The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-06-12

argument based upon statistical rec
ords can only be judged by reading
the speech in its entirety.
That portion of the speech which
deals with Tariff and reciprocity con-
cessions to foreign competitors is ad-
mirable, alike for its vigor and its
candor. Plainly and unequivocally
! the Cuban treaty and the German
Tariff trade agreement are deprecated
as unwise and uneconomic. Mr.. Ford
ney concludes his discussion of this
subject as follows:
Mr. Speaker: If it shall be thought
that l have been unduly severe or in
expediently outspoken in censure of
the foreign trade policy which mas
actuated the administration in the
consumation of the so-called Ger
man Tariff trade agreement
provisions have been extended to prac-
tically every producing country of
Europe-my answer is that this criti-
cism springs from deep conviction
that such a foreign trade policy is ut
teriy .wrong-Wrong economically,
wrcng commercially. The United
States cannot possibly gain advantage
/ through reciprocity in competing pro-
ducts. 1t must invariably be the loser.
No benefit to the people of our coun-
try can come through a policy which
seeks to increase Our export trade at
The heavy cost of compelling us to
accept increased quantities of competi.
tive imports. Nothing but loss and in
jury will ever result from such a de.
parture from the safe, sane lines of
fair and equal Protection to all labor
and all industry. AS bearing upon
this question I quote from recent is
sue of the American Economist:
How can reciprocity in competing
products be made to harmonic with
the politely of Protectiont
How can We enlarge our foreign
trade by international trade agree
ments unless those agreements pro-
vide for an increased inflow of COM
petitive merchandise?
"How can we arrange reciprocity
dickers with foreign countries unless
we do discriminate in Tariff duties in
favor of the countries thus favored?
things can be done because each prop
osition is self-contradictory
With this conclusion | am in entire
accord. Our foreign trade stands in
no need of artificial stimulants. It's
growth, under eleven years of ade-
quate Protection, has been the wonder
of the world. Alike in exports and in
imports, we have practically doubled
our foreign trade in these eleven
years. When we surrender any part
of Projections benifits in reaching out
for more foreign trade" we are chas-
ing after pot of gold II the foot of
n rainbow; we are grail ing for the
distant nickel and overloci: ing the dol
lar that is right under our res. That
is what we did when we Aneered into
that foolish treaty with Cuba; that is
what we did-grabbed the nickel and
overlooked the dollar-when we be-
came a party to that German Tariff
trade agreement; that is what we shall
do whenever we permit crafty foreign
bargainers to persuade us that we can
gain by foreign trade policy that robs
American labor of its wages and robs
American production of it's profits.
No man in Congress has spoken
more candidly, more boldly or more
forcefully than this in defense Of
cardinal principle of his party; none
have more effectively punctured the
inflated bladder of more foreign
trade" with the spear point of truth
and sound common sense.
The entire speech of Congressman
Fordney is now in press and will short |
ly be ready for general circulation in |
The American Protective Tariff Lea
que. It's usefulness as campaign |
document can hardly be overestimated |
One copy of this speech will be for
warded free to- any address upon pos
tai card request. Address the Amer
lean Tariff League, 800 Broadway,
New York ~ I