Gilpin observer., 1904-10-06
TRUSTS AND TApZ::r.
Eolcsi Treaties Waull Expanl A.1,:.
icau Commerce.

icau Commerce.
| Francis r.. Woodruff writes to the
Evening Post IN. ", the following in-
teresting letter an 'Protectlon:"
Sir-The Republicans declaration
that I'VE Insist upon the maintenance
of the principles Of protection" is a
challenge to make the Question
whether the principle OF protection In
right or wrong n cnmpaign Issue.
This leaves the clrau-cut issue. js
protection In principle rirl,t or wrong?
The only argument Tint lns hcrn all
vnnced for the former is that we see
1t accompanied hy prosperity; and a
similar argument would equally prove
that the sun goes around the earth!
An argument against 1t is that, simply
because something cannot lie made out
or nothing, protective" duties can do
no more than-to divert production from
IT'S natural channels; that In. from the
lines OF Least resistance, and therefore
OF least expenditure of effort. and so
of least cost of production. Converse
~. such diversion from natural chan
| nels must increase cost Of production,
and. therefore. other things being
equal, lessen profit.
Tariff duty Is only one OF many fac
tors, but so far as 1t goes the arGu-
meat Ia confirmed by the fact that
under the Walker so-called free trade
tariff, when our manufactures came
nearest to following the natural chan
nels OF production. their ratio Of IN
crease, which is largely dependent on
relative profit, was greater than ever
before or since. Under the crownng
lnqulty, so far, ~ the Dingley tariff,
while the ratio OF increase. and so the
profit to the Nation. Is less. corrupt
legislat tiOn has diverted the lFOr's share
of the DIMINISHED profits into the pock-
cts OF tarifr-prlvlleged few-to the
building up OF huge Individual for
tunes, that by tEeir evil example and
evil use In cOrrupting our leglsln tors
and voters are endangerlng our repub-
lie. 1t Is true that, thanks to abund-
ant crops. and to other causes with
which protection has nothing to do
except to do harm. there are crumbs of
the resulting prosperity for the rest
of US; but under the Walker tarifY,
while individual fortunes would not
have been SO dangerously overgrown,
the people would have had full loaves.
Besides, despite the delaying of the
end by "Trust" combinations, the arti-
fetal stimulant Is manifestly losing
its effect. and should the Republicans
win 1t Is an open secret tint to bring
about another boom" 1t will be neces-
sary to increase the dose, Mt our further
expense; as well as to add slip subsi-
dies, and so on. If. OH the other hund,
the Democrats should win, revision,
properly managed as 1t would be by
the friends OF our country lin place of
friends of the tariff Deneficiaries, and
the Republican corruption fund.-, and
with honest reciprocity treaties, 70 far
from checking prosperity would give II
healthy impulse by throwing open
to us the field of international trade;
In which, just as fast as our necks are
freed from the milestone Of protection
ism, with our natural resources, In
cluding brains, we would lend the
world. The rich employers would be-
come richer. Steel rails. for example,
at S2S would lose the $S we are now
robbed Of, but tn remaining proat
Of IS on the added enormous output
for the vast increase In the foreign
trade would more than make up the
loss. These employers, also, could OBJ
viously afford to land so long rs a good
ratio of our land to our Inhabitants
continues would have to give as good
wages as now, OF better. and Instead
Of the present alternating feasts and
famines there would be more steady
employment.
Best of all, perhaps. as the tarlff
robbery was lessened lis artihcially en-
HANGED cost of living would be reduced,
ard tsay) fifty cents would provide
what now costs dollar. 1t has been
the writer's lot to spend most of his
grown life abroad, and although now
some years at home he still feels hui
inflated whenever. rs often he 6nds
that In his own enlightened country,
Of which lie had been SO proud, he
now has to pay for inferior qualify
double what he has been used to pay
Ing In the benigh.ed wer,d outside.
Besides the sense CT hun.iiiation. how
ever. there Is also distinct incliuation
to kick somebody. What justice Ia
there in robbing us to make other men
rich, or to swell the Republican cor
ruption fund? From their cwn selfish
view point the Republicans do well to
fight tooth and nail against change,
except to make the duties higher.
Even ten years under scientific tariff
would make my countrymen amazed
that they could have been so fooled.
After fifty years, our historians wonld
group the protection craze with the
tulip mania and the South Sea bubble.