Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
Tariff Mnr In pro.nect.

IEolectlonlSm is SLOWLY nearing the
end of Its string, in spite of Speaker
Cannon capturing President Roosevelt
to policy of inactivity on the tariff
on the score of party necessity This,
stand-pat policy will hold good a few
years longer il the Republicans control
the Congress to be elected next fall.
and then carry the national election
In 1908. as they would then have more
than all even chance of doing. Yet
there is a canker worm eating at the
heart OF protectionism that will compel
tariff revision in spite of the stand
patters, for the markets of the world
are about to be closed to our manufac-
tured products. although our exports
OF food and raw material will still con-
tinue as long as we can sell the cheap
est to those countries that must pur-
chase
The canker worm is the ayarice of
the trusts and manufacturers, who have
prevented the ratification of reciprocity
treaties with foreign countries. notably
Germany, and in retaliation she has
created new maximum and minimum
tariff law, which as to its maximum
rates Is virtually prohibitive. Germany
now holds that we have no favored ma
tion agreement with her. in her sense
of the term, and is incensed at our not
fulfilling our agreement to revise some
of the administrative conditions i'm.
posed on imports. as provided in the.
Payne bill of last winter. Germany APP
pears to feel that our administration
has broken faith with her by accepting
notifications of her tariff, while still
Imposing the utmost requirements of
our own. Germany evidently believes
that President Roosevelt, who exhib-
tied such control of Congress on m;.ny
matters he was interested in, showed
considerable Indifference in urging on
Congress what he had promised Ger
many.
Blu. the German statesmen do not
understand. as we do. how helpless
President Roosevelt is directly he runs
up against the trusts and intrenc ed
monopollsts. They never sleep. ere
never tired and have the men and the
money to fight tariff revision in any
form. The subsidies-eyery schedule of
the tariff gives some one a subsidy-is
the breath Of their nostrils; without
those special privileges they would not
be able to pay dividends on watered
stock and their foster mother would
no longer nourish them.
Those of the trust, however, nat
rely upon exports, such as the Beef
Trust and Steel Trust, not to mention
other manufacturers of smaller scale,
will soon feel the pinch of surplus
they cannot dispose of, and will be
more willing to make concessions for
at least some sort of tariff revision.
That is the canker worm gnawing at
the heart of protection that is sure to
lead to Its destruction. How long these
protected interests can stand the pain
and strain when the pinch comes is un-
certain; they may decide to decay by
Inches, and then again the long headed
ones may decide that selling their eur
piuS NhCdpSI w Jul ONu rs MS
profitable in the end as selling 1t to
foreigners.
A Democratic victory this fall will
hasten the ultimate outcome and spare
the Inevitable tariff war; with Ger
many and countries that VIC should be
at peace with.
Tariff reform will reduce the cost of
living and thus add to the incomes of
every one but the favored ,nonopolsts.
Light on Snnto Domingo.
One Of the disputed points about
President Roosevelt's Santo Domingo
policy has at lust come to light from
that cave of gloom" the State Depart.
ment. and completely proves the con
tentlon Of the Democrats that the
Morales government was requested"
to enter upon the recelvcrship policy,
and that the initiative was not volun-
tarily taken by the Santo Domingo gov
eminent, as contended by the defend
ers of the administration.
The true version of how this policy
was inaugurated is presented in dis
patch dated Dec. 30, 1904. from Secre-
tary Hay to Minister Dawson and lust
published by the State Department 1t
now, after careful editing. reads:
Confidential. You will sound the
President Of San Domingo, discreetly
but earnestly and in perfectly friend
" spirit. touching the disquietlng situa-
ton which is developing owing to the
presence of other governments having
arbitral awards In their favor, and
who regard our award as conflicting
with their rights. Already one Euro
pean government strongly lntimates
that 1t may resort to occupation of
some Dominican customs ports to Sc.
cure Its own payment There appears
to be concert among them. You will
ascertain whether the government of
San Domingo would be disposed to re-
quest the United States to take charge
Of the collection of duties and effect
an equitable distribution Of the as
signed quotas among the Dominican
government and the several claimants.
We have grounds to think that such
arrangement would satisfy the other
powers, besides serving as a practical
guaranty of the peace Of San Domingo
from external influence or internal dis
turbance."
This discreet but earnest" move
ment to collect the usurious debts of
foreigners and the very questionable
claims of the Santo Domingo Improve
mcnt Company of New York came from
our own government, and While Presi-
dent Morales did request President
Roosevelt to take charge of Dominican
revenues, 1t was only after Minister
Dawson had "discreetly but earnestly"
forced him to take such action. So the
first treaty was made, but never rati-
fled by the United States Senate. An
ether treaty was entered into enlarging
the scope of the receivership, and Amer
leans We're placed in charge of the