Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-09-18
THE TARIFF SWINDLE
FRANCE HAS A WINNING HAND
IN THE GAME.
Its Government Is Prepared to Prove
to Our Statesmen" That Reciprocal
Trade Arrangements Must be Made.

When the Dingley bill was pending
It's trainers set themselves deliberately
and none too secretly about construct
ing certain sections in such wise that
reciprocity treaties could be entered
into without depriving any of the pro-
tectees of their monopoly shelter.
Their plan was simple. They first
put up the protective duties as high
as the protectees had the face to de-
mand. Then they proceeded to add
25 per cent so that our foxy diplo-
mats could knock off one-fifth in re-
turn for like reductions by foreign
countries in davor of American prod
ucts.
Now. this Is not an assertion of
rthe enemy 1t is the truth as stated
On the floor of the senate during the
last session by Senator Dolliver of
Iowa, who was member of the
ways and means committee in the
house at the time when the thing was
done.
This was regarded as very shrewd
yankee trick at the time. But other
countries easily got wise" and pro-
ceeded to block the game-especially
France. The French chamber found
out what was going on and actrMly
got in the counter before the Dingley
blow was delivered.
Whenever the French chamber
starts to go anywhere it generally
gets there pretty soon, while eight
months is short time for the construt-
ton and passage of a protective
tariff bill by congress. France
was all ready to more than
meet us with her maximum
and minimum rates-more than
ready, because she could clap on or
take off the maximum rates any ma
ute. while we had to go through all
the motions of negotiating and ratify-
ing treaty.
During the last session our Repub-
lican tariff sharps proceeded to enact
retaliatory tariff law providing for
the inspection of imported foodstuffs
and the exclusion of such as the in
pPCSlOio may ulu " DC iuGllCldlCu vi
otherwise Objectionable. 1t is pretty
well understood that nothing objec-
tionable will be discovered If the for
eign country from which the goods
come admits American products on
terms satisfactory to our protection
LIST officials.
Now we find that the French have
countered once more During the re-
cent session their parliament passed
+ bill about doubling the duties on
sailed meats, of which we export large
quantities to France The French do
not buy other animal products from
us very largely, but they are buying
our sailed meats in great and increas-
ing quantities.
They meet our retaliatory inspec.
ton law with double duty on These
meats and then give us plain officis.;
animation that if we wish any coz
cession we must reduce our rates ON
french products. This intimation
comes just at the time when our re-
taliatory law goes into effect
So the French propose not only to
meet our retaliatory measure, but to
go further and cut off our most
Furnishing trade with them If we dc
not reduce our monstrous duties on
their products.
Possibly it will dawn upon our tariff
wiseacres after while that country
which is growing more and more
anxious to find foreign markets for
its products cannot secure them by
shutting and barring it's doors against
foreign products.
William Mckinley made that dis
,covery some time before his tragic
death, but his one-time followers and
admirers are slow to learn that trade
ho rocinroca1