Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-02-26

N
lean Producers - Until Voters Are
Ready to Elect Real Tariff Reform
ers High Prices Will Continue.
The Republicans who met at Chicago
for the purpose of deciding upon
plan to reform the tariff evidently are
not yet prepared to seriously break
with the stand patters. The decision
to demand "a dual, or maximum and
minimum, tariff" from congress Is
useless concession to the protection
lists If anything is expected to be &C.
complished. 1t Is merely a threat OF
reprisal against Germany and other
countries which have raised their tarin
wall against our products and VIII
hardly induce them to lower 1t. The
only way to invite trade Is to wipe
out. at least, some Of the restrictions
that the present tariff law imposes on
the countries that would like to sell
Us their products and buy ours. The
protectionists' idea of a maximum and
minimum tariff Is to make the present
exorbitant tariff rates the minimum
and add 25 or so per cent to those
rates for the maximum. That Is what
Secretary Shaw Is reported to advo-
cate, and Speaker Cannon. the Home
Market club and the Protective Tariff
league and their supporters probably
agree with him. But as Secretary
Blaine told Mckinley when the tariff
Al l., ,, to, N Z
ing and proposing to increase the
rates Of duty. Not dollar Of In
creased trade will be fostered by It."
Neither would there be by this pro-
posed dual tariff unless rates are re-
duced.
Every voter who detests the exclu-
sion theory of the protectionists which
has fostered the trusts and their high
prices will of course rejoice that the
protective tariff is attacked by friends
Of protection who have hitherto been
silent participators in the wrongs COM
mitted. Governor Cummins and those
other representative Republicans, as
the great majority Of the Chicago con
vention were, by their protest will
greatly help the cause Of tariff reform
in drawing the attention Of the people
to the breakdown of the protection theo-
ry. They have recorded the fact that the
American farmer and American indus
tries can no longer depend exclusively
upon the home market; that if our ex-
ports are not encouraged both our agri-
culturists and our workmen will soon
be unable to find market for their
surplus products except what England
can buy. and as all countries are
dumping their surplus products on the
English markets the. price there is the
lowest anywhere.
The Republican majority in congress
may stand pat and refuse to revise
the tariff because the protected monop-
Olies and trusts so literally divide with
the politicians and party managers Il
share Of the plumber ITO keep the boys
in line" but when the protection shoe
pinches bit harder and farm products
they surely will, then the voters will
arise to the occasion and there will be
another revolt, rs there was in 1884
and 1892
The protectionists would gladly coll
cede Il dual tariff as long as they have
the power to make the rates. but they
have no intention of surrendering Il
particle of their private gain by the
tax they levy on about all the people
consume There is only one thing that
will ever move them and that is the
adverse votes of an outraged and plum
dered people. And until the reformerS
are prepared to elect tariff reformers
TO congress how is it possible to expect
relief: Governor CumminS himself
doubtless voted for John \. T. Hull,
who represents the Des Moines district
and who is an ardent stand patter. and
until he is ready to defeat Mr. Hull
with some good. honest tariff reformcr
his work IS useless. You cannot re-
form the Republican party on the tariff
issue as long as it gets part of the
graft that the tariff supplies