Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-12-26
5TAND BY TARIFF.
INADEQUATE REASONS 40
VANCED FOR REVISION.
Tariff Reduction Would Bring Price
Reduction, and Also Wage Reduc-
tion-Values Of Farm Prod
ucts Also Would Go Down.

ucts Also Would Go Down.
A majority OF those now advocating
tariff revision and reductions do so for
the avowcd purpose OF breaking up
monopolies and producing lower
prices for products in our own coun-
try; yet few OF them are willing to
name the articles that are now too
high. Certainly no man advocates
lower prices for farm products in
produced. Yet IL is not reasonable
TO believe that the prices of other
commodities could be reduced by an
approach 10 free trade without reduc-
Ing the prices which the farmer re-
ceives. 1t would be impossible TO re-
duce the prices OF lumber. iron and
steel goods. steel rails. coal hides and
wool without these reductions having
an effect upon wages in manufactures.
and when wages begin to go down the
prices for farm products will also go
down. because of the decreased pur-
chasing capacity of the wage worker
The farmers market Is contingent on
the steady employment of men in
other pursuits. and men cannot be
steadily employed In other pursuits
when prices are constantly going
downward
II is erroneous on the part OF Re-
publicans 10 concede that monopolies
are the creatures OF the tariff When
that point is conceded. the whole Re-
publican position is given away; when
that much is conceded then the Demo
cratic contention is established. II
is also erroneous 10 say that Il is
necessary 20 cut down the present
tariff in order to lessen the profits
OF numerous American industries at
the present time.
Some men say that they want tariff
reductions. but they do not want the
schedules made low enough TO let in
foreign made goods. The advocates
of such doctrines assert that they
simply want to take off the surplus
tariff. leaving II high enough to leave
the American manufacturer and pro-
ducer in full and undisturbed posses
sion OF the American market. We
concede that II is only necessary to
have tariff high enough to leave the
American manufacturer and producer
in full possession OF the American
market. But we contend that a tariff
that Is higher than Is necessary for
that purpose does not mean upright
eously high prices for American prod
ucts 10 American consumers.
II Is well-known fact that prices
do not constantly range high except
when the demand is without limit.
and when prices are high and the de-
mand is without limit new factories
will be built and competition will en-
ter in And competition will then
bring the results which all projections
lists say are logical tO-wit a lower
scale Of prices. II is erroneous to
constantly couple the tariff with the
American prices Of products. II is
erroneous to attempt to use the pro
tective tariff TO affect the prices of
every commodity. The theory Of pro-
lection is that the duty should be high
enough TO keep all American trade
at home. to preserve the american
market for Americans. The theory
then is that Americans competing with
Americans will be all that will be
necessary TO maintain reasonable
prices to tho consumer.
When man talks about lowering
the tariff to give Americans foreign
competition for the purpose OF reduc-
ing the prices in America and then In
the next breath says he is not in favor
Of making a tariff low enough TO sur
render G7y part of the American mar
ket. he Is talking nonsense. II no
part Of the American market is TO be
surrendered. the prices would not be
reduced at home and the purpose for
which he advocates reductions are not
accomplished. n his purposes were
10 be accomplished the foreign prod
ucts must interfere in the American
market, which would bring lower
prices and Generalization at home.
A majority OF those who advocate
lowering the tariff duties have I'm
mind a>desire 10 strike at Rockefeller.
Morgan and the millionaire class gen
orally. A majority OF those who ad-
vocate tariff changes desire 10 strike
a blow at the very rich We say that
there ought 10 be some other way Of
striking at the rich without striking
at everybody else at the same time.
We take IT. that no one has any love
for the millionaire class. II is con
coded that they have more than they
need and more than they ought 10
have. but the millionaire class would
not suffer By the giving Of a part Of
the American market 70 the foreigner.
Coming back to Mark Hanna's doc.
trine, we inquire-that inasmuch as
the country Is prosperous-why not
let the tariff alone? We are not buy.
ing steel rails. Those who buy them
have the money with which 10 do Il.