Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-09-05
TARIFF REVISION,

AMIR NE 1oIoNs
Galena Gazette: Jacob H. Schiff
the great New York fnancier, in a
recent interview gave expression to
the following opinion:
Nothing, however, will so thoroughly pre-
vent tho building up OF great monOpolies
and the accumulation OF the vast fortunes
the existence OF which is DIT the bottom of
the prevailing social unrest than a sound
and sensible revision Of the tariff. 1t is right
that American industry and the American
WOrkingman be protected against undue
foreign competition, but 1t cannot be right to
compel the American consumer to nav a vast
profit to the manufacturer where the latter
under much lower tariff would be able TO
maintain himself. Herein lies the principal
remedy which need be applied IL the causes
which have brought about present condi-
lions are to be permanently eradicated."
This doctrine may not meet with
the approval of the administration
but it will be voiced by great many
who feel that injustice is done the
American consumer at the present
time. 1t is all right to pay good wages
and no one wants TO see the average
wage lowered. It Is wrong however
to protect a manufacturer that he NAV
rob the public. We have in mind an
article that is produced in huge GUAM
titles. 1t sold a number of years ago
at 5000 per ton and is protected by a
duty of 300. Il is now selling at
$3.50 per ton. The makers lost no
money at the low price and are today
making $1,000 ton more than they
should. The absurdity of putting a
duty OF 800 on on article which can
be made and sold at profit at sc. so
is an insult to the Intelligence of the
American public. 1t would not be
difficult for nOn-partisan commits
sion to determine a large number of
protected lines which could pay the
present rate of wages and lower sell
ling prices by the total amount of the
existing duty. 1t might be worth
while to legislate against a system
which sells the Iowa farmer a harvest
er at $4,000 and the same harvester to
the Argentine farmer, freight paid,
for very much smaller sum. The
American consumer of course is able
to pay the highest price but in a
spirit of fairness why should he be
compelled to pay more than his for
eign competitor for the same article.
The Argentine farmer is shipping
more wheat to Great Britain than
does the American farmer and owing
to low Labor, low cost of living and
low cost of machinery can raise his
crop for less money than his less for
tunate United States competitor.
The Democrat reprints the above
article entire, because it is right
good matter, and because we
are very glad to find it appearing
editorially in the Galena Gazette.
The spread of economic truth is de-
sirable in all places; but especially
is it needed in southwestern Wiscon-
sin, in which section the Gazette has
large circulation. For over forty
years the local republican press has
been carrying into the tariff taxed
homes of the people of the lead region,
false notions in regard to federal
taxation. AT times that great Repub-
lican newspaper the Chicago Tribune
asserted its independence and told
the truth about the iniquities of the
restrictive policy called protection.
But week in and week out during
all this blessed time the local Repub-
hcan newspapers,-and they are the
the great majOrity,-have held to the
delusion that the welfare and prosper
ity of this mighty and puissant nation
can be advanced by high duties upon
imports. They all sang one old
refrain, landing their party for its