The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-08-22
TAFT DECLARES
HIS PRINCIPLES
Continued from eighth paee.

pose investigated the question Wheth-
er the taTiff had not In respect 10
many articles by a change in condi-
tions become excessive.
This National Association of Manu-
facturers is composed almost wholly
of protectionists, and | think we may
safely say. therefore, of Republicans.
am advised that the association rep
resents all classes of manufacturers IN
this country and that majority of the
manufacturers of consequence are
members. The committee reports:
I'VE are all protectionists-there are
a very few brilliant exceptions, but so
few that we may repeat the statement,
we are protectionists.' The COM
mittee lays down in its report the fol-
lowing doctrine, which seems to me
of the orthodox Republican type:
Protection, as the word implies, re-
quires that the tariff schedules be
such as protect our manufacturers
against undue pressure from foreign
competition, and maintain our high
wage scale and standard of living.
The minimum measure of protection
is. therefore, as President Roosevelt
said, The difference in the cost of pro-
duction in this country and abroad"
These protectiv schedules, this figured,
must carry with them a very ample
margin for safety. 1t must make full
allowance for the possibility of hard
times abroad and good times here;
for dumping, and all other cOntingen-
cies. This done, 1t is truly protective;
and it is only so, as 1t covers these
features and nothing more"
Many Schedules Excessive.
After referring to the fact that there
were some articles in which the tariff
was hardly high enough. the con-
clusion of the committee was stated
as follows:
"'Confining ourselves to the protec-
tive principle, We find many schedules
necessities of life-returning the gov
ernment no revenue of consequence,
and yet under the claims of the pro-
tectiVe theory, bearing tariff schedule
not merely equal to the difference
| in the cost of production here and
abroad, with all reasonable contin-
genciea allowed for--but decidedly in
excess of the total wage cost of pro-
duction in this country.
1--WE find some of these schedules
many times in excess of the difference
between the cost of production here
and abroad We find that individuals
who are at the top, both in stock hold
| ings and in management In some OF
these same industries, declare private
| ly that these schedules are wrong and
| that the best interest of those indus
tries themselves, as we'll as the In
terests of the country at large, re-
quire adjustment at the earliest posi-
BILE moment They say that now is the
time for revision, while the country is
so prosperous that adjustment may
easily be made to new conditions"
in that body of members Of 1900
| $50, or 20 per cent, were radically op-
posed to revision; 8 per cent were op-
posed to revision at this time lest it
unsettle business; IS per cent wished
| revision, and II per cent were indif-
ferent or uninformed. Taken by In
| dustries, out of II different industries
tabulated, 56 voted for revision, cast
ing a total of 1,5l0 votes; 16 industries
voted against revision, casting a total
of 1O2 votes; industries were each
tied in their votes, casting total Of
| 28 votes.
"The association then by resolutions
passed by large majority declared
| itself in favor Of a revision of the tariff
at the earliest practicable date.
81 have not cited the report or action
Of the National Association Of Manu-
facturers as conclusive upon the char
acter Of the present schedules, nor do
assume lat the manufacturers OF
the country embrace all the classes
who are interested in maintaing the
protective system, for fuLy recognize
that other classes, especially the farm
ers, are vitally concerned in some OF
the schedules. All that maintain 10
that when after tariff law has been
in force 10 years and representative
body of protectionists in principle and
| interest, whose business makes them
familiar with the facts and who have
no motive for Misrepresentation, adopt
such a report as the one have quoted
from, 1t makes a case for investigation
into the existing tariff by congress for
the purpose of determining how much
revision IL needed.
1.-The investigation in the end will be
conducted by the committee of ways
and means of the house Of representa-
tives and by the finance committee Of
| the senate The schedules are for
them to recommend and for congress
to fix after they hear evidence of the
cost of production In this country and
the cost of production abroad, and the
conditions existing In each trade, and
if it shall turn out that popular opinion
founded on such substantial evidence
az that which have cited here should
prove ~ De uulOuHuouI InSA CnS L0.
vision Of the tariff will be confined to
minor inequalities. But If the result
of the investigation justifies the report
of the National Association Of Manu-
facturers, then the revision OF the ex-
cessive schedules should be substRn.
tial, and the motive for the organiza'
tion and maintenance Of unlawful
trusts to monOpolize the manufacture
and sale of articles in such schedules
will be taken away.
Prosperity Argument Against Revision.
objection ~ made to revision ON
the ground that we are enjoying bust
ness prosperity, that this will be dis
turhed by q proposal to change the