The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-06-09
PRAISES coNGREssMANA1KEN
Address by Man Well Informed on
Economic Problems.

Gustave H. Schwab, one Of the best
informed men on economic questions
/ in this country, recently delivered =
masterful address before the South
ern Industrial Parliament on "For-
eizn Commerce and Ocean Trans.
portation.'
Though protectionist in time
past, he admits the crying necessity
for a more general application Of the
doctrine OF reciprocity. 1t must be
gratifying to those who have stood
consistently for a moderate tariff
for revenue" to hear one of such
recognized ability admit that recipro.
city, on an extensive scale, is a nec-
essity; for reciprocity is a subterfuge
from the too glaring evils of protec-
ton. 1t is the democratic doctrine
dwarfed, manned and in new garb,
but nevertheless an improvement on
existing conditions.
There is fttle wonder, however
that leading men in the republican
party beginning with the president,
recognize the necessity for taking q
few brick from the tariff wall, when
the retaliatory protective idea is
gaining such strength in England,
and when Germany stands ready at
the expiration of our present trade
agreement to strike us from her list
of favored nations. This would
mean millions of loss to this country,
but, fortunately very small portion
of the loss would fall on the South.
Mr.. Schwab advocates the reduction
of tariff as the best means of increas-
ing and expanding trade and too
without loss of revenue.
Another feature of this very inter-
esting speech was his comprehen-
sive review of conditions in the South.
He dwelt at length on the wonder
full resources of the South, developed
and undeveloped, and the great future
that. is before her, now somewhat
dormant for lack of intelligent labor.
! He favored the introduction of The
better class of immigrants, and we
say in passing, that he commended
| in the highest terms the bill intro
duced by Representative Aiken pro-
viding for the intelligent distribution
Of the better class. He quoted the
bill almost entirely and also quoted
freely from Mr. Aiken's speech in
support of the bill. Amongst other
paragraphs of interest quoted from
his speech might be mentioned the
following interesting figures:-"The
land area Of the South is 585,3Io,ooo
acres. In 1900 the total farm acreage
was 387,6oo,426 acres. The total i'm
proved acreage was only I45,I85,5oo.
This leaves about 242,ooo,ooo acres OF
farm lands to be put into profitable
cultivation. The unimproved farm
lands of the South give greater area
! for settlement and cultivation than
the total area OF Texas, Louisiana and
Arkansas combined Over 100000.
600 acres of this and lies east OF the
Mississippi river, and there is COM
paratively a small amount of it which
is not available for crops of some
kind"
While Mr.. Schwab's speech was
very compiim -ary to the south, he
pointed clearl::- and distinctly to
those things which retard develop
ment. In his discussion of the tariff
he deprecated the selhshness Of the
manufacturer in resisting necessary
general reforme-s because the i'm
mediate result would appear to re-
duce the bounty given him by the
government. He advocates the larg-
er policy of developing friendly rela-
tions and open ports for our goods
abroad rather than by an unfriendly
and exorbitant tariff have the doors of
Our best customers closed in retalia-
ton. This from one of the oldest
disciples of protection indicates. in
no small degree, the modification Of
public sentiment on tariff the ques-