The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-09-22
SCHEME or DUAL TARIFF.
Merely a Sop Thrown 10 the Stand
patters by the Republican
Reformers.

TIE republicans who met al Chicago
for the purpose OF deciding upon a plan
70 reform the tariff evidently arc lot
yet prepared 10 seriously break with the
stand atters. The decision 10 demand
"a dual or maximum and minimum tar
IN from congress Is useless concession
10 The protectiOnists If anything Is eX-
pected 10 be accomplished II Is mere
~ threat OF reprisal agCinst Germany
sld other countries who have raised
their tarin wall against our products.
aud Will hardly induce them 70 lower n.
The only way 10 invite trade is 10 wipe
out. az least some OF the restrictions
.hat the present tariff law imposes on
the countries that would like 10 sell US
their products and buy ours. The pro-
tectionist's idea Of a maximum and min-
imum tariff is 70 make the present eX-
orbitant tariff rates the minimum and
add - or 80 per cent. 10 those rates for
the maximum. That Is what Secretary
Shaw Is reported TO advocate. and
Speaker Cannon. the Home Market club
and the Protective Tariff league and
their supporters probably agree with
him. But as Secretary Blaine told Nc
kinley when the tariff bill. known by
his name was incubating and proposing
TO increase the rates OF duty: Not
dollar Of increased trade viii be fos-
tered by it," neither would there be By
this proposed dual tariff. unless rates
are reduced.
Every voter who detests the exclusion
theory Of the protectionists which has
fostered the trusts and their high prices.
will. Of course, rejoice that the protec-
tive tariff is attacked by friends of pro-
lection" who have hitherto been silent
participators In the wrongs committed.
Gov Cummins and those other repre-
sentative republicans. as the great ma
jority OF the Chicago convention were.
by their protest. will greatly help the
cause Of tariff reform In drawing the
attention Of the people 70 the break
down OF the protection theory They
have recorded the fact that the Ameri-
can farmer and American industries
can p. longer depend exclusively upon
the home market That II our exports
are not encouraged both our agricultur-
alists and our Workmcn VIII soon De- I'M
able 20 find a market for their surplus
products except what England can
buy. aud as all countries are durpirg
their surplus products on the English
markets, the price there is the lowest
anywhere
The republican majority in congress
may stand pat and refuse 10 revise
the tariff because the protected morop
olics AMI trusts So literally divide with
the politicians and party managers a
share OF the plumber ito keep the boys
in line but when the protection shoe
pinches a BIT harder and farm products
decline In price and wages decline. as
they surely will then The voters will
arise to the occasion and there VIII he
another revolt as there was In 1854 and
1892
The protectionists would gladly con.
cade dual tariff as long as they have
the power TO make the rates. but they
have no intention OF surrendering par-
ticle Of their private gain by the tax
they levy on about all the people con-
sumo. There IS only one thing that will
ever move them. and that is the adverse
votes OF an outraged and plundered peo-
pie. and until the reformers are pre-.
pared TO elect tariff reformers TO con-
gress, how is it possible 10 expect re.
lief Gov Cummins himself. doubtless
voted for John A. T. Hull. who repre-
sents the Des Moines district. and who
is an ardent stand patter. and until he il
ready to defeat Mr. Hull with some good
honest tariff reformer. his work is use
less. You cannot reform the republican
party on the tariff issue as long as il
gets part of the graft that the tariff sup
plies.