Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-08-19
TALKING ON THE TARIFF
National Reciprocity Conference
Opens In Chicago.
FARMERS DEMAND ASSISTANCE
Leading Speakers Advocate Maxi
mum and Minimum as Forcing 5
Concessions From Europe.

4CNlBAbiilN tVnItA tiitE btSdn al LBO
days session at the Illinois theater, 600
delegates from all parts Of the country
having assembled to discuss reciprocal
trade relations with other countries,
amendment of the Dingley tariff law,
alterations of the interstate commerce
laws and kindred matters. The confer
ence was called to order by A. ID. San
ders of Chicago.
On the opening Of the afternoon ses-
sion permanent officers for the confer
ence were chosen, as follows.
Chairman, S. y. Packard, Iowa; first
vice chairman, William G. Maybury,
Michigan; second vice chairman, |. T.
Prior. Texas; third vice chairman, An
drew c. Webster, Massachusetts; sec
rotary, William X. Corwine, Iowa; as
sistant secretary, Frederick Larrabee,
Iowa.
In assuming the gavel as permanent
chairman Mr.. Packard said:
"The farmers of this country have no
sympathy for the tariff war as the
means of forcing concessions in for
eign markets. Heretofore when tariff
laws have been made the various
trusts have all been alert enough to
send their Hobbies to Washington TO as
sist In the writing of the schedules that
interested them most. The farmer, UNI
organized, has not been represented, so
now when he finds the outlet for his
surplus in danger he demands that
Some of those high margins put into
the Dingley schedules for trading pur-
poses be used for the purposes in
tended.
1T seems eXpedlent that congress
pass new tariff law providing for
maximum and minimum rates which
may be used by the president in ex-
tending our markets abroad. We can
set about selecting a house of repre-
sentatlves that will pass such law,
and we will have at least the advan-
tage In the senate of possible major
ity instead of an impossible two-thirds
II our president had the power under a
maximum and minimum tariff law he
would do some Yankee dickering with
foreign countries"
A concise statement of the available
ity and the desirability of the dual tar
III as against reciprocity was made by
Senator Shelby NJ Culom of Illinois,
who spoke in part as follows:
"The west is almost unanimously In
favor of reciprocity, the eastern sena-
tors are almost solidly against it, the
minority in the senate is divided, reci-
procity under the fourth section of the
Dingley act has failed
IL believe that the Dingley rates are
sufficiently high to warrant our enter
Ing into reciprocal arrangements with
Central and South American countries
and with European nations as well.
II very much prefer the adoption of
the principle of reciprocity as a means
Of retaining and extending our foreign
markets: as a means of quietly, with
out interruption of our business con-
ditions, revising where necessary the
tariff; as a means of preventing dis
elimination against our products such
as Germany and other nations now
propose to make.
But IL we cannot secure the ratifi-
cation of reciprocity treaties there is
one other method that was seriously
considered by the committee on for
eign relations more than two years ago
when 1t became apparent that the reci-
procity treaties would not be ratified,
and that is the adoption of a maximum
and minimum tariff. BY that | mean
the adoption of an arrangement. by
act OF congress, somewhat similar to
that in force in France. Have a mini
mum tariff applicable to all nations
which give our products the most IA
vored nation treatment and a maxi.
mum tariff, say % per cent higher, to
apply to nations which discriminate
against our products.
'The adoption of this principle would
not accomplish for our foreign trade
all that reciprocity would accomplish.
1t would not open any very extensive
new markets for our products, but it
would prevent discrimination. A max
Imum and minimum tariff is more in
the way of retaliation, but something
must be done, and if we cannot secure
reciprocity l shall favor the enactment
of law by congress providing a max
imum tariff to be applicable to every
nation that discriminates against our
products
There are two remedies, reciprocity
or maximum and minimum tariff.
and as it appears now the latter, if
either. is the method that will be
adopted"
Chairman Packard announced the
committee on resolutions, including e.
n. Foss of Massachusetts, chairman;
Edward ID. Page New York; A. b.
Farquhar, Pennsylvania, and Thomas
p. Egan, Ohio.
Eugene n. FoSs of Boston then adj
dressed the conference. At the close
OF Mr.. Foss' address Michael Ryan OF
Ohio spoke for five minutes in favor of
a reciprocity arrangement between this
country and Europe.
The meeting then adjourned for the
day.
Nine Italians Dynamited.
ELKINS, w. Va, Aug. 1T.-Nine Ital-