Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-04-18
WOULD BENEFIT ALL
RESULT OF COMMON SENSE TAR.
IFF REVISION.
THE FACTS ARE PLAIN
Claim That Free Trade Is Aimed at
by Democrats Is Foolish-Fig-
ures That Will Convince
the Fair-Minded.

Whenever the standpatters, and
even those Republicans that believe
there must be some reform of the
present tariff system, are cornered by
the exposure of the plundering by the
protected trusts and combines, their
only reply is that free trade would
ruin the country. This of course is
no answer at all, as neither the Demo
cratic party, nor any other organlza-
ton of consequence politically, either
demands free trade or favors it, Free
trade is a bugaboo of the standpatter
who has a brainstorm and suffers
from paralogism whenever tariff re-
form is mentioned. Free trade would
undoubtedly be the best thing for the
whole world If all nations practiced 1t,
but practically it is at present impos-
sible.
Reforming the tariff by reducing 1T,
IS not free trade, far from it, for there
would still be a large amount of tar
if tax paid under one-half the present
duties, and as the trusts would have
to compete with the imported goods,
which would be sold at a reduced
price, in accordance with the lower
rates of tariff duties, there would be
a general reduction of the cost of liv-
ing and the great mass of consumers
would be able to purchase more IN
stead of economizing as many now do.
There is now imported over $500, 000,-
900 of dutiable goods and nearly that
much free of duty. All that comes
into the country upon which no duty
is collected is free trade" and II lum-
Der and coal and hides were also plac-
ed on the free list, as proposed by
the tariff revision Republicans of Mas
s~achusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the
Dakotas and Iowa, no n would be
injured but the trusts and combines
that illegally control those necessary
articles, and if their profits would be
cut down by having to compete with
the imported lumber, coal and hides
every one else would be the gamer.
Free lumber would mean cheaper
buildings and therefore lower rent;
free coal would mean cheaper fue
for the householder and the manufac
turer and thus reduce the cost OF hv
ing and of manufactured products
free hides would allow the tanner tt
produce cheaper leather, which woulC
: mean cheaper boots and shoes, har
ness and all products in which leath
err is used. The beef combine which
| now controls the market for hides
t and through a subsidiary combine thu
price of leather, the cost of which /
now very high, by reason OF thes'
/, combinations in restraint OF trade
would suffer to some extent.
9 So when the standpat statesmal
v tells you that the Democratic plan Q
tariff reform is free trade, ask h1r
l. why adding three more articles to tn
e present free list, which now under tn
Dingley bill allows free trade on owe
g half a billion of foreign products
= would ruin the country or indeed han
l. per any industry that Is not unlawfu
l. ly restraining trade. AS Republlca
e politicians are notorious buffers, e
0 pecially those of the standpat cliqu
Q in league with the trusts and con
g bines, it may be well to be prepare
II with the official import figures whic
< can be found in the United States st
G. tistical Abstract for 1905-the last |
r. sued-on page SO2, which gives IL
I" value of imported goods free of dut
g as $517,442,3 1902, and if that does n
At see his bluff Just turn back the fe
n pages and show him what those FRI
trade articles are.