The St. Louis Republic., 1904-09-26

significance. Once. from the manufac-
tursrs' point OF view. it meant expansion; !;
to-day the marvellous growth of our
manufa cturinG industries has far exceeded
the consumpiive capacity OF our domestic
markets. and the term home market"
implies contraction. rather than expan-
sion. III We would run our mills 10 their
full capacity. thus giving steady en-
ployment 10 our workmen and securing to
them and to the manufacturer the profits
accruing from increased production. other
markets must be found Furthermore.
when cur manufacturers are dependent on
raw materials in whole or part imported.
1t is vital TO the extension OF their mar
kets abroad that they secure their ma
terials on the most favorable terms.
Our martyred President. William Nc
Kinley. appreciated the situation. He
pointed out IN his last address TO the peo-
pie that we must make sensible trade ar
rangements II we shall extend the out
lets for our increasing surplus" He said:
"A system which provides a mutual ex-
sential TO the continued and heaIthful
growth Of our export trade. The
period of exclusiveness is past. The expan-
Ens si9n OF our trade and 0SmmsrSe Is the
unproftaole- A policy Of goodwill and
friendly relations will prevent reprisals.
Reciprocity treaties are in harmony with
the spirit Of the times: measures OF retail
alton are not"
This argument was made in the interest
OF our manufacturers. whose products. he
nave so multiplied tl3t Inc prod
lem OF more markets requires our urgent
and immediate attention" He had come
to realize that the so-called stand pat"
policy must give way-that there must be
a reduction Of duties to enable our manu-
facturers to cultivate foreign markets.
The last words of this President-who had
won the affection of his countrymen-
ought TO be studied by every man who
has any doubt of the necessity of a reduc-
ton in tariff rates in the interest of the
manufacturer. They present with clearness
a NJ NJ m=ld Vaawv~ ~EIv bat
prompted the provision in our platform
which declares that. We favor liberal
trade arrangements with Canada and with
peoples OF other countries where they can
be entered into with benefit TO American
agriculture, manufactures. mining or COM
mercc.
majority in the Federal Senate to ratify
the reciprocity treaties negotiated in pur
suance Of the poilcy adyoeated alike by
pressly sanctioned in the fourth section
of the Dingley act. is a discouraCing ex-
hihition OF bad faith As already men
posed on many an imported article by the
DinGley tariff was avowedly Intended by
its author not to be permanent. but TO
serve temporarily as 4 maximum, from
which the Federal Government was en-
powered to offer a reduction. in return for
an equivalent concession on the part of
foreign country.
President Mckinley undertook honestly
to cary out the purpose of this section of
the act. a number Of reciprocity agree
ments were negotiated within the pre-
scribed Limitation OF two years. which IL
ratified. would have had the two-fold re-
suit of cheapening many imported
products for American consumers. Not
one OF those agreements has met with the
approval of III. Republican masters of the
Senate. Indeed. they did not even permit
their consideration. In view of the atti-
tudc OF the present executive. no new
agreement. under the general treaty pow
ers need h., expected from him Nor does
the Republican platform contain favor
able reference to one of tho suspended
treaties. This section Of the Dinrley act
stands Forth as n monument OF legislative
cOzenacc and political bad faith.