Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-10-20
JUDGE pAaksa's RECIPROCITY.

Judge farker, IN MIS- ietteT OF eccep-
tance, tries to keep in harmony with
his platform, and at the same time
cite Republican authority for his po-
sition 1t Is sort Of a two-horse
bareback riding at which David B.
Hill is an adept. and 1t must be sur
missed that the Democratic candidate
for president IL trying to follow the
teachings Of his preceptor. but he
makes but sad figure in the effort
Judge Parker is complex In his dis
cussion OF the tariff. but his utter
ances on reciprocity are confusion
worse confounded, especially when he
drags in the names of Mckinley,
Blaine and Dingley as authority for
his alleged views on that subject.
Does Judge Parker know that the
Democrats repealed the Mckinley
tariff act and at the same time de-
nounced all the reciprocity treaties
negotiated under II by President Har
rison? Does he know that the Dem
ocrats In congress opposed and ridi-
culed the reciprocity section in the
Dingley tariff law? Does he know
that Nelson Dingley was regarded by
Democrats as the high priest Of pro
lection only seven years ago and tina;
Blaine and Mckinley had been 80 re
garded by Democrats 80 long az they
lived? Does he know what his party
really means by reciprocity?
II Judge Parker will turn back only
two years and read the Democratic
text book for 1902, edited by Senator
Carmack. he will find the Democratic
definition OF reciprocity. That Dem
ocratic text book declared that "reci-
procity looks like free trade but tastes
like protection" that "in practice re
ciprocity is worse than protection, .
that reciprocity is based upon the
same false theories as lis protection,
and like protection, is a sham and a
humbug" He will also nnd there tLe
Democratic tariff position In one short
sentence where the text book declares
that free trade would open our mar
kets to benefit our country" Instead
Of garbling McKinley's last public
speech and using the garbled extract
as an illustration Of his own position
regarding reciprocity. Judge Parker
Parker should have gone direct to the
fountain of Democratic tarif inspira-
ton and learned Just why his party
desires reciprocity with Canada. His
marty wants to open our markets to
competitors from other countries,
Just as they have ever desired from
the beginning OF this government
Their doctrine is free trade now as II
was when the South rebelled and set
up the Confederacy. placing in their
constitution prohibition against
their congress ever enacting a pro-
tective tariff law. 1t Is the same as
| in 1892, when the party declared pro
lection unconstitutional, but with the
memory of the disasters which follow
| ed the Democratic tariff legislation
then they are trying to bring In free
trade in the form OF reciprocity in
competing products.
! It may be a harmless form Of dis
cussion for Judge Parker to tell the
people that he favors reciprocity just
as did Blaine. Mckinley and Dingley
| but the people who believe In protec
tion to American labor and American
| enterprise should see to 1t that there
is Republican congress to legisiate
in favor Of reciprocity such as was
favored by Blaine. Mckinley and
Dingley. for Democratic congress
will surely follow the old Democratic
doctrine and legislate in favor Of free
trade, whatever name they may give
to their legislation.