The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-09-19
OF the Cannon School.


warm the hearts of his ancient cronies in the house.
the speaker and the two most eminent members of
the committee on ways and means, Mr. Payne of
New York and Mr.. Dalzel of Pennsylvania. He has
not been associated with them vain in the task of
governing the nation by usurped authority. Mr..
Sherman assents in a perfunctory fashion to such of
Mr. Roosevelts policies find expression in the
Chicago platform and says that approval of the pres
ent administration is "the Swallowing issue"
But he considers that it is most important to write
himself down a protectionist Il sufficiently
practical" he remarks to value the utility of fact
higher than the beauty of theory" After this pre-
face one would be justified in looking for
position of the tariff question based upon facts but
Mr.. Sherman goes on to eXpound theories with light
hearted indifference to the history of economic leg
islaton. There is nothing in his speech to cause
a moments uneasiness to the most stubborn stand
patter.
Three of these theories deserve a brief consider
alton Mr.. Sherman says, first, that the principle
of protection has lifted us nation to plane
of prosperity above that occupied by any other
people, second, that "the Dingley bill when
acted, we'll adapted to the then existing con-
ditions"; and third, that when tariff has
been the law, adversely and want have been pOr
ton" Thus it appears that he is to some extent
believer in the beauty of theory, after all His
first proposition involves two assumptions for which
example, is prosperity? The foreign commerce of
Great Britain is still far larger than than that of the
United States; German shipping shows steady
growth where American shipping shows steady de-
cline. Again, prosperity is relative 1t would be
strange indeed if a comparatively undevelOped
country did not advance at rapid rate than
which has to support its full quota OF popua-
ton. And even if admit that else is
prosperous we, it does not follow that tariff did
it all
Mr. Sherman's second beautiful theory is that the
Dingley bill measure we'll adapted to the con-
ditions which prevailed when it was enacted. It is
not necessary to refer to the prosperity panic of
last fall to the business depression which has fol-
lowed it in order to challenge this dlctum Every
one knows upon what principle the duties were fixed
in that b-the principle of all the traffic will bear
Thus duty of 1874 per ton imposed upon
steel rails, although for twenty years they had been
manufactured cheaper here than in any other country
in the world The duties upon sugar, plate glass,
lumber, hides, hardware and hundreds of other ar
ticles have produced more revenue for the trusts
than for the government. It is not to be expected
indeed, that so long as tariff tavors are to be OBJ
tanned by pressure at Washington any tariff will be
scientifically adjusted" to the needs either of the
government of the taxpayer. And it is easy to see
all the talk about reasonable profit, the intention
of Mr.. Sherman and his friends to maintain the in
iquitous system The revision for which public sent-
ment has forced them to declare has every appear
ance OF being mockery and delus1on
1t is unfortunate for Mr.. Shermans third beautiful
theory that the facts should be easily available to
confute it. The Walker tariff of 1916 practic-
ally tariff for revenue; mo more money" said
Mr.. Walker Should be collected than is necessary
for the wants of government" But adversity and
want far from being portion during the
eleven years that followed. So good republican
Mr.. Blaine has admitted that large enterprises
undertaken speculation prevalent and for a
considerable period the prosperity of the country was
general and apparently genuine The act of 1857
reduced duties still further, about 10 per cent At
this time, to quote Mr.. Blaine again, "a protective
tariff not even suggested or limited by any
of the three parties which presented presidential can
didates" Yet Mr. Sherman declares that tariff
for revenue has always produced "adversitv and