Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-17
SPEAKS
ON RECIPROCITY
Iowa Governors Address tho
Feature OF the Chicago
Convention
FARMER NEEDS MORE MARKETS

pared - No Conflict With Protection
-Prohibitive Duties Not Needed
Some standpat FaIlaeies.
Chicago, Aug. 17.,The address Of
Governor Cummins, of Iowa, which
was looked forward to as the most inn
portant part OF the reciprocity conven-
ton today is in full as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
Conference: Reciprocity has been
damned with faint praise and false
friends long enough. The time has
come to unmask, and let the people
know who stand for it and who stan1
full Of depression and discouragement
for the advocates Of reciprocity simply
because its enemies have coddled 1t in
conventions and have crucified It In
congress-; have eulogized 1t in the ab-
stract, and have condemned 1t in the
concrete. This sort OF bushwhacking
has confused the issue, and made It
difficult to conduct a campaign to g
definite conclusion. The Indications
are now, however, that the war In the
future will take on a more civilized
form; that the men who are really
against the doctrine will openly avowf
their hostility, and that we will line up
and fight the question out in the good
old fashioned way appointed under
free institutions to determine public
policies. Let us hold fast to an abid-i
ing faith Of the final Judgment OF the
plain, common people Of the land. Let.
us try the case before them and be
content with the verdict which they
record. II their decision be for reci-s
procity, there must then be no juggling
with words, and the promise kept to-
the ear must not be broken to the hope
sUnfortunately have been so CIR
cumstanced that was unable to be
present at the meeting Of the confer
ence yesterday, but have learned
enough OF it to know that the existing
and threatening conditions abroad
have been fully discussed, and it would
be vain and useless repetition for me
to recite the disadvantages under
which the products of agriculture now
labor in the effort to enter certain
foreign markets, or to again describe
the practical prohibition which seems
likely to occur thru the revised tar
ifs Of the German empire. The grav-
ity Of the situation is manifest; and
it is acknowledged, believe, upon all
meet it. Retaliation or reciprocity.
ner Of the former We march to the
music of the latter.
Reciprocity Defined.
"In view Of what you have already
heard / have assigned to myself q brief
consideration Of the general subject. I
think 1t is pertinent to inquire what
the policy Of reciprocity is and what 1t
involves. It is an adjustment Of our
tariff schedules, either by general law
or special convention, looking toward
an increase in the volume Of our ex-
ports. Many people instinctively think
of 1t as confined to treaties with par
ticular powers, but it is not so for its
can be accomplished thru general tar
ifs as well as thru special arrange-5
ments Indeed, 1t can be truthfully
said that with us 1t must be attained.
IL at all, by revision Of the schedules.
for it has been made clear to the dull
est mind that no more trade treaty.
however advantageous, can command
two thirds Of the United States sen-i
ate
ut involves always some change In
import duties; and here the trouble
begins. It is useless to attempt to
close our eyes to the obvious fact that
the efforts to introduce reciprocity az
an effective policy Of the government
have failed, because many well-inten-
toned, intelligent people have believ-
ed and still believe that 1t means the
destruction of the system of prOtec-
ton. to which the great majority or
the voters are firmly, and / hope en-
duringly, attached.
Schedules Not Protection Criticised.
ut is therefore worth our while to-
reflect moment upon this phase OF
the matter, for 1t is the real obstacle
to the progress of reciprocity. While
this is a nom partisan meeting, would
not be candid with you were I not to
declare that from my youth up have
been a constant advocate of the policy
of protection. It Is. nevertheless. web
known that have not hesitated to
criticise the schedules thru which the
OOllCy Is dL tllC PLSsShe etAiS SsAAA - -
into effect. AS / understand 1t. the OBJ
ject of protective tariff is to increase
the sale OF domestic products in do
mestic markets. The object OF rect-
procity is to increase the sale OF do
mestic products in foreign markets.
The measure Of protection. as former.
ly defined, was the difference between
the cost of delivering the product by
the domestic producer in the domestic
market, and the cost of delivery by the
foreign producer in the domestic mar
ket. 1t was intended to equalize the
conditions Of production here ana
abroad, to offer . motive for the use
of our own raw material. and to insure
the employment Of the maximum
amount of labor. 1t was not originally
intended to exclude competition. but
rather to create competition. and. 80
far as know ne ration has ever COM
plained OF such ors:erion for import
duties. WITH sehs1u:se arranged with
any fair regard ~ this dehnition Of
protection. reciprocity would be ele