The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1907-05-22
Tho Tariff That Makes Good.


Ten years of the Dingley tariff
forms . record that speaks for itself.
The fiscal year that ends with next
month will show a surplus of about
$70,OOO,00O. This comes at time
when the government is engaged in
moro large enterprises than ever be-
fore. It is building the Panama
canal, is devoting the proceeds of
land sales in the arid region to irri-
CATION, and at the last session OF
congress- appropriated 1856, ,OO0, 900
for river and harbor improvement.
Yet, for the last ten months the
treasury surplus has averaged S5,
100000 a month. Importations are
unusually heavy, but the increase is
largely in foreign materials that en-.
ter into American manufactures, the
exports of which far exceed the for
mer amount. For several years the
foreign trade of the United States
has been at the highest mark. The
demand for labor outstripes the sup
ply. Immigrants have been coming
in at the rate of 100000 a year,
and this average will be much in
creased in 1907. Railroads are
crowded with business and are in
their most profitable era. Farm
productions have been bringing good
prices, and their value last year sp-
preached $1,000, 100000.
1t is needless to go into the de
tails of the contrast of the business
situation ten years ago, when con-
grsss met in special session and
passed the Dingley tariff, a measure
based on the protective policy, which
was thus restored as leading econo-
mic feature in conducting the busi-
ness of the people and of the govern
ment shaped by their ballots. The
tariff law then mstured, and still in
force, had the benefit of the kuowl-
edge and wise judgment Of William
Mckinley aud Nelson Dingley, both
of whom have passed away, but their
works live after them. Neither they
nor any who deal undsrstsndingly
with such matters put forward the
claim that any particular schedule
is sacred and immutsble, but they
held. as the republican party has
held in the past and holds nov, that
the protection Of American industries
is necessary to the welfare Of the
people, with their high standards Of
living and enterprise. A ten years
demonstration Is before the country.
All that was promised by the repub-
lican party in 1895 has been realized
and much more. Prosperity has far
surpassed any Of the estimates.
Yet it is certain that the demo-
cratic platform of next years will de-
nounce protection, as usual, and offer
. promise to substitute something
better. In the light of experience
and common sense it would seem
that the republicans could elect any
sound ticket on this issue alone, for
it reaches into the business interests
of every American citizen Since
the Dingley law was passed the
government revenue has exceeded
the expenditures by hundreds Of
millions, in spite of the cost Of Q
foreign war. Employment for all
has been abundant, at good wages.
The interest st-bearing public debt has
beeen reduced, and 30 has the rate
of interest upon it. War upon the
Dingley tariff is not q reasonable
proposition as matters stand. The
affairs of the people and the govern
ment are in the ascending scale. A
year of extremely bad crops might
slow up the present prosperity pace,
but there is nothing indicating that
the highly favorable conditions Of
recent years will not continue or that
protection will ever be less vital.
NaQQing at the Dingley law Is