Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-17

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tion is not only practically sound, but
theoretically sound. 1t is not only vindi-
Gated by the experience of our people, but
can be defended by the highest and most
exact processes of abstract reason. This
policy has written the brightest and most
glowing pages in the history of the repub-
lie. 1t has contributed more to the honor
and renown of the American nation than
any other policy known to our institutions.
God made us foremost in natural resources;
protection has made us also foremost In
actual production. 1t has enabled us to
pay American wages, award capital with
an American profit, and still occupy our
own markets
The man who says that the followers of
the Iowa platform have abated one jot
or title of their belief in the policy of pro-
lection Is the only enemy that protection
has in the ranks of the republican party.
The schedules which now carry this pol
icy into effect were adopted in 1897.
have no criticism for them. They were
adopted when the country was in the
depths of commercial distress, created and
perPetuated by the weakness and fallacies
of democratic administration and demo-
cratic doctrines. l doubt not that some
of these schedules were prepared under
the expectation, declared In the act it
self, that they would be lowered through
the operation Of reciprocal treaties. be-
lieve that these schedules were the potent
factors in the commercial and industrial
rescue of the Mckinley administration
and the prosperity which has ensued is the
result of the confidence which the people
have always felt In government through
the agenscy of q republican party. Six
years have passed-the most wonderful
not only in the United States, but through
out the whole world. They have seen an
awakening and reimbursement among the
nations of the earth, industrally and COM
mercially, without parallel in recorded
times. In our own country changes in the
methods and process of industry have &C.
cured which could only be described In
volumes devoted to that purpose, and Of
which the intelligent people of this coun-
try are instinctively conscious.
Under these circumstances, the question
propounded by the Iowa platform is wheth-
er the time has come to make correspond.
ing changes in our import duties.
Tins for Thought.
If understood the real purport of what
we said last year, it is that the republic
cans of Iowa, and In this respect they are
Joined by the republicans of nearly every
state in the union. believed that the time
had come in which the subject should be
again examined, not necessarily in the
way of general revision of all the sched-
ules, but that some of them, and notably
the iron and steel schedules, should be
taken up for the purpose Of determining
whether the duties were so high that they
were being used, not for the purpose of
protection alone, but for the purpose of
| unduly enhancing the prices Of the various
commodities manufactured from iron ore.
There are some other things which have
also attracted public attention, but which
I cannot at this time mention. for one,
| and 1 believe that in this respect I speak
= sNrft, Hl,n
republicans of this state, believe that some
of these duties are too high, and that
they are capable Of being used for an un-
lawful object. We all know the principle
upon which protective duties are laid.
They are intended to equalize the differ
ence between the cost of production in
this country as compared with competing
countries, difference in cost that is at
tributed wholly to the higher wages paid
to our workingmen, a difference however.
which is partially compensated for by the
superior efficiency of our men and the SUI
perior character of our machinery.
Mighty concentrations have occurred
since the Dingley law was passed and 1t
| is claimed and is undoubtedly partially
| true that these concentrations were made
| in order to introduce economies into man
Lufacture. If these economies have been at
tanned by the concentration to which
have referred it is palpable that the gen.
! eral cost OF production has been diminish.
ed.
| All that we insist upon Is that protection
shall not be made the instrument of the
unlawful gain; that It shall not be taken
| from its high place and lowered to the
| selfish plane of ilegitimate profit.
| We understand perfectly that when the
subject is taken up by congress there will
arise differences of opinion, but we assume
1 that taese differences will be composed
| through patriotic effort precisely as they
have been adjusted in the past. There are
men, good republicans, too, who believe
that some things which are now on the
dutiable list should be upon the free list
| When the Dingley law was adopted arti.
cles which comprise more than one-half In
value of all the articles imported into the
/ United States were placed upon the free
j list. There were differences then upon the
| subject among republicans, and there will
be differences still, but 1t may be that the
| changes of the last six or seven years
the combinations which have in some in
stances substantially monopolized raw ma
/ terial, will indicate that under the princi
pie of protection as 1t has always been
understood, some things that We're then
made dutiable should now be made free
| not for the purpose of taking away the
| work that is now done within the limits OF
| the republic, but for the purpose of adding
| to the labor which may be here expended
The conclusion is that the platform OF
1902, in so far as direct changes in the
tariff are concerned, does this and nothing
more, it declares to the republicans
throughout tie United States that the re
publcans of Iowa believe that there are
some of the schedules that should be
| changed to meet the new conditions ant
that congress should undertake the inves
tigation of the subject. guided by the
| principle of protection, with the same fear
less determination that has always char
acterized the work Of republican body.
The Subject Of Reciprocity.
The platform to which have referred
also declares for reciprocity. This is Z
subject concerning which there has al
ways been much ambiguity in expression
| and much difference of real opinion. The
national platform Of 1896 seems to declare
for reciprocity in all commodities concern
ing which favorable bargains can be made
The Dinglcy tariff law of 1897 made ex
press provisions for such reciprocal treat
les. The national platform of 1900 seems
however, to favor reciprocity only in non
competitive commodities. Without, there
fore, impugning the motives of any MAJ
who differs from me respecting this yer.
serious subject. believe that the Who'll,
matter is now open for the calm and care