Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-04-07
DUTIES TOO HIGH.
GROWING TRUSTS SHOW THE
FALLACY OF PROTECTION.
Congressman Williams, of Illinois,
Arrafgns Republican Policies
and Practices and Hits
at the President.

In the house on Tuesday. March 20,
Representative James r. Williams. of
illinois, spoke in an electrifying man.
ner on the leading questions of political
Import upon which the two great var
ties are now at issue.
Industries Demand Lower Duties.
Mr.. Williams handling of the tariff
question was mastery and broad, and
was listened to with profound atten-
ton by the house. He pointed out that
only great industries like steel and iron,
which are charging home consumers
more for their products than they are
charging foreign consumers, are clamor-
Ing for a retention of the Dingley sched-
ules; that the great mass of independ-
ent manufacturers throughout the u
try, who have been striving to create
markets abroad for their surplus prod
ucts, want and must have tariff conces-
sions or reciprocity. These interests,
Mr.. Williams said, can no longer be
bound to the republican party, If it con-
tinues to uphold its stand-pat policy.
Some of our republican friends are be-
coming very anxious for fear the democrats
Will have no issues for the next campaign"
said Mr.. Williams. "These gentlemen need
not worry on that score. There will be
plenty of issues'to keep the republican par
ty busy In its own defense.
'The revision OF the tariff has been fire.
luently suggested as a probable issue in
the next campaign, and why should it not
be? Upon that question the democrats
won a most decisive victory in 1899, and
what has occurred since then to weaken
that issue?"
Shuts Foreign Markets.
Mr.. Williams alluded briefly to the
Wilson tariff bill and the cause which
led to the emasculation of the original
measure as passed by the house of rep
resentatives. Incidentally he com
pared the financial panics which oc-
Cured during the Harrison and Cleve-
land administrations. and said the one
was no more due to the Mckinley bill
than the other was to the Wilson bill,
"Sinc that time continued Mr.. VIII.
Hams, "some very obnoxious features 'oi
high protection have developed or made q
much stronger impression on the people
1t was not so generally understood ther
that our home consumers were paying
higher prices for American products thai
foreign consumers, nor had the retaliatory
measures with which other countries havt
been melting out prohibitory duties beer
so keenly felt by our people. They ar,
beginning to learn that our high tariff
policy is affecting our markets abroad a:
well as at home. We have certainly livec
long enough under the restrictions for re
publicans as well as democrats to learr
that protection high enough to keep GU
imports will keep in exports; that nc
country is going to continue to buy where
t can never sell.
Must Sell Abroad.
For years l listened to republicans OF
this floor %contending that if We would shu
out a certain class of foreign goods AM
manufacture them in this country W,
would give that much more to American
labor and keep our money at home, jus
as though we were paying cash for all GU
imports, but even these jealous advocate
of protection have at last recognized tn
fact that We buy foreign products wit
American products and when you shut ou
W SAAN Ni ALil1i va
products, and if you permit the eXchang
it will never take place except when profit
able to both parties. While it has Away
been insisted by the protectionists that
high tariff would build up home markets
1t has never been commended that these bur
dens on would in any way i'm
prove our foreign markets.
american products have so far out
grown American markets tbat both GU
manufacturers and farmers are appealin
to congress for freer with othe
countries, in order that their surplus prod
ucts may find a market there. Our powe
OF production has become so much create
than our consumption that we are CON
PEELED to compete in the open market c
the world, whether We desire to or not.
Compete with Foreigners.
"What better evidence of our ability t
compete with other countries would 20
have than the fact that we are doing S
now? Our farmers have always had t
sell their surplus in foreign markets
| competition with the cheapest labor of tn
world and our manufacturers have bee
doing so for several years. And | am val
enough, | am American enough, to belieN
, that with all our natural resources, wit
the inventive genius of our people, wit
the superior skill and efficiency of oil
/ labor and its ready adaptability to ne
machinery will enable us to compete su,
cessfully in all those articles for whic
our people and our country are best adap
ed in any market of the world.
"Now, if the American manufacturer ca
: ship his goods to foreign markets and aft
q paying freight and other charges sells the
In competition with foreign manufacture
o goods without protection. why should
not be able to sell the same articles in o.