Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-14

! Boston, Mass, Nov. IL. - The man
Eho still holds that our manufacture
ers need any considerable protection
In order to enable them to compete
successfully in their own markets
with foreign producers, when they
can sell their products at fair profit
in other countries in open competition
with all the manufacturers of the
earth, has surrendered his good sense
in his idolatry at the shrine of that
miserable maxim filched from the Ian
guage Of the great American game
Albert B. Cummins, governor of
Iowa. put the pith of his creed in re-
| gard to tariff revision into these words
the other night in his speech at the an
rual banquet OF the Economic club
OF Boston. He denounced tariff for
extortion," while defending the impo-
sition of duties necessary for the pro-
lection of American industries. In
speaking of the iron and steel indus
try Governor Cummins declared the
necessity for the protection of this
trade by tariff had long ceased to ex-
ist.
Governor Cummins spoke in the af-
flrmative in joint debate on the ques-
ton, "Shall Congress at the Coming
Session Revise the Dingley TARIFF"
Congressman James T. McCleary of
Minnesota replied to the Iowa execu-
tive arguing against an. immediate re-
vision of the tariff.
Wants righteous" Tariff.
After announcing his adherence to
the principle of protective tariff in
the fullest sense, Governor Cummins
said that when he spoke "for reduc-
tton of duties, an extension of the free
list and for more effective reciprocity
he was mot speaking for free trade,
but for more faithful. more equitable
more righteous application of the doc
trine Of protection"
Il am willing that the buyer shall
pay enough more than a fair price to
make the profit of the seller sure"
said he, 'but | am not willing to make
the uncertainty of application the
guise for certainty of extortion."
Governor Cum Minis took up the steel
schedules.
At the present moment our pro.
ducers can pay the highest wages
known to the American school of com
pensation and deliver steel and iron
products to our buyers at no greater
cost than will attend their delivery to
our buyers by the producers of any
other nation in the world. l further
assert that what is true now of these
commodities has been true for more
than five years.
Buyer Prey of Greed.
1T seems to- me that We have gone
mad in our zeal for the seller and have
abandoned the buyer to the tender
mercy Of monopoly, combination and
greed. The maxim of the standpatter
that the higher the price the more
exalted the tatesnanship-is repug-
nant to my sense of a square deal.
Time was when the force of compe-
tition, strong and effective throughout
the whole business of the country, re-
duced everything offered for sale to a
fair American price. and during that
time 1t made little difference how high
the protective duties we're. That time
has gone by, and you will, am sure,
confirm me when l say that in many
OF the most important fields Of manu-
facture, and among them the iron and
steel industry, there is no substantial
competition, and the producers in these
fields, recognize just two limitations
first, the ability Of the buyer to pay,
and, second, the point at which foreign
competition may enter.
II deplore the policy which has
closed the markets of France and Ger
many to the American farmer and
which if pursued presently will leave
us. to sell all our surplus to England
only. Congress, which is blindly indif-
ferent to the needs of the tillers of the
earth, must ultimately reckon with an
Indignant and outraged people,
F Mccleary Answers cummins.
Congressman McCleary of Minnesota
devoted the most of his speech to a re-
ply to the argument Of Governor Cum
Minis of Iowa, particularly the COVER
nor's contention that American steel
products have for years been selling
l0,W!N!ksYl'S