Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-09
TARIFF QUESTION IN ENGLAND.

One Of the features Of the present
situation in Great Britain, Is the dis
cussion now entered upon with regard
TO tariff. Sixty years ago the British
government repealed the corn laws II
was then supposed that so-called free
trade would be England's policy for
ever. But Joseph Chamberlain has pro-
posed a return TO protection.
He contends that the free trade pol
icy of Golden has entirely failed, not
because 1t is In error in itself, but be-
cause It has not been universally adopt
ed Had It been followed by France
Germany. and the United States as
,yel as Great Britain. he argues, II
would have worked we'll But Great
Britain was left alone TO represent It,
and this that country can no longer
afford TO do. Great Britain alone, In
other words. cannot afford to walk In
the path that once was hoped to lead
to universal free trade disarmament
and a mlllennlal condition. 1t must do
as the other nations do,
1t Is evident that this is a serious
question to Great Britain. II the
adoption of protection should mean an
increase in the cost OF food. without
an increase ia the demand for labor
and in wages the condition Of the Brit
Ish workngman would be pitlable in
deed AS II is, It Is claimed that the
incomes OF 80 per cent Of the working
men do not provide living equal to
that given In the workhouse. In all
the larger cities 90 per cent Of the peo-
pie are huddled together whole fam
lily in one room, and Of every two
members Of the working class who at
tain the age Of s. years, one dies
pauper. That Is TO say half of the la
borers there, die In desututlon, The
cost Of living is increasing while
wages are stationary or decreasing.
Should the adoption of protective
tariff Increase the difficulties OF the la
borers to live, It is easy TO foresee dis
aster.
But the advocates OF change OF
policy hold that protection would i'm
prove the conditions. Mr.. Chamberlain
admits that three-fourths Of the new
burdens would fan upon the working
classes. but he assures them that they
viii be compensated by higher wages,
and he. besides, promises them old age
pensions. Mr.. Asqulth, however, takes
different view. He says;
what We import from foreign coun-
tries is food and raw material Four
hfths OF the raw material comes from
foreign countries and one-hfth from
the empire Are We going TO tax four
hfths and let In one-ffth tax free OF
raw material? The effect Of this pro-
posal. II carried out either In the taxa
ton OF food or raw material, would be
to raise the cost OF production Of our
manufactures still higher than at
present. and thus further TO handicap
Us. who were already severely and Sore
~ tried In the rivalry OF markets Of
the world We should have To face an
increase In the cost OF food, lower
wages and an intensifcaton Of every
social problem. The effect would be
equally bad among our colonies them
selves Tor II we began TO give preior-
ence 20 one colony We must give IL 10
an. and look at the riyalries and jeal-
ouses that would be created. The mo-
ment this country adopted commercial
preference within the empire Il would
be the signal FOR the outbreak OF a war
Of repusals throughout the length and
breadth Of the world"
The British workngman to whom the
appeal Is made specially, win have to
consider carefully the situation. II he
makes a mistake IN his vote the cost
win fan heavy upon him.