Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-04-11
POLICY OF DISCORD.
RECIPROCITY AND PROTECTION WILL
NOT HARMoNlZE.
IL Tarin COneessisns Are Made On
Competitive Articles the PrIaeIpie
of Equal ARd Fair Protection Mast
BE saerisced.

No0kcHtstc Articles the fr1nelpAr
of Equal And Fair Protection Mast
he saerisced.
Reciprocity as used In connection
with the tariff means the lowering of
the tariff rates On articles produced in
another country in return for similar
concessions made by that country on
articles we produce
II we carry out the policy vi reye-
nue. tariff how can we have "reciproc-
ity" without defeating the very object
for which the tariff was imposed, that
OF revenue? The low tariff would be
too low TO allow of any reduction ad-
vantageous TO the ''other fellow" and
IL wiped out altogether the revenue
would disappear. Reciprocity and
tariff revised on revenue basis are
separate and distinct propositions Like
oil and water, they viii not mix
But how about reciprocity and pro
lection?
Are we to admit hides and wool from
Argentina at q reduced rate IN order
to give our manufacturers of maehin-
cry q foothoId In that South American
country? That Is reciprocity accord
ing TO the New England idea. 1t
would be difficult, however, to per
suade the western stockmen that it
was protection.
We placed a high tariff on sugar to
protect the Louisiana planters and TO
stimulate the infant beet sugar indus
try In this country When the beet
sugar industry commenced to thrive
and give promise eventually OF supply
ing a large proportion of our wants,
we adopted reciprocity with Cuba.
Ne lowered the duty on Cuban sugar
and certain other products 20 per cen
tum and on tobacco and its manufac-
lures IS per centum. and the loss OF
revenue In the fiscal year 1905 amount
ed to about S10.000,000. Our gain in
exports mot profits under the opera
ton OF reciprocity amounted to s16.-
SIS, 100. so that for every dollar OF in
creased sales to Cuba 90 cents was be-
Ing paid out of the national treasury.
Moreover, our adverse trade balance
of SAL, 900 900 in 1908. no treaty year.
had increased to S4s 000.0 900 in 1905. a
full treaty year.
That was reciprocity. 1t was not
protection.
Those protesting protectionIsts who
| advocate reciprocity have been careful
to declare that they favored reclproc-
lty only where 1t could be adopted
| without detriment to any industry In
this country. Yet reciprocity cannot
| exist unless we make concessions to a
| country on product IN which that
| country exceis. II we produce tie
same. then reciprocity destroys protec-
| ton, and our producers OF that article
| can sit idly by and see praducers in
more favored lines thrive under the
benefcent policy OF protection, while
| they themselves are driven out Of the
market by foreign competition. If we
| do not produce the same article. then
a high tariff on that particular article
| should have no place In customs
! schedule framed in accordance with
| protective policy.
Reciprocity defeats protection. Pro
lection fOrbids reciprocity.
| The self styled protectlonist who ad-
| vocates reciprocity is the selfish man
who wants prote' ton in what he sells
and free trade in what he buys. He Is
neither a protectionist nor free trad
er. but. like the political sage OF Wan
tage. is for his own pocket all the time.
We cannot "reciprocate" with any
foreign country unless we both give
and take. We cannot give and take
unless we have tariff that is con
structed for give and take" purposes.
Thus If will be seen that reciprocity
ushers in a third tariff school. II is the
commercial school and il is the only
school under whose teachings reciproci-
" has a place. As revenue Is the OBJ
ject of one Of the two old schools and
protection OF the other, so reciprocity
is the object OF the new school.
The tariff reformer Of the old type
would throw our markets open 10 all
the world without restriction, without
''quid pro quo" The protectionist
would keep the barriers intact. would
not kill the goose that lays the golden
egg but foster # carefully In order
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