The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-04-18

or direct significance 20 American
producers is the official outgiving as
10 the threatened tariff imbroglio with
France. The fact that the announce
ment was made through the AsGociat.
ed Press sufficiently indicates its au-
thority and origin. There II no mis-
taking the purport and the intent Of
the opening paragraph Of the state
ment:
Washington. March 6-The execu-
tive branch OF the government has
abandoned all hope OF finding any con.
cessions which Il can offer the French
government TO prevent the application
of the maximum tariff rates on Ameri-
can products not specifically exempted
therefrom by existing arrangements.
The situation as to France is there
fore similar 10 that as 10 Germany;
in neither case can this government
nj present meet the demand for re-
ciprocity treaty as the price OF mini.
mum tariff rates for American goods
and products. Through their embas.
sizes at Washington the two countries
named have been made aware OF this
fact, and also that IL remains for con
gress TO decide whether Il cares 10 a.
vert these blows at the American ex-
port trade by approving reciprocity
treaties with France and Germany"
II Il had been framed by the Ameri-
can Reciprocal Tarlff league, this pre-
sentiment could hardly be more sug-
gestiye Of an intention 10 tamper with
our protective tariff system under the
alleged stress of necessity TO divert
these blows at the American export
trade"
How are these blows to be ayerted?
Not by the executive branch OF the
government. for Il has abandoned all
hope" we are told.
BY the action OF congress. then. But
congress has adjourned and viii not
meet again In regular session until
next December.
So congress cannot divert these
blows" inside OF ten months. That Is.
unless the country can be sufficiently
frightened to demand that congress be
called together IN extraordinary SEES.
sion to meet and avert this fearful
danger Was the Official PRONUNCIATION
through the Associated Press pre-
pared with this end in view? Posi-
bly, so.
II the scare produces tho desired
effect, II the American people can be
thrown into a panic merely because
Germany and France have threatened
10 at some time or other do something
awful 10 our export trade. unless they
are permitted OF force a downward
revision OF the American tariff. then.
OF course. there will be a general dem
onstration In behalf OF prompt action
through an extra session Of congress.
Is this the object OF the scare procla-
nation OF March 6? Is there nothing
10 be done that Will save the situation
except the hasty summoning OF con
gress into extra session and the hur.
ried passage OF law authorizing the
executive branch OF the government
TO allow foreign nations TO dictate
what the American tariff shall be?
Yes; there Is something else that
can be done 20 divert these blows"
The executive branch can assert its
dignity and its courage by calmly
awaiting the progress OF events; by
not lodging before a blow is struck:
by not squealing until II is hurt; and
then. when the threatened blows shall
have been dealt, by taking prompt
measures OF defense and retaliation.
II the emergency OF actual tariff
discrimination shall present Itself
next June or July. or at any other
time between now and the first Mon
day in December-and we have not
the slightest idea that either the Ger
man or the French bluffs will be car
ried into effect before next December,
II at all-then congress can be called
into extra session.
To do what? Certainly not TO "lay
down" to Germany and France. To
strike back and hit hard by the adop-
ton OF a high maximum tariff that
will make the exporters OF $500, 000, 900
worth of German and French goods
shiver in their boots.
II there is to be an extra session OF
congress to deal with threatened
blows at the American export trade.
that is what IL should be called for,
and not to surrender the American
tariff system at the dictation Of any
one or more foreign nations.
But meanwhile. as we have said.
there is an apparent significance In
the Associated Press official pronun-
ciamento that the industrial producers
will do well to take note OF. Direct
tariff revision has been postposed UNI
I'll 1909. 1t is said; but has indirect
revision also been postponed?
Revision through reciprocity con-
cessions to Germany and France
would be an easy form of revision. II
would also prove to be the very worst
form that tariff revision could possibly
take. We do not assert that such is
the true inwardness of the announce
ment OF March G, but we think II
woald be wise for those concerned 70
be on the lookout for developments.
The Probable Reason.