Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-12-14
-RLEnaEa.

#Hr-N $780,
The promise Of reciprocity 90 = 70
overcome The prohibitive features Of the
tariff Law hAs been a cardinal declara-
lion Of The republican party but has
never been redeemed. When The
treaties OF 1890, negotiated by the
Harriton administration, were repealed
by the tariff act OF 1894 The republican
party claimed that a serious injury had
been inflicted on the trade OF the coun-
try. 10 the republican platform OF 1896
it was declared, that, the repeal OF these
treaties was nothing less than "a national
calamity and further declared that:
Protection and reciprocity are twin
measures Of republican policy and go
hand in hand. Democratic rule has
recklessly struck down both and both
must be reesiHblished." This double
promise was only half redeemed by tho
passage of the DinRley tariff act. in
which the rates of duty on many articles
were purposely made 30 per cent higher
than was necessary for the purpose of
protecting the trusts and combines
which could be used DIS a basis for a
trade in rates with those countries which
would. enter IL reciprocity treaties
with US. The trust magDates having
secured tins enormous. projections for
their products, have been very loath 10
relinquish any part Of it and although
President Mckinley caused reciprocity
treaties to be made with a number of
nations reducing our duties 20 per cent
the trust influence with the republican
leaders, i'll cons. ress was too powerful Z o
allow those treaties to be ratified.
So reciprocity is dead and the republi.
cans still standpat by not only refusing
the promised reciprocity and also refuse
to revise tie tariff that was ~purposely
made TOOL high.
The selfish trusts and combines have
obviously dominated the republican
party to the great detrimeut and loss of
the people, who not only lave 10 pay
these high rates Of duty on imported
products. but also pay the tax Of greatly
increased prices that the protected trusts
and manufacturers are enabled to
charge by reason Of no domestic or for
eign competition. They have eliminated
competition by combining in restraint
OF trade and have succeeded in prevent
ing tariff revision, SO that competition
from abroad ie also impossible, except
in certain classes Of foreign goods which
our consumers are willing to pay for
with he high tariff tax added.
The result has been that nearly all
foreign countries, except England, have
greatly increased their tariff duties as q
measure OF retaliation against the
United Statee and even the British
colonies Of Canada, Australia and Natal
are now engaged in enacting "A protec
tive tariff against our products. Oui
relations with Germany have become sc
strained that our State department has
sent a special delegation Of experts t.
that country to investigate the German
tariff law and try and effect some com
promise, or arrange ment. TINT will pre-
vent the German government from Ell
forcing her probability. tariff duties from
oSSo'''HR cheCIiNo July II next ant
which would have become effective las
July uuless the German government
had not put off its enforcement at oui
requestA
As the protected truste and combine.
are evidently more powerful with the
republican, leaders thaD the plunderet
people who are compelled to pay the
high trust prices. it is probable thn'
tariff revision md the promised re
ciprocity with foreign nations will bt
again postponed by a standpat con
gress. Nor is there reason to believe
that the SiItieth congress which vii
meet in regular at ssion in December
1907 win DO nny more likely 10 fulfil
the promise OF reciprocity, or curb the
rapacity OF the trusts by revising the
thrift that protects those corporations.