The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-10-13
TRUSTS And TARIFF.
Honest Treaties Would Expand Amer.
lean Commerce.

Francis Z. Woodruff writes to the
Evening Post On. ", the following i'll
terestng letter on Protection
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 is
right or wrong campaign issue.
! This leaves the clean-cut issue, is
/ protection in principle right or wrong?
The only argument that has been adj
vanced for the former is that we see
it accompanied by prosperity; and a
similar argument would equally prove
/ that the sun goes around the earth.
An argument against it is that, simply
because something cannot be made out
Of nothing, protective" duties can do
no more than to divert production from
is natural channels: that is, from the
ines of least resistance, and therefore
IF least expenditure of effort, and so
IF least cost of production. Converse
y, such diversion from natural chan
nels must increase cost of production,
md, therefore, other things being
equal. lessen profit.
Tariff duty is only one of many fac
.orS. but SO far as it goes the argu-
ment is confirmed by the fact that
lnder the Walker so-called free trade
arif, when our manufactures came
nearest to following the natural chan
lels of production, their ratio of III
,rease, which is largely dependent on
'elatiVe profit, was greater than ever
before or since. Under the CroWning
niquity, 50 far, OF the Dingley tariff,
while the ratio of increase, and so the
/ croft to the Nation, is less, corrupt
egSlation has diverted the lions share
If the DIMINISHED profits into the peck
Its of a taritf-privileged few-to the
building up of huge individual for
uncS, that by their evil example and
Evil use in corrupting our Legislators
md voters are endangering our repub-
ic 1t is true that, thanks to abund-
ant crops, and 10 other causes with
which protection has nothing to do
except to do harm, there are crumbs of
he resulting prosperity for tie rest
If us; but under the Walker tariff,
while individual fortunes would not
nave been So dangerously overgroWn,
he people would have had full loayes.
Besides, despite the delaying of the
md by Trust combinations, the arti-
lcIal stlmulant is mahlleSuy losing
is effect, and should the Republicans
win ii is an open secret that to bring
lbout another boom 1t VIII he neces-
AIRY to increase the dose, at our further
Expense; as well ms to ada snip suhsi-
lies, ana so on, H. on the DINER mana,
he Democrats should Vim, REVISION,
properly managed as 1t would be by
he friends Of our country I'm place OF
friends of the tariff neneliclaries, and
he Republican corruption tuhd', ana
with honest reciprocity treaties, 50 far
rom checking prosperity would give 1t
I healthy impulse by throwing open
o Us the held OF international trade;
II which, just as fast as our nechS are
reed from the milestone OF protection
SIN. with our natural resources, m
'ludlnG brains, we would leau me
world The rich employers WOULD ne
'ome richer. steel rai,S, Tor example,
Al S2N would lose lhe - we are now
robhed OF, but TN remaining proIt
If - ON the added enormous output
Tor TIE vast increase IN me loreiSh
rade would more IMAM make up inc
oSS. These employers 3lSo' cou'u on,
NlouSiy ailord 10 lahu 50 Ioll% as Il Eood
'auo OF our laAd 10 our lhhapltdhts
continues would nave 10 give rs good
wages rs now, o. DETER ANA instead
u the present Alternating lea>IS ana
talhllleS thefe Woulu pe more Slcaug
/ hlHploNmPht