The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-26
RECENT issue Of the Louisville
! Courier-Journal" contains an

A ~ COurlef-JOurnal" . COutd1HS dill
a u interview with Senator w. D.
Washburn, in which Mr.. Washburn
makes the following interesting state
ment with regard to, tariff revision:
pat on the tariff win be, fatal to the
republican party and disastrous to the
business interests, both agricultural
and manufacturing, Of the country
Ex-United States Senator William D.
Washburn uttered these words in his
private office in this city. The ex-sen-
ator has just returned home from a
trip to Europe, where he had enjoyed
the opportunity to study economic con-
ditions between the United States and
foreign countries. Sc #
"f am emphatically in favor of
thoro, scientific revision of our Gus
toms schedules he continued, "and I
would couple with that a brod and
comprehensive provision for the nego-
tiations of treaties Of reciprocity. It
may be unnecessary for me to say that
/ am lifelong republican and an ar
dent defender of the principle of the
protective tariff. The theory of proteo-
ton to American industries has passed
beyond debate. It has been vindieated
in it's practical results. It is the direct
cause Of the supbuilding Of great indus
tries in our country, that give practical
employment to American capital and
that have brought prosperity and con-
suming capacity to millions Of Amer
lean wage earners. These, results have
been accomplished in our own day and
generation. Possibly the inherent force
of our natural resources would have ar
rived at the same results ultimately,
without protection; but that process
would have been slow and would have
al r. a1v nh
and perhaps their children, should have
passed beyond mundane affairs.
No Longer Needed.
"But in many industries, projection
has not only INDICATED itself by re-
suits, but its results have been so
thoroly accomplished that protection is
either no longer needed or can be
greatly modified. The change of
conditions since the passage Of the
present tariff law in 1897 is so material
necessary and inevitable. The stand
patters urge that tariff revision would
disturb business conditions, and check
the present prosperity Of our country.
They say Let we'll enough alone. This
laissez-faire policy is short-sighted.
We cannot go On forever selling our
surplus production without buying.
moreover, while 1t ts true that previ-
Gus reductions Of the tariff have dis
turbed business, these reductions have
been made by enemies of the protect
i've. tariff, not by it's friends. Tariff re-
vision and reciprocity should be the
task of the republican party, which is
now in control Of every branch Of our
government, which is responsible for
the existing customs schedules, and
which can reduce them intelligentlv
without checking prosperity. IF the
republican party refuses to perform
this plain duty, the task will be de.
volved upon the enemies Of protection,
with what disaster to business expert.
ence should have taught us to- forestall,
Beside, foreign retaliation against ou1
present excessive duties may soon re-
ence should have taught us to foretell
cause more serious domestic distress
than could the most radical revision of
the tariff.
."NoW that the other questions that
have absorbed the attention of con-
gress and the people are at least for a