The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-01-10
WRITES ON TARIFF
la NJ. rARBELL BEGINS SERIES
OF ARTICLES.
Worth That the Work Might Have
Promises 20 Be MARRIED by
Spirit Of Hostilty--careless
Handling OF Facts.

Handling OF Facts.
We observe with interest the begin
ming OF series OF articles In the
American Magazine by Miss Ida NJ.
Tarben. entitled "The Tariff in Our
Times" IL is announced that the
author twill attempt to make this
most difficult of subjects absolutely
understandable and entertaining 10
hundreds Of thousands OF readers who
have realized its Importance without
understanding its meaning, Ihat
there are many hundreds OF thou
sands OF such persons Is not TO be
doubted. Whether they will all. or
any very large portion of them. be
persuaded to read the serial produc-
tion just referred TO. Is, perhaps, an
other question.
The author in this instance starts
out with the advantage OF having
already obtained a wide public hear
ing by means OF the History of the
Standard OH Company VIII she
succeed in securing an equally large
reading constituency for her history
of the tariff?
Much depends upon the kind Of
history that shall be written. There
are histories and histories. In her
story OF the Standard oil Miss Tar
bell was dealing with a single insti-
tuition. with only one industrial en-
terprise. In writing Of the tarif her
scope must be enormously enlarged.
Now she is dealing with all indus.
tries; with n total industrial produc-
ton OF $4,000 600. geo a year; with
wages earned by. paid TO. and again
! spent by more than 100000 people;
with the American standard OF living.
higher BY far than that Of any other
people ever known in the worlds his
tory; with a condition Of national
prosperity so amazing as to excite
universal establishment and envy;
with the material welfare Of $1,000
600 men, women and children. IL Is
a stupendous proposition. How will
the lady deal with Il?
The answer is suggested by the
opening chapter OF Miss Tarbel's his
tory OF The Tarin OF Our Times.
We find. first OF all. a spirit Of hos
tility TO the American protective tar.
IN system That seems TO be the
point OF view. Wherefore some sa-
lient facts are either overlooked or
else colored by partisanship in their
presentment We are asked TO be.
lieve that protection TO American in
dustry was never intended 20 be more
than temporary; that the intention Of
the Fathers OF the Republic was TO
protect industries from foreign com
petition only until they should be
established. but no longer" that
they were then TO be left 20 their fate
But VIC are not told that a protective
tariff was the second act passed by
the first American congress. and that
| Washington, Jefferson, Madison. and
all the early presidents were in favor
OF stimulating American products
through protection and OF establish
ing the industrial independence OF
the United States
Miss Tarbell insists that the panic
OF 1857 was in no way Influenced by
free trade tariff legislations but she
does not explain how q was that a
country blessed with abundant crops
and having the largest gold produc.
ton " its career up 10 that time
could be plunged into financial ruin.
its banks wrecked, its industries par
alyzed. it's labor unemployed and a
condition OF want and suffering
brought on without the greatly re-
duced tariff and the greatly in
creased inflow OF foreign manufac-
lures having anything to do with the
disturbance.
We are told by Miss Tarbell that
an enormous initiation Of prices was
caused by the Morrill, tariff OF 1860
No mention. however. Is made OF the
effect on prices OF the heavy pre-
MUM on gold in the period OF 1868
go, when $3.50 in greenbacks was
required 10 buy a dollars worth OF
goods.
There are peculiarities in the story
which relate TO the question as to
what kind Of tariff history Miss Tar
bell has undertaken 10 write, and how
well equipped she is for the task
Judgment on the question may be
suspended for later installments. For
the present II is enough 10 say that
the lady seems TO have started out on
an attack on the system of protec-
ton very much as she attacked the
Standard oil. Evidences abound OF
lack OF studious preparation. Of un.
Tipencss, OF careless handling OF
facts and conclusions. The article
! would have been better TOR more
thorough and careful consideration.
and, one is tempted TO suggest, for a
more active employment of the edito-
rial blue pencil.