The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-30
MIR. SHAW SPEAKS
BIRTH OF WILLIAM McKINAsY COMMENORATED.
Six Hundred Republicans Join in Tributes Paid by the Speakers. Richard T. Greene Presidss
 ct. the Dinner.

New York, Jan. 0.-Ths birth of Wfi- liam Mckinley was commemorassd to- night at the annual dinner of the West Side Republican Club ct the Waldorf Astoria. More than co Republicans joined in the trtbutsA voiced by the speakers.
 The president of the club. Richard T. Greene. presided.
 Whom President Greene proposed the health of President Roosevelt all arose and the band played "Amer4ca."
 Rev. F. M Bristol was the first speak CT. His tribute to the late President evoked applause. In concluding Dr. Bristol characterized Mckinley as The ideal American and the audience arose and chss5ed for more than . minute.
 Secretary Shaw was chsered when hs rose to speak. He Said in part:
 T am aware that mont of the text books and many o6 the colleges teach free trade and admit that free trade is theo- reticaily correct. am also aware that nearly every statesman whose wisdom has contributed to the advancement of industrial prosperity in the United States during the last century has taught pro- lection and insist that. practically speak ing. protection Is cofrect. The school master is correct if t be sought to equalize wages and standards of living throughout the world. The statesman is correct SO long as he has in mind the advancement of the American people and the establishment of economic conditions peculiar to ourselves. Unless we propose to drop our standard of living to the average of the world we must protect our people from competition with the product of cheap foreign labor and from the presence of cheap foreign laborers, The last fiscal year was the most prosperous ever experienced. yet during that same year we actually consumed more foreign products than ever before in our history This does not imply that the schedules of any tariff law are perfect or that they ever were perfect or ever will be perfect or that they should never be revised. It does imply. however, that they should not be revised simply because they are imperfect. Some one. some indus actual hardship before present conditions are disturbed"
 After reviewing the opposition to high prices in 1892. resulting in the election of MT. Cleveland. Mir. Shaw said.
 There are indications that another campaign Is to be waged against high prices. It Is again urged that American made goods can be bought in foreign markets cheaper than at home. I sup pose this Is true in some instance. But this Is not the outgrowth of protection. If any of you gentlemen will go to the office of the Board of General Appraisers I can show you hundred articles that are regularly sold cheaper in the United States than where produced.
 No one presumes to say that existing conditions might not be improved by a revision of tariff schedules and no one dare insure against their being made worse. When the present tariff law was passed 1t was said 1t would remain un- disturbed for twenty-five years. It is now nearly six years old and some people have changed their minds. I am not pre- pared to say unwisely. but before I join the chorus I would like to have the direc- tor announce to the audience just what particular changes he proposed to have for.
 "The only free trade argument that appeals to me as sound Is the one favor ing the cheapest possible material for manufacturers designed for export. The answer to this argument Is the republican drawback policy evolved in the Interest of the exporter. These laws should be made as liberal as possible. There are three requisites for a. demand of refund of duty. First, the duties, must have been actually paid. Second. the imported material must have been wrought into a finished product with the aid of Ameri- can labor; third, the finished product must be exported and thus removed from in the home market. When 1t Is conceded that the government does not desire to profit at the expense of the exporter, then every possible facility should be afforded him and no unneces- sary obstructional hindrance or delay thrown in his way, I know 1t Is urged that a less stringent law should open the door to fraud, but there can be no fraud when the exporter of American recovers back no more than has been on the identical material which has been used on the Identical ma terial which has been used in the man. ufacture or on the same kind of quality of goods. Absolute identity need not be an essential"