Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-06-21
Mr.. ROOSEVELT AS A FREE TRADER.


Ultra protectionists have never .eIt
that they could at all times depend upon
Mr.. Roosevelt. They know what many
people have forgotten. that at one time
land not so very many years ago, eth.
er-Mr. Roosevelt was one of the con.
spicuous members of the New York
Free Trade league. When he resigned
from membership in that body be wrote
that he was "a republican first and q
free trader afterward." Some of the
ultra protectionists doubtless suspect
that MIR. Roosevelt feelS very much at
home in the position taken through
Secretary Taft's free trade order. They
remember that when Mr.. Roosevelt
wrote the life of Thomas 81. Benton'
he had something to say concerning
protection. On pages 66 and 81 of that
book will be found the following 'The
vote on the protective tariff law of 1928
furnished another illustration of the
solidarity of the west. New England
had abandoned her free trade position
since 1924 and the north went strongly
tor the new tariff; the southern sea-
coast states. except Louisiana, opposed
1t bitterly; and the bill was carried by
the support Of the western states, both
the free and the slave. This tariff bill
was the FIRST of the immediate lrritat-
ing causes which induced South Caro-
lima to 60 into the notification move
ment. Benton Is attitude on the meas
ure was as that of good many other
men who. in their public capacity. are
obliged to appear as protectiOnists. but
who lack his frankness in stating their
reasons. He utterly disbelleved in and
was opposed to the principles of the
bill. but as it had bid for and secured
the interest of Missouri by heavy
duty on lead, he felt himself forced to
support it; and he so announced his
position. He simply went with his
state precisely as did Webster. The
latter In following Massachusetts
change of front and supporting the tar
1T of 1928. turned full and complete
somersault. Neither the one nor the
other was to blame. Free traders are
apt to look at the tariff from a senti-
mental standpoint, but it is in reality q
pure business matter. and should be
decided solely on the grounds Of exped-
iency. Political economists have pref
ty generally agreed that protection is
vicious in theory and harmful In prac-
tice; but if the majority of the people
interested wish 1t, and 1t affects only
themselves there is no earthly reason
why they should not be allowed to try
the experiment to their hearts content.
The trouble is that 1t rarely DOES affect
only themselves; and IN 1928, the evil
was peculiarly aggrayating on account
of the UNEQUAL way in which the pro-
posed law would affect different sec.
lions. 1t purported to benefit the rest
of the country, but it undoubtedly
worked real injury to the planter states
and there is small ground for wonder
that the irritation over 1t in the region
so affected should have been intense. y
Perhaps Mr.. Roosevelt has ev 9 I
changed his views on this subject. HIS
position may have been like THAT of q
great many other men who, in their
public capacity, are Obliged to appear
as protectionists." Perhaps Mr.. Roose.
welt has all along believed with the
/ political economists who, according to
Mr.. Roosevelt himself, have pretty
generally agreed that protection is vi
cious In theory and harmful In pIac.
tice. n-Commoner.