The sun., 1903-10-01
DEAR FOOD CRY IMpOSTURE,
CHAMBERLAIN DEFENDS HIS
BRITISH TARIFF PLAN.
Points out tho Dangers Under the Present
system and tho Benefits That Will
Follow . Revisi0n--He wants an Al.
vance Toward Union OF the Empire.
Special Gable Despatch to THE SUN.

vance Toward Union OF tno Emplro.
Special Gable Despatch to THE SUN.
LONDON, Sept. 30-Mr. Chamberlain has
written a preface to the second edition Of
his collected articles on the fiscal question,
which appeared in the Telegraph In the
course of the preface he says:
at is not well with British trade. After
a long period of success the policy Of un-
restricted free imports has now shown evil
dent signs of failure. Our exports are
stationary in amount and declining in char
acter. We receive from competitors a
larger proportion of manufactured goods
and send them a larger proportion Of raw
materials than we used to do.
"Our supremacy in what has always
been considered our standard industries
has been wrested from us or seriously
menaced one by one. Markets once profit.
able and expanding are closed to us by
hostile tariffs. We have lost all power
of bargaining successfully for the removal
or reduct ion of these barriers to our trade.
Our colonies alone continue to increase
their purchases. and even here we must
abandon all hope Of expansion and are
threatened with the loss OF our existing
trade if we are unable to meet their request
for reciprocal preference.
"The competition, which is already so
acute is not fair competition. 1t b sup
ported by bounties, fost cred by the opera
tions of trusts, and is strengthened by eco
nomica advantages which our opponents
enjoy in cheaper labor, and in the absence
of all those regulations which we assented
10 in the interest of the working classes
and in order to raise their standard Of
living"
Mr. Chamberlain accuses the supporters
Of the ntiquated free trade policy Of resort
ing TO well worn devices which have always
been at the service of every opponent Of
reform Their baseless statements cul-
mnae ed in the assertion that those who
pointed out the dangers Of the present
system were prepared 10 restore all the
evils of anti-Corn Law times, reducing the
people o actual starvation. 1t is not easy,
SAYS Mr. Chamberlain, to characterize such
perversions of the truth in parliamentary
language.
Raising cry against the taxing of food
they deliberately ignore the fact that large
part of the British revenue is raised bytaxes
on food and drink the bulk of which is con-
sumed by the working classes. He points
out that in no protected country have prices
risen by the amount OF the protective duty
while the shilling tax on corn in Great Brit
aih did not raise prices at all. He adds:
at should be noted that the danger OF
the future is not rise in prices owing to
taxation, but the failure OF the supply due
to natural causes, such as drought, or arti-
fetal combinations, such as the Leitercorner.
This danger is greatest when the sources
OF supply are few and lend themselves to
monopoly, while the policy that develops
new markets and increases the food proauc-
ing areas Of the world will tend to cheapen-
ness and, above all, to stability Of prices.
Mr.. Chamberlain sums up as follows:
ANY duty on food imposed to secure prefer
ential trade with the colonies will be a
small one. 1t probably will be wholly paid
and certainly will be partly paid by the
foreigner. The additional cost, II any,
to the working classes will be fully met by
an equivalent reduction in other articles Of
food equally necessary for their existence.
The dear food cry is an imposture. and the
little loaf bugbear. The question Of
tariff reform may be considered on it's
merits without any fear that the cost of
living will be increased to the poor. On
the other hand, our tariffs may be revised
go as to secure the following advantages
Il. An increase OF trade with our fellow
subjects and best customers, who will
not only take much more per head from
lis than they do from foreigners, but will
take it in the shape OF manufactured goods
the production Of which involves the en-
ployment Of the greatest amount OF labor
-. Power OF bargaining with our COM
pettors, thereby securing that they shall
take more Of the products Of our labor in
return for the products Of their labor, or
that they leave the British market more
completely to British labor.
-3 In either case this change and in
creased trade with the Colonies will pro-
vide more employment for our own people
and greater demand for our own labor
a. If the demand for labor is increased,
wages must rise also, and full work at fair
prices will enable our manufacturers to
pay higher wages without loss to them
selves
lastly We shall have made great ad-
vance toward the union of the empire
end taken the frsJ steps toward freer trade
with the rest OF the world
II Ts