Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1906-09-13
Is THERE A DEMAND Z
DOES THE COUNTRY REALLY WANT
TARIFF REVISION2
Strong Negative Testimony From a
British CoDsuI's Report That Until
Trade Depression Comes the TariG
VIII Remain as IL Is.

British Consul's Report That Until
Trade Depression Comes the TariG
VIII Remain as IL Is.
"There is, however, as yet. No real
demand from the ordinary citizen for a
change in the tariff and will not be
unless there is very serious trade de-
preston, which at present is not
likely"
This is the official testimony of the
British consul, Mr.. Finn, stationed at
Chicago, III report regarding trade
and industrial conditions in the district
which comprises the territory he rep
resents, made to his majesty's govern
ment through the foreign Office. 1t is
not the testimony OF an enthusiastic
protectionist American, but is that of
a British official who doubtless in the
int2"2ats of the foreign trade of his
lisi4,, ) lnen in the British Kingdom,
would mach like to see evidences that
/ re is a demand among the American
Dpe for revision of the tariff of
t.&s cpGnuy and q scaling down OF the
rate Of import duties.
west Of the United States, in his Off
cial report to the foreign office, the Brit
ish consul tells his people at home
that there is no real demand from the
ordinary citizen for change in the
American tariff system. He makes this
statement in rle face of the clamors Of
certain of our tariff revision politicians
aud so called independent newspapers
that the northwest is ahame with the
demand for tariff revision. Consul
Finn would make it his business to as
certain the facts, and he would not be
inclined to keep the facts from British
manufacturers who are DESTROYS of get
ting goods into the American markets
ut lower customs duties if there was
the slightest real demand" among the
people of the west for such changes in
the tariff system. With his ira ming as
British representative of the foreign
C:lica, born to conservatism and careful
statement of the facts, British Consul
Finn tolls the manufacturers and eX-
p1rters of Great Britain through his
official report that there is no real de
mlnd for change in the tariff among
the American people in the territory
covered by his consular district.
This report by British consul sta
toned in the United States contains
much valuable information which
Americans may study with profit. 1t
is a recent publication, having been
received at the British foreign Office
ON May TO- was Immediately printed,
and copies of it have been received
here. The report covers more than 100
pages of closely printed matter and
discusses in detail trade and industrial
conditions throughout the northwest
ern states, including the markets and
trade conditions in half dozen prin-
cipal cities and the trade and indus
tries of a dozen states and two terri
tories, from the Canadian line south
10 and including Oklahoma and Indian
Territory The scope of this reportApn
conditions in these western and north
western states nay be known bg a
resume of the subjects of which it
'eats-namely, agriculture, including
tt many and varied products of the
fail; manufactures of almost every de
scgiption. labor conditions, imports ana
exports and Il field OF observation III
general which r,foc+s ~-raat cralit upon
tae British official The report AFFORD,
some explain, ton ior the extent of in
formation which British exporters have
obtained through their consuls in the
United States regarding markets and
conditions Gcacta.ly il CHS country.
There are 50 iii{..y pants CT interest
TO the American people IN this British
consular report Oh American affairs
that it is difficult to select what is
most instructive ana iAterestine, 0lc
fact he mentions. however viii not b.
lost to the discriminating sense OF our
people. For example. he devotes some
attention to the tin plate industry. cs
pecially with a view to setting before
his British readers at home just what
Is being accomplished by American tin
plate manufacturers In view of the
fact that the tin plate industry was the
recipient of special protective duties
for the encouragement of that industry
in the United States, and that, too, at
time when there was practically no
tin plate manufactured in the United
States, some facts brought out for the
Information OF his home people by this