The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-03-21
New Questions In the South.
New York. American Economist

has taken place i'll the Southern
States in the past twenty-five years
from a purely agricultural to a
manufacturing section is brought
into view by Senator McLaurln Of
South Carolina in an article in the
New York Commercial Advert
SER of February -. In genera
ton, says Senator McLanrin,
South Carolina has become a com
petitor of Massachusetts for first
place in cotton manufacture, and
Birmingham has become for
midable rival of Pittsburgh ii
iron and steel production. And
yet the South has only begun to
cultivate the edge of the vast field
Of her industrial possibilities.
One half of all the timber that
stands IN the United States is
south of the Mason and Dixon
line. Alabama. only one among
number of Southern States pos
sessing great coal deposits, has
more bituminouS coal than Penn
sylvania, much more iron ore than
Pennsylvania, and ten times more
timber than Pennsylvania.
In view of the enormous indus
trial development that aas already
taken place in the South. and the
still more enormous industrial
possibilities, Senator McLaurin
says:
Consideration Of these facts has led
to great change in the views Of many
of our leading men on the Tariff ques-
ton. When the Dingley bill was be
ing framed | was a member of the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House of Representatives and | took
the position that in framing bill
with the avowed object of Protecting
American industries, South Carolina
was entitled to just as much of the
benefits to accrue from Protective
Tariff as was the State Of Massachu-
sets. | really think that the Dingley
bill was the only Tariff bill ever
framed wherein the slightest attempt
was made to Protect Southern indus
tries. 1t is not question of whether
one was for or against the principle of
Protection. IF we were going to raise
our revenues by means of the Tariff
it necessarily meant that there was
more or less Protection under it, and
that in adjusting duties we should
consider the various sections and in
dustries. / may say that | have never
foundsa Southern industry that could
be benefited by the Tariff where there
was not Just AS much clamor for it as
there was for any industry IL any
other section Of the country II any
body will take the pains to investigate
what reasonable and proper adjust
ment of the schedule on rice and lum-
Der has done for the various Southern
States he cannot fail to be convinced
Of the wisdom of this course Since
The passage of the Dtngley bill there
has been no further Tariff legislation,
and its operations have been SO salts
factory that, for my part. | hope there
will not now be any Tariff agitation
We are going along very well on this
line, and it is wise to let we'll enough
alone.
1t is a curious anomaly in poll
teal conditions and tendencies
that just at time when con
siderable element in the Republi
can party is turning toward Free
Trade through direct or indirect |
Tariff reviSiOn-revision through |
or by the roundabout
and checkered route of reciprocity |
in competitive products-at this
identical time the Democratic
party in the Southern States is
veering squarely around, away
away from Free Trade and toward
Protection, To find in a Demo
cratic Senator from South Caro-
Ina a better PrOtectionist than
you can find in one of Iowa's Re.
publican Senators indeed politi-
,al paradox. The explanation
would seem to be that Democrats
n the South are just beginning to
o taste the full fruitage of Pro
,ection prosperity, and they like
t and want more of it, while GER
AIN Republicans in the North are
lfraid OF too much prosperity and
ire planning how to have less of
t. A singular state of things,
ruly!
Raui,lar maatiur Of tbo Dro