Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-05-20
REDUCED TO AN ABB suRDITY.


theory would yet be carried to such length
that it will become fimsy absurdity, to be
stretched over any protected industry that can
buy it's raw material cheaper abroad than at
home
The drawback theory has heretofore meant
that the tariff rebate allowed only when
the raw material could be clearly distinguished
in the manufactured product either by physical
chemical analysis But it remained for At
torney-General Moody to discover that the
drawback could be allowed on any article where
the raw material could be traced by any method
bookkeeping or otherwise This was the the
DRY on which the drawback on Canadian wheat
was allowed the Minneapolis 1nillers.
The Minneapolis Journals Washington cor
respondent is authority for the statement that
the following drawbacks have recently been
allowed
The Standard Oil Co. has been granted
drawback on it's imperial" oil can because it is
made of foreign tin and solder containing for
eign lead The beef trust and fruit and salmon
canneries also come in for the same rebates on
their cans.
The manufacturers of refined butter made
of imported grease mixed with American glu-
cose and bntter, are among the latest recipients
of the drawback.
The most surprising regulation but
one that is perfectly logical-is that the draw
back can be secured whether the goods ex-
ported by the manufactures his customer.
Thus the burlap manufacturer gets drawback
on his burlap, whether he exports it himself or
- oh Of
cured hams.
We are surprised that enterprising pa
per as the Minneapolis Journal has not before
this applied for drawback on the papers which
it sends to Canada. Doubtless the paper con-
tains considerable Canadian pulp.
We send five papers to Canada ourselves,
and maybe we could get drawback by going
after it! After we get it, then join the
ranks of the virtuous and patriotic stand pat
ters !
Because
This whole drawback business was invent
ed for the purpose of patching up and bolster
ing up the present tariff schedules The con-
sumers have been demanding revision and the
manufacturers with their increased of i'm
ported foreign material conceived that they
must Join the revisionists-in which case their
own pet tariff would be in danger-or go after a
drawback And they went after a drawback
and got it.
Now the real justice of a protective tariff
consists in protecting and bringing to prosperi-
ty any branch of industry-be it farming, dali
rying, WOODEN goods, tin plate steel rails
which is weak but can be made strong. Under
this view, wheat is as much entitled to protec-
ton as self-binders, and butter much as
broadcoth, provided only that it needs it.
Our statesmen should not labor to build up
manufactures alone to the detriment of those
who produce raw material A manufacturing
country becomes a one-sided nation lacking in
vitality England is today. The producers of
raw material; the sturdy farmer and tiller of
the soil has ever been and must be the back
bone of every strong nation, and the protective
tariff can do great part toward keeping pro-
per balance in this country between the farm
and the factory. Only as that balance is intelli-
gently maintained will that country be and re
main great
Some of our EXCHANGES have been mention