The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-01-02
ENGLAND AND PROTECTION.
Political Economists Trying 10 Brias
About the American
System.

The London correspondent of the
Protectionist makes an interesting
presentation Of the campaign carried on
by Joseph Chamberlain and those In po-
litical and economic sympathy with him
who are endeavoring to bring about
system Of moderate protection for Brit
ish Industries. The correspondent says
the time has come when 1t is possible to-
gauge the results of the work of educa-
ton which Mr.. Chamberlain has been
carrying on and to form some estimate
OF public opinion as to the policy pro-
posed, and he makes this summary:
There is undoubtedly complete absence
OF enthusiasm for duties on grain. meat
and dairy produce; they have no attrac-
ton for either the public or bushes So peo-
pie. although II Is felt that 1t would be
fair to make such concessions to the
colonies for an adequate preference on
manufactures. There is, on the other hand,
very decided feeling throughout the
country and among all classes Except, of
course. the rabid Cobdenites. who form q
very small minority in favor of duties on
foreign manufactures whereby they may
be kept out of this country. Nearly every
manufacturer In nearly every branch of
industry hopes to receive some advantage
from duties averaging ten per cent. on
imports OF manufactures. They may not
keep out in every case the foreign brands;
they may not even increase the prices; but
they will alleviate the severity OF COM
petition. The millers, farmers and land
owners look In the same way upon the
suggested duty on imports OF foreign grain.
flour, meat, cattle and dairy produce.
Manufacturers are nearly all OF opinion
that the proposed duties on their products
would not check imports. In their judg-
ments such duties would In certain trades
be paid by the foreign maker and his
agents, reducing their profits. In other
cases they think they would be added to
the retail price. but in any case compeu-
tion owing to the necessary customs and
other formalities, would be made more
difficult to foreign imports. while prices
would be changed only little, II at all.
''In the engineering and machinery
trades so far as can be ascertained only
four per cent. Of the manufacturers are
against the proposed duties This view is
based on the belief that users of machinery
In England would have to pay the duties.
and that they would tend to increase coloni-
al and foreign competition. Forty-two per
cent of the makers think that the duties
would not exclude machinery; "a per cent
believe they would have that effect, and 20
per cent are undecided, believing that the
duties would have no effect either way.
The opinion seems to be very general that
an average duty of ten per cent. would not
injure exports in these trades, though II
would to a small extent reduce the imports
from abroad and improve home trade to
that extent
The conclusion of the whole matter is,
says the Troy Times, that there is wide
belief that as a result of adopting pro-
lection prices will go up all around, but
that the resulting benefits to the trades
most directly interested will more than
counterbalance that advance, because
British artisans will no longer be forced
to face foreign competition, especially
from the United States and Germany
in word, that "the Chamberlain pol
icy will help the British manufacturer
to secure greater hold upon the home
trade than is possible under the present
regime" That is sound protection ar
gument as it has been presented on this
side of the water, and American protec-
tionists have no objection to the pro-
posed change. They will take their
chances in competing with others in Eng
land and elsewhere, for they do not be-
grudge their English brethren the adj
vantages to be obtained from a system
which has worked so well in this coun-
try.