The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-17
Committee on Resolutions of
Reciprocity Conventions
Recommends Maximum and
Minimum Tariff Rates.
TO BE USED AS LEVER.
In Opening Foreign Markets to
American Products.
Report Is Signed by w. A.
Harris of Kansas.

Chicago, Aug. 17.-Chairman Packard
called the reciprocity convention to order
today and the committee on organiza-
ton announced the program.
Among the addresses will be those by
Mr. Howser of Wisconsin and E. S.
Lockridge of Indiana.
Following these addresses the chair
man of delegations will be called upon
for five minute speeches, after which
the report of the resolutions committee
will be considered. Resolutions favor
ing a maximum and minimum tariff
nave been drawn by the committee.
These resolutions advocate a form of
reciprocity which will give low tariff
TO nations favoring the United States
commercially. and a high tariff to those
countries which discriminate in their
tariffs against this country.
The first speaker was Mr. A B.
Farquhar of Pennsylvania The chair
man then called for the resolutions com
mittee report, and Chairman Foss read
the following resolutions which will be
considered at later hour.
1.-The national reciprocity convention
representing more than two hundred
agricultural, commercial and Industrial
associations of the United States by DEL
ega teS, assembled at Chicago August 16
ing declaration of principles:
Whereas, The agricultural, manu-
featuring and other Industries of this
country have expanded to such an ex-
tent that they can no longer depend
upon the home market for the consump-
ton of their entire product; and
Whereas, The present commercial
attitude of the United States, largely
owing to our failure to carry into effect
the reciprocal trade provisions of sec
tion of the Dingley law, is antagoniz-
ing foreign nations, whose good will we
desire and on whom we have hitherto
depended as purchasers of our surplus
products; therefore be it
Resolved, First, that this convention
recognizing the principle of protection
as the established policy of our country,
advocates reciprocal concessions by
means of a dual or maximum and mini
practical method of relieving the
strained situation with which we are
now confronted.
Second, That the question of the
schedules and items to be considered in
such reciprocal concessions preferably
be suggested by a permanent tariff
commission, to be created by congress
and appointed by the president, which
shall consist of economic, industrial and
commercial experts.
Third, That it is the sense of this
convention that our present tariff af-
fords abundant opportunity for such
concessions without injury to industry
trade or the wages of labor.
Fourth, That we urge action upon
congress at the earliest time possible
We recommend that a permanent or
ganization be formed under the style ol
l-the American Reciprocal Tariff league
and that a committee of Is be appointed
by the chair to have full power to or
ganize and further prosecute the work
for which the convention has assembled
Said committee shall have power to in
crease its membership and to fill va
cancies when necessary. Respectfully
submitted: E N. Foss. Massachusetts,
| A H. Sanders, Illinois; Edward W
Page, New York; A. B. Farquhar
| Pennsylvania; w. A. Harris, Kansas;
Frank J. Hagenbarth, Idaho William
Larrabee, Iowa; Murdo Mckenzie, Col
orado; Marion SAMSON, Texas; Charles
P. Senter, Missouri; Conrad Kohr, Mon
tana; w. II. Hatton, Wisconsin. com
mittee on resolutions"
Rosewater Opposes 'TDoubIe Standard -
! Edward Rosewater, editor of the
Omaha Bee, was introduced. He said
/ he was secretary of the committee or
resolutions of the Republican national
convention of 1900 and wished to con-
tradict the statement made in this con-
vention that the party in its platform
of 1900 and in 1904 had pledged itself
to a revision of the tariff and that il
had violated its pledge.
1.-The Republican partys creates
| pledge he said, was a continuance
of prosperity and we have got it, Cap
plause.) Now the question is, are we
at the crossroads or are we on tht
upward trend to the highest degree OF
prosperity this country is capable o.
having?
"But remember that there are meth
DDS of reaching the Republican con
gress that must be pursued by yol
here today or you are not going to ac
complish very much. You cannot ac
complish it by denouncing the tariff
as a graft. There is graft in churcl
and there is graft in masonry and 9th
er organizations but you could no
denounce the church or masonry be
cause men have been found in tn
ranks who are grafters. There i
graft of course, in connection with tn
tariff but as a principle the protectiv
system has built up the industries o
this country and it is because of tn
great invasion of American industry t
! had trouble here which you are calle
) together to consider. You never woul
have been here but for the fact tha
1900 millions of American product
{ have found their way into foreigi
: countries within the past year. I be
lieve in carrying out the letter an
spirit of the constitution, that reache
: this question by reciprocity. I do no
believe you can do it by a doubl
standard. That is precisely what yo
propose here, the double standard c
tariff, which means simply a minimum
tariff and nothing else"
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