The San Francisco call., 1905-08-17
Idea Given Support
at Reciprocity
Conference.
Provides for High
and Low System
of Duties.

ALl pIoDa plllty Is the war cry which
= will ring through the United States for
some years to come. instead of the. ia
miliar call for reciprocity The new
slogan means the passage of a maxi
mum and minimum" tariff law, permit
ting the establishment of reciprocal
trade relations with friendly foreign
countries by the vote of Congress.
Alvin H Sanders, chairman of the
executive committee of the National
Reciprocity Conference, which opened
its two-days' session at the Illinois
Theater this morning, is credited with
originating the war cry. Sanders
broached the subject TO a few friends
after the word reciprocity" had re-
ceived rough handling on the floor of
the convention, and it met with ap-
proval among the delegates.
Six hundred delegates from all parts
OF the country assembled to-day TO dis
cuss reciprocal trade relations with
other countries, the amendment of the
Dingley tariff law, alterations of the
interstate commerce laws and kindred
matters. The West sent a large dele
cation, the great stock raising and
farming industries being especially
well represented. Manufacturers from
the Eastern States are also strongly
represented.
A notable feature Of the conference
was the attendance Of foreign Consuls
resident IN Chicago representing nearly
every country in the world.
FACING NEW PROBLEM.
The conference was called to order
this morning by A. D. Sanders of Chi
cago. He said
The establishment Of fairer trade relations
with foreign nations is a matter that affects
directly the prosperity Of every farmer, stock
grower and exporter in the United States.
One by one the European governments are
Tightening the coils INTENDED 10 straighten the
American export trade in agricultural products
Hna manufactured goods We are to-day face
10 face With q new and prohibitive German
tariff designed TO keep out every pound OF
american breadstun and provisions Retalia-
tion has been tried at tremendous cost
producers and manufacturers and is a failure.
The long roll OF delegates attending this con-
vention, Il seems 10 me- supplies proof once
convincing and complete that there is real
demand from the business interests of this
country for Congressional attention 10 the
needs Of our foreign commerce.
The committee of arrangements has endesv
ored TO make this conference absolutely nom
partisan. Moreover VIC have present plan
OF bringing about the desired issues We dis
tinctly disclaim any attack upon the protective
tariff principle or upon any particular interest.
We believe that our great basic industry,
agriculture, the backbone OF all our prosperity,
cannot be safely neglected ruEther and that its
welfare al this juncture can be assured by
nlent 10 any other legitimate American indus
try 1t is idle to say that nothing can be done.
Where there is VIII there is way.
Sanders nominated as temporary chair
president Of the Illinois Manufacturers
Association. The nomination was unan-
inously accepted. William r. COrwin of
New York was chosen secretary pro TEN.
Of the convention, and Frederick Larri.
bee Of Iowa assistant secretary pro TEN.
OFFICERS SELECTED.
Upon the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion permanent officers for the conference
were recommended, as follows: Perma-
nent chairman, B. S. Packard of Iowa;
first vice chairman, William c. Maybury
of Michigan; second vice chairman, I. T.
Prior Of Texas; third vice chairman, An
drew @. Webster of Massachusetts: sec
retary. W. R. Corwin Of New York: as
sistant secretary, Frederick Larribee OF
Iowa In assuming the gavel as perma-
nent chairman Packard addressed the
conference, concluding as follows:
II our President to-day had the power under
e maximum and minimum tariff law, he would
do some Yankee dickering with foreign coun-
tries.
Governor Charles E. Deneen Of Illinois
was introduced by Chairman Wilder. At
the conclusion of the applause which
greeted the introduction Governor Deneen
said:
II has not escaped the notice Of the Ameri-
can people that several OF the nations of con-
tinentsl Europe are raising discriminating and
prohibitive tariffs against the products Of our
fields and factories. They call US The Amerl-
What are we 70 do about it2 Shall re-
sort 10 the law Of the talon, or meet preferred
questions which you met 70 consider II
is not too much 10 say that the nation hopes
that out Of this conferences Will come sugges-
tions ana recommendations which will meet
with the approval Of our President and the
Congress and lead TO the enactment OF laws
ard the negotiation and ratification OF treaties
which Will not alone enable US TO retain the
foreign commerce we already have, but to en-
Following Deneen's address Chairman
wilder introduced Mayor Edward f.
Dunno who welcomed the delegates In
behalf OF the city. Governor Mickey Of
Nebraska also spoke.
CULLOM HAS TWO REMEDIES.
Senator Shelby NJ Cullom OF Illinois
spoke In part as follows;
The West is almost unanimously in favor Of
ly against H. The minority in the Senate is
divided Reciprocity under the fourth section
OF the Dinsley act has failed.
I believe that the DIngiey rates suf
fcfently high warrant our entering into
reciprocal arrangement with Central ana solth
American countries and with European ma
I very much prefer the adoption Of the prin-
cipie Of reciprocity as means OF maintain
ing and extending our foreign markets as a
means OF quietly. without interruption of our
business conditions, revising where necessary,
the tarif as a means Of preventing discrinina
ton against our products Germany ard
other nations now propose 20 make.
But II we cannot secure the ratification Of
recfprocfty treaties there IS one other method
thaf was seriously considered by the Com
rnfttee on Foreign Relations more than rwo
years ago when IL became apparent that the
reciprocity treaties could not be ratified and
that is the adoption OF a maximum and mini
mum tariff BY that mean the adoption Of
an arrangement by act of Congress somewhat
similar TO that in force in France. Have a
r15nin1urn tariff, applicable TO all nations which
give our products the MISREPRESENTATION
treatment and the maximum tariff say 25 per
cent higher TO apply to nations which dis
eliminate against products.
There two remedies reciprocity
maximum and minimum tariff and az II ap-
pears now. the latter. II either. is the method