Evening journal., 1903-10-07
CHAMBERLAIN
GIVES HIS VIEWS
Former Member Of British
Cabinet Opens Campaign
for Protection
RECIPROCITY WITH COLONIES


Glasgow. Oct. 7.-Whatever may be
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 we're in eulogy
of Mr.. Balfour and his reputation of
the idea of superseding him; bis rep
resentation of the coming struggle as
one greater in its consequences than
the Boer war; his declaration that all
worlSingmen 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 4A
cents. to the artisan cents, while
the saving by the proposed reductions
TO the laborer would be 9 cents and
to the artisan 9i5 cents.
Adducing statistics, Mr.. Chamber
lain oontrasted 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 30 years. He proceeded:
"On 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
e116.O00OOO in 1872 have gradually
dwindled to e73.5OO,OOO in 1902 to the
protected countries of Europe and the
United States.
The countries to which l 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 vast amount Of commerce by
reciprocity relations with the colonies.
which 20 years hence would be lost
forever. After outlining a reciprocity
proposition. he said:
Suppose we had made such an offer
to the United States 10 OF 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? I will give you an illustration
America IS the strictest of the pro-
tective nations. It has tariff which SC
me is an abomination, unreasonable
and unnecessary, and although Amer
lea has profted enormously. / think 1t
has been carried TO excessive lengths,
and / believe that a great number OF
intelligent Americans would gladly
negotiate with MS 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, apd which we
might have kept if we had given some
reciprocal advantage. 1t would not
have been worth Americas while TO
put a duty upon an article Of which it
had no particular use or special apti-
tude"
He proposed TO put a low duty, not
exceeding As cents. on foreign corn,
but none on corn from the British pos
sessions. He proposed no tax on maize.
He proposed a corresponding tax on
four and he would give special pref
erence to the miller with the object Of
re-establishing one Of the ancient In
dustries and Of preventing a rush fror
the country TO the town. and also OF
placing corn. offal and feeding stuils
more cheaply within the possession OF
the farmer. A small tax of about PEI
cent on foreign meat and dairy prod
uce would be imposed, excluding ba-
con, which was the food Of so many oi
the poorest population. Lastly, he pro
posed to give substantial preference e
the colonies on wines and fruits.
Against these increases, he proposed
come great remissions. He proposed e
take OF three-quarters Of the duty OF
tea, half the duty on sugar, with cor
responding reductions upon cocoa ant
coffee.
! -o~