latter were right
In theory, practically their IDEAS would
play havoc with the country.
Theory breaches Free rad
Secretary Shaw said IN part:
1 am aware that most Of the textbooks
and many of the colleges teach free trade,
and l admit that free trade Is theoretically
correct. ] am also aware that nearly
every statesman whose wisdom has con-
tributed to the Advancement of industrial
prosperity in the United States during the
last century has taught protection. and l
insist that. practically speaking, protection
is correct.
1 think both these propositions can be
demonstrated with mathematical accuracy,
and at the same time 1 conCede that cor
rect theory is always In armon with
The difficulty with the schoolmaster is
that he thinks of the human race as a unit.
and he is correct II it be sought to equalize
wages and standards of living throughout
the world. The statesman is correct so
long as he has in mind the advancement
of the American people and the establsh-
ment of economic conditions peculiar TO
ourselves. Unless we propose to drop our
standard of living to the average, OF the
world we must protect our people from
competition with the product of cheap
foreign laborers BY SO doing we are rela,,
lively of greater advantage to the world
than II we lowered our standard.
The last fiscal year was the most pros
porous ever experienced. but during that
same year we actually consumed more Tor
eign products than ever before in our his
tory. Our Unprecedented prosperity created
a market beyond our ability to supply,
THE dnna nnf innp1V that thp~GnhH0nieS
of any tariff law are perfect or ever were,
or ever will be perfect, or that they should
that they should not be revised simply be-
cause they are imperfect. Some one indus
try should show an actual hardship before
present conditions are disturbed.
FOresees Low Price Campaign.
After reviewing the opposition to high
prices in 1892, resulting in the election Of
Mr., Cleveland, Mr.. Shaw said:
|, There are indications. that another cam
paisn Is to be waged against nigh prices;
goods can be bought IN foreign markets
cheaper than at home. l suppose this is
the outgrowth of protection. If any of
you gentlemen. will go with me tomorrow
to the office of the Board of General APP
praisers, l promise to show you 100 articles
that are sold regularly cheaper In the
United States than in the country OF origin.
Sugar at "a cents wholesale IN France
charged with a. duty of 50 cents per 100,
and sold in this city at less than 5 cents.
iatg a rs f' ma6 Snto but Of ss steel and nj china
HwaFe, glassware and many other articles.
~ No one presunss to insist that existing
conditions might not be improved by a re-
vision of the tariff schedules, and no one
dares insure against their being made
| worse. A..
IL was said IN convention. on the platform
and through the press that 1t would re,
is now nearly SIX years old and some people
have changed their minds, l am not pre-
pared to say unwisely, but before L join
the chorus l would Ike to have the dlrector
announce to tie audience just what par
tieuiar changed she proposes to have made
and to give speqi8c reasons therefor.
The only free trade that APP
peals to me as sound is the one favoring
the cheapest possible material for manu-
lean manufacturer of shoes, for instance,
would find II difficult to invade foreign
markets against a competitor who not only
pays less wages, but who also mas the
advantage of cheaper leather.
The answer 10 this argument is the re-
publican drawback policy evolved IN tr9
be made as liberal as possible. There are
three prerequisites for a demand for re-
FTrstLThe duties must have been actu-
Seceond2The imported material must have
been wrought into a finished product WITT
the aid of American labor.
Third-The finished prodult must be. eX-
ported and thu removed from competition
IN When ype Il is Conceded that the government
does not expect to profit at the expense
of the exporter. then every possible facility
should be offered him, and no unnecessary
| obstruction, hindrance. or delay thrown II
his way. / know 1t Is urged that a less
Stringent law would open the door to fraud
but there can be no fraud when the 'ex'
carter of American manufactures re
covers back no more than has been actu'
aIlv paid, either upon the IDENTICAL ma
t,re or upon the same hind and quality
Of material. Absolute identity need not bt
an essential.