Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-06-13

b The Tariff That Makes Good.
Ten years ofthe Dingley tariff form
2 . record that speaks for itself. Th
! fiscal year that ends with this mont
will show . surplus Of about $40. 900
! 900. This comes at q time when th
government is engaged in more larg
! enterprises than ever before. 1t
building the Panama canal, is deyot
ing the proceeds Of land sales in th
arid region to irrigation aud at tn
last session Of congress appropriated
sS6, 000,0 900 for river and harbor i'm
provement YETI for the last ter
months the treasury surplus has aver
tagged S6,6OO,000 a month. Importa.
tons are unusually heavy, but the in.
crease is largely In foreign materials
that enter into American man uiac-
lures, the exports oi-which far exceed
the former amount. For several
years the foreign trade Of the United
States has been at the highest mark.
The demand for labor outstrips the
supply. Immigrants have been COM
ing In at the rate Of 100000 a year,
and this average will be much In
creased in 1907. Railroads are crowd
ed with business and are in their
most profitable era. Farm produce
lions have been bringing good prices,
and their value last year approached
~, 900, 100000.
Commenting on the foregoing facts
the st. Louis Globe Democrat says
that IL is needless to 60 into the de-
tails Of the contrast Of the business
situation ten years ago, when congress
met In special session and passed the
Dingley tariff, measure based on
the protective policy, which was thus
restored as a leading economic feature
in conducting the business of the peo-
pie and Of the government shaped by
their ballots. The tariff law then
matured, AND still in force, had the
benefit Of the knowledge and wise
judgment Of William Mckinley and
Nelson Dingley, both Of whom have
passed away but their works live after
hem. Neither they nor any who deal
lnderstandingly with such matters
put forth the claim that any particular
is sacred and immutable,
nut they held, as the Republican
'arty has held In the past and holds {
low, that the protection Of American
Industries is necessary to the welfare |
4 the people, with their high stan :
ards Of living and enterprise. A
en-years' demonstration is before the 6
ountry. All that was promised by c
he Republican party in 1896 has been G
,alized, and much more. Prosperity ID
as far surpassed any Of the estimates. W
Yet 1t is Certain that the Democratic IL
atform Of next year will denounce al
OBJECTION, as usual, and offer prom cl
3 to substitute something better.
the light Of experience and COM VI
on sense it would seem that the Re- b.
lblicans would elect sny sound pl
,ket on this issue alone, for 1t fe
aches into the business interests OF III
cry American citizen. Since the of
ngley law was passed the govern pr
INT revenue has exceeded the ex-
nditures by hundreds Of millions,
spite Of the cost Of = foreign war. IN
nployment for all has been abund- -,
!, ct good wages. The interest r.
lring public debt has been reduced, vi
4 SO hiss the rate Of interest upon 90
War upon the Digley tariff is not NO
easOnable proposition as matters de-
nd. The affairs Of the people and WI
government are in the ascending Ce
lie. A year Of extremely bad crops 90,
ght slow up the present prosperity ca,
se, but there is nothing indicating mr.
It the highly favorable conditions &c
recent years will moi. continue or IN,
It protection will ever be less vital.
gging at the Dingley law is merely IN,
root Of Democratic folly and reck- W.
sness. e.,