The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-23
Judge Parker Shows That
the Masses Here
Feel Them.
HISTORY OF TARIFF
The Men Who Command Large Capital
Are About the Only Benefciaries
at the Grab Games to Which
the High Tariff Lends
Itself, Says Parker.
(By the Associated Press.)


Esopus, N. Y, Oct. 22.-In a speech
on the tariff issue today, Judge Par
ker replied to remarks on that subject
from men representing six distinct
New York delegations which were re-
ceived at Rosemount today
The day was not pleasant for an
outdoor political gathering. The air
was chill and during the noon hour a
cold rain began to fall.
In his speech replying to the delega-
ton Judge Parker reviewed at some
length the tariff history of the coun-
try. Referring to Hamiton's report
en- manufactures, Judge Parker said.
Hamilton said that his object was
to promote such manufactures, as will
tend to render the United States indie
pendent of foreign nations for mill
tary and other essential supplies Does
anybody say that we have not reached
that condition? Does anybody con-
tend that the United States is still de-
pendent on foreign nations for mill
tary and other essential supplies?
Have we not frequently heard the note
OF alarm in Europe at the American
invasion of the worlds markets by our
those of iron and steel? Whether
ILamiiton's conceptions as to the best
way to establish manufacturing INDUS
tries were right or not, the object
which he sougt was long since gained,
hut the protective tariff is now vast
~ higher than any that he recon-
mended or probably conceived Of"
Parker Quotes Clay.
Judge Parker reefrred to the various
tariff of our early history, quoting
CIay's remarks that no one supposed
the protective tariff was to be perpet-
ual upon which the judge comment
eG thus:
Mr.. Clay here voiced the prevail
ing opinion of the country that the
protected trades were no longer IL a
state of infancy. In fact the infant
industry argument was then suppressed
eG by the pauper labor argument. 1t
was now contended for the first time
that the tariff should be used to COM
pensate the American producer for the
higher wages that he had to pay as
compared with his foreign competitor.
As this argument has at times done
great service, although now quite
thIeadbare, / will dwell upon it IL mo-
ment InaSmuch as the law puts the
tariff benefits exclusively in the hands
cf the capitalists and provides no
means for giving the workers his
share. the system virtually SAYS. Let
the government take care of the rich
and the rich will take care of the
poor. 1t is a short step then to say:
Let the government take care of
everybody, a doctrine abhored of all
sound thinking men. But 1t is nc true
that greatly enlarged profits are on
that account divided among the work.
men helping to produce them. The
advance in wages is not due as a rule
to Il desire on the part Of the employer
to share profits with his workmen, but
rather to the organizat ton OF the work
men,"
Republicans Sought to Cut 1T.
Judge Parker referred to efforts by
Republican statesmen to reduce the
tariff in 1872, to Sena tor Sherman S
opinion that the rates should be re-
Guced and to d similar opinion by the
tariff commission. of 1882. This COM
mission, said Judge Parker, reported
tariff bill making a reduction of 20
To % per cent. This bill was killed by
the protected interests and a bill sub
sututed increased duties to As per cent
TW0-X
The Mckinley bill imposed duties
averaging 48.71 per cent. and the
present Dingley bill duties averaging
said:
10 tniS condition we have come
at last. Beginning with tariff of 8 l..
per cent in 1889. when many of our
industries were really infants. we have
by successive steps reached a scale
OF over 5O per cent, while the induS-
tries themselves have become colossal.
Hamilton said that the iron and stea,
INDUSTRY was already in fourishjng
condition in his time. He was will
ing nevertheless to give IL per
cent. of protection TO steel II no,-
has 1874 per ton on steel rails ana
the steel pool sells them to Canat1t-
as at So per ton but exacts S2s
from American purchasers IT is en-.
abled by the tariff to do this for
without the tariff it would be obliged
to sell rails at home for the price ar
which they could be imported. Amer.
lean railways are thus compelled i.
pay 1854 per ton more than a fa,,
price; that is 1854 more than the
price at which somebody else woula
supply them. Why do the RAILWAYS
submit to such extortion? WHY co
they remain quiet? Why do they NOS
establish rolling mills and make then