Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-29

ducts, and many others now enter
France under a discriminating duty
against us of rs per cent as compared
with the favored nations A treaty,
negotiated upon our part by the most
lllustrious son that Iowa has given to
the field OF international politics, is
now before the senate. 1t gives us
equality in France. and what we sur
render is so little that it would not
create a ripple upon the industrial wa
tiers. 1t ought to be ratified, and
doubt not will be as soon as the re-
publican voice is fairly heard upon the
subject Should the democrats prevail,
however, it must fall into oblivion, for
when free trade comes in we have
nothing to give and therefore can take
nothing save that which we conquer
in hot commercial warfare. 1t is quite
true that our export trade is insignifi-
cant compared with our home trade,
and so it will always be, but to keep it
and increase it, is absolutely essential
to our continued prosperity Least of
all can we afford to adopt policy that
will permit the gradually developing
resources of other countries to drive
our agricultural products from foreign
markets or impose upon them a dis.
eliminating duty; and the administra.
ton which, by the introduction of free
trade or the neglect OF opportunities
for reciprocal trades allows this conse-
quence to fall upon the farmers of the
United States, will go down into his.
tory under the fierce condemnation of
all the people. l have not hitherto
mentioned, nor can develop at any
length, the beneficial effects of reci-
procity with the South American coun-
tries. One has but to examine the in
creasing trade which followed the re-
ciprocal treaties which were so sense
lessly abrogated by the democrats in
1894, to know that there is no field in
which our statesmen can employ their
abilities with greater rewards than in
the cultivation of closer commercial
relations with the South American
continent. With American lines of
steamships established between the
ports of the United States and the
ports of South America, and with fair
trade arrangements, we can CONNER
cially dominate these undeveloped
lands for all time to come. Mark my
prediction, that in the ensuing quarter
of century, trade arrangements, by
whatever name they may be called,
will be the most prominent and i'm
portant subjects of discussion and de-
cision, not only in our own country,
but In every country of the civilized
world How indispensable and unpatri-
otto 1t would be to cast away in the
very beginning of this great struggle
the only weapon with which we can
fight our way to victory.
Methods of Reciprocity.
Before 1 close my consideration of
the tariff and of reciprocity, l must
refer to some peculiar conceptions
which my friend Sullivan has of it's
operation and effect. There was diff
ference of opinion in 1897 among re-
publicans, and still is, respecting the
wisdom of putting the duty on lumber.
1t is one of those differences which
will always exist, and l am not con-
tending against the modification of
the duty. l desire, however. to point
out the exaggeration for which Mr.
Sullivan seems to be responsible. TAX
ing the prices of lumber in 1897 as
guide, the average duty put up
on it was less than s per cent of its
selling price, and yet, in the fervor
of his love for free trade. Mr.. Sulli-
van says:
"There is not man within the
sound of my voice who does not know
it to be fact that when the Dingley
act passed, the price of lumber in ev-
cry form was increased from 20 to 40
per cent"
He may be right about the increase
in the price of lumber in the prosper
Gus days following the overthrow of
Bryan and the establishment of the
republican party in power, but leave
him to explain how an s per cent duty
can increase the price of an article
40 per cent.
The Standard Oil company has
been the subject of indefinite discus
sion. l do not defend It's methods, and
| deplore it's monopoly, but / believe
| that Mr.. Sullivan is entitled to the
distinction of being the first man who
has ever imputed its mighty power
to the tariff. He says:
II wonder if Governor Cummins
does not believe that this tariff sched-
ule is shelter to monopoly in this
| instance"
| l will instantly relieve his mind of
saying that l do not believe that the
| tariff has contributed, or in any way
does contribute to the monopoly en-
joyed by this corporation. 1t may be
that the greater part of the tin which
it uses pays no duty, because it's pro-
duct is exported in the cans made
from the imported tin, but it must be
borne in mind that any person or any
corporation can import tin with ex-
actly the same privilege. With re-
spect to the product itself, there is no
duty upon 1t, and if there were, it
would be dead letter, for there is
not an oil field in the world that can
import into the United States petro-
lleum and compete with the Standard
Oil company if it's products were adj
mitted free. But / repeat that there is
no duty on petroleum. There is a pro-
vision of the law which declares that
| if any country imposes duty upon
petroleum exported from the United
States, that similar duty shall be
| imposed by the United States upon pc
troleum exported from such country
into the United States. There is no
country which can import petroleum
the law is Of no consequence whatever
l H. s. !, <.-H. IL ~