The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-15
GERMAN TARIFF
WAR INEVITABLE
Secretary Root and Secretary
Shaw Admit They Have
Been Beaten.
THEY WORKED TO AVERT IT
Unless Congress Comes to the
Rescue Country Faces Great
Loss in Foreign Trade.
THEY WORKED TO AVERT II
lspeclal to The r1mes-pIspatoh.)

Especial to The Tfmes-Dlspatch)
WASHINGTON, d. c.. January A.
Secretary Root and Secretary Shaw
frankly admit that they have been
beaten in their efforts to avret tarifl
war with Germany. and that unless Con-
gress steps into tho breach the country
can only learn by dire experience the
opportunity. which 1t has missed. The
proposed German tariff. hwich. accord
Ing to administration officials, has been
held in the air as q menace. will go into
operation on March LIST. and they say
that under the present conditions OF
American tariff 1t will mean not only
death to American trade. particularly
in meat products, with Germany. but
what the administration considers OF far
greater importance the lessening of
trade with other foreign countries who.
under favorable tariff relations with
Germany, will substitute German pro-
ducts for those OF the United States.
At the Capitol there seems to be little
hope that a maximum tariff measure
will be passed. Should such measure
for time receive favorable considera-
ton the leaders OF the stand pat idea
believe that the situation would open
UP to every tariff revision advocate an
opportunity to present his ideas, and the
result would be an interminable wran-
gle without material gain.
Yet, according to secretary Root. n
maximum tariff measure Ia the only
weapon which a protectionist country can
WELD In It's defence against other protec-
tion countries. The experience OF the de-
partmenr in the last five years has bean
that the Senate can see nothing in recip-
rocity, although 1t was said to-day that
the administration idea Is ard has been
that the Dingley act was pa:-sd only for
the purpose of swapping with other ma
tions.
Baron Sternburg. the German Ambassa-
dor, called upon Secretary Root at the
State Department yesterday and after q
short conference the secretary escorted
his visitors to the White House to talk
with the President.
Educate the People.
II the administration has any hope left
in the case 1t Is in the education of the
common people to the dangers which ore
Threatened In the tariff war with Ger
many. Isham g. Harris, formerly United
States Senator from Kansas, now work
ing In the interests OF the Western Cattle
Growers Association. has been busy nero
for some time, although nc mas tase'S
departed for the West.
He has told the officials Of the state
Department and the President that the
cattle growers whom he represents harT
large surplus product beyond the re-
ouirements OF the home markets. ana
that the closing Of the market OF Ger
many would mean q serious loss.
Hiss mission Is not to be confounded
with that of the packing houses consti-
tutine what is commonly called the beef
trust" since it was this association that
he represents which about year ago
passed resolution condenning the peer
trust, on the ground that. regardless OF
the increased retail price Of beef the
growers were getting no more for beef on
the hoof than they were five or more
years ago.
Through the efforts of such missionaries
the administration has n faint oeltef that
throughout the country there VIII be
awakened an idea that reciprocity treaties
have value, and that the constituents Will
work upon their representatives IN Con-
gress to effect the wishes OF the admin
istraton. 1t was said to-day at the State
Department that If there was the slight
est hope OF success the department would
be glad to enter upon negotiations with
Germany for reciprocity treaty, but
such an act seemed utterly unfeasible
under present circumstances.
Germany Has the Advantage.
According to an explanation made this
morning by high authority Of the State
Department., Germany holds great ad-
vantage In that she proclaimed nearly a
year ago that she would adopt a maxi
mum tariff schedule, and then sat down
to await offers which other countries
! might make her in the way OF tariff con-
cessions upon her products in return for
those which she might be disposed to
make upon the admittance into Germany
of theirs. The United States on the other
hand, passed tho Dingley act and put 1t
into immediate effect.
Although 1t was passed for the purpose
of obtaining from other countries reci-
procity privileges. no treaties OF this ma
ture have since been passed, and the ad-
ference drawn from tho statement made
yesterday morning, that 1t fears the practi-
cal workings of a high protectice tariff as
much as 1t would fear free trade. AT the
same time the admission was made that
unless there is a sudden revllsion OF feel
ing throughout the country In favor of
reciprocity treaties, and that revulsion
finds expression through members of the
Senate and tie lower house OF Congress,
there Is bouy.d to- be felt throughout the
country a distrinct loss In the way OF for
'eign trade.
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