Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-10-25
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GERMANY AND THE TARIFF.

blow at the United States. Its appar-
ent object is to give the great Prussian
land owners the protection they are
clamoring for upon cereal and meat
products. But to give them this pro-
lection in reality would ruin German
industry, says the Minneapolis Tribune.
German artisans cannot afford to
pay higher prices for food without de-
manding higher wages from manu-
facturers. They cannot reduce their
standard of living without impairing
their working capacity. There is COM
plant already from mining and indus
trial centers. The exclusion of Ameri-
can meats under prete4t of sanitary
inspection has made a meat famine in
Germany. Workingmen have been
forced to vegetable diet, and their
productive power is falling off. The
case would be still worse if bread
were forced UP to famine prices by
prohibitive tariff against America Ger
man manufacturers cannot enable
their workingmen to meet increased
cost of living by paying higher wages
without losing their foreign market.
They are everywhere in sharp compe-
tition with British goods made by
workingmen who have free trade in
food. If the new German tariff were
seriously meant, it would injure Ger
man industry more than American
agriculture
1t is not seriously meant. TIE con-
cession ito the landholding nobility is
only apparent. The German govern
ment recognizes that this must give
way, as the landholding aristocracy of
Great Britain gave way sixty years ago
to the imperative necessity of indus
trial development. The real purpose
OF the new German tariff is to make
larger market for German manufacture
es in the United States by forcing us
to make a commercial treaty.
Germany has a maximum and mini
mum tariff, the latter for countries
that have the same and give Germany
the benefit of their lowest rates. It is
Intended to enforce the highest duties
against us, unless we will make a COM
mercial treaty. The highest rates IN
der the new tariff are Increased 80 to
200 per cent on meats 66 per cent on
mineral oils, 100 to 200 per cent on
cereals and fruits, $50 per cent on
boots and shoes, and 40 to 1000 Der
cent on sewing machines, agricultural
and motive machinery. Probably most
OF these would be prohibitory, as Ger
many would make far lower rates to
countries with which she has com,
mercial treaties.
Germany took from us annually be-
fore the short crop of last year about
$15,000,000 worth of wheat and flour
She takes annually about $4,000 900
worth OF Illuminating Oil. Before the
recent restrictions she took nearly
$1s,000,000 worth of the various meat
FAo0eS.%'' IApOiCS vi manufacturers
are less in amount, but they have been,
increasing Of late. Here is consider
able trade to be lost to Russia and
other continental countries by the
menaced tariff discrimination. We
can prevent large part of it by making
a commercial treaty with GERMANY
The German ambassador is said to he
prepared for serious discussion of this
subject.
The American people would be glad
to see him met half way. The Ameri.
can people want commercial treaties
with Germany and other countries.
The senate refuses absolutely to make
them in the interest of its owners and
employers, the protected trusts. We
do not know how long the American
people will permit the American house
OF lords to stand in the way OF their
wishes. "" 2.--- e,
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