Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-10
GERMANY TRIES
TO BATTER DOWN
THE TARIFF W ALL
SUCH is THE BELIEF THAT Ex-
lists IN WASHINGTON, SAYS
REPORT

Washington, d. G., April 9.-That
German importers, backed up by their
government, are supporting the move
ment for tariff revision, Is the opinion
OF many members Of congress and
some of the leading officials Of the ad-
ministration. President Roosevelt's
attention has been called to certain
evidence in possession Of the confiden-
tial agents Of the government and 9TH
ers to establish the proof that this or
ganized effort to break down the pro-
tective barriers of the United States
Is being encouraged by German influ-
ences.
Extensive publicity bureaus are
maintained in Chicago and New York
by the tariff revisionists and the
funds to maintain this propaganda
have been traced very close to Ger
man sources. Taking advantage of
the cry raised by those who are using
the issue Of tariff revision as politi-
cal asset the German exporters and
their agents in this country are MAX
ing the most of their opportunities.
Copy Of Speech Gives cIew.
Suspicion against Germany OF med
ding in American political affairs
grew out of the threat made last year
that unless the United States gave
the empire certain concessions on her
exports to this country she would re-
fuse to grant to the American export.
ers her lowest favored nations Gus
toms schedules under the new Ger
man tariff laws.
In seeking for evidence by which to
Ion ofA fAa vi
ed States special customs agents in
Germany got possession of several
copies of a speech delivered at Sc
cret meeting of leading German ex.
porters In Berlin. In this address oc-
ours this significant sentence:
"But with a government (referrtng
to the United States) that can be
changed every four years, it is equally
an easy matter to change the tariff
laws and customs regulations. !"
Sure Germany Is Modelling.
4 This, taken in connection with the
I decision of the German government t.
extend to the United States its lowest
tariff rates under its new law for
only a limited period-that Is, until
June 80, 1907 simply long enough
''to afford time to conclude more per.
manent arrangements, and the &C,
| ton Of the German importers In this
country, has led officials here In Wash.
|ington to the conclusion that Germany
4 is meddling directly In the United
States internal affairs.
4 Representative McCleary, Of Mime
i sofa, member of the ways and means
. committee Of the house, said in a re.
1 cent speech on the subject:
4 How do they propose to change our
i tariff laws Through what agency!
i The statement Of the chairman Of that
meeting Of German exporters gives
special significance to the announce
ment in the press reports from Berlin
1 that the German government extends
to the United States its lowest tariff
4 rates under it's new law for only q
limited period namely. until June 30
1907 simply long enough to afford
time to conclude more permanent ar
rangements."
Scheme Will Be Nipped.
"Why cannot the more permanent
arrangements be concluded sooner, II
at all? Why wait until the middle Of
next year? What change related te
4 this matter can possibly take place in
the meantime? 1t is obvious that in
to the congressional campaign this
fall will be projected the question oi
the tariff, especially that phase Of II
4 involving the relative merits of single
and dual tariffs.
). "We have called Germany's bluff
and are in position to back it up, and
I am confident that country is in nc
position, either by meddling with oul
internal affairs or by a threat of tar
iff war, to force us to grant her one
concession that we do not grant te
every other country on earth"
]. German Steamship Men Active.
j Gustav Schwab, head Of the NORTH
German Lloyd Steamship company
Il /ron+lr,a5 ~, Do1a O,