The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-17

n hiCh PROFESSORS lsbuSiiiii sA'i>~
discuss: The attitude of parties to TINS
became popular with many Republican
leaders: in 1884 Cleveland was elected on
a tariff revision platform. but by no out
sroken ma jority. He soon let congress
and the country know that he was op-
posed to reciprocity and ardentiy IN IA =
yor of a total reform Of our whole tariff
system. During Cleveand's first term or
Office fhe Mexican and South American
reciprocity schemes came TO naugnt. as
has been seen. At the next electlon the
Democratic party was defeated; Ike,
publican administration took charge OF
afrairs' thinking that Cleveland's defeat
had been due to his tariff policy. me
famous Mckinley tariff was passed Th's
act made provision for reciprocity by lny-
Ing higher duties than ever before IN .tne
hope OF thus having vantage GROUND
from which to recede If any other nation
made overtures in the way of satisfactory
reciprocity treaties. This was largely the
work Of Blaine. who, before the election
of 1855. had hoped to get the East to yield
some OF their protection to the needs OF
the non-protected West This combina.
ton the Maine statesman hoped would
bring him finally into the Presidency t
did not succeed. In 1892 the tide turned
ngair towards free trade, and Cleveland
was put into the Presidents chair. Ac-
cept,ng this and the overwhelming DEM
ocratic victories OF 1909 to indicate the
feeling of the people. the new admins.
tration set about to reform the tari arm
again. An adequate revenue was all that
the new bill was to yield. But the sugar
trust planted itself squnrely in the path
Of reform and by dint OF hssiduous lobby
ing that important and we'll organized IN
terest was securely protected by the Dem
ocrats. The sugar refiners thus K'lled
reciprocity, for that was now the princi-
pal article on which reciprocity arrange
ments either with Germany or our tropi-
cal ncighbors could be made. The Ding
ley law, which made anew our "hoie
tn riff schedule, did not resurrect the pol
Icy. It was only IN the last months OF
President McIlinley's life that the reel
procity plans Of former Republican adj
minIstrations became again vital issue.
The death OF the President Just after the
famous Buffalo speech gave the doctrine
a new lease on life, and President Roose.
welt has exerted all his influence to get
his party to give up some of Its extreme
protectionist demands. AS yet. poor sue
cess has attended his efforts, though the
signs of the times seem to point to anoth-
er revision, perhaps of q radical nature.
All OF these subjects the authors Of our
volume discuss most convincingly and
without party bias. 1t Is an exceedingly
important book, and should have place
in every private library; 1t Is indispensa-
bic to those Of us who would know the
real status OF reciprocity or understand
our tariff history during the last twenty
years It may MS well be said here as
anywhere that our authors are not hope
full for the future Of reciprocity AS q re-
form measure 1t Is too feeble; as protec-
ton 1t is Inadequate. Professor Willis,
one of the authors, is doing, by the way,
pioneer work in economics and govern
mental questions In our section of the
country. and as such he has q second
claim on our attention. s
Some minor errors occur; now and then
misprint or some repetition Of terms in
close succession, both OF which can be
easily remedied in a second edition, which
It Is to be hoped will soon be demanded.
There is an appendix which gives the
texts of all existing reciprocity treaties
an Invaluable feature OF the book for
many. good index concludes the work.
w. e. D.
Pandolph- Macon College, Va.