Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-01-07
ENGLAND AND PROTECTION.
Political Economists Trying to Brin Y
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
lftical 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 it is possible to
gauge the results of the work of educa-
tion 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-
tion for either the public or business peo-
pie. although 1t 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
-RyptIId moi .laply INN n their iulp-
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. if at all
"In the engineering and machinery
trades, so far can be ascerta!ned only
four per cent of tho manufacturers are
against the proposed duties. This view Is
based on the belief that users OF machinery
in England would have 10 pay the duties,
and that they would tend TO increase colonl-
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.
an average duty of ten per cent. would not
injure exports in these trades, though it
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 a word that "the Chamberlain pol
icy will help the British manufacturer
to secure a 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 ad-
vantages TO be obtained from a system
which has worked so well in this coun-
try.