Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-23
CARNEGIE R[VSIN|S1
Says Steel and Other Industries
Are No Longer in Need Of
Protection
WANTS DUTY FOR REVENUE ONLY
Carnegie Says Necessities Should Come
in Free, While Duty Should Be In
creased on Observation-Disclosures Nc
kinley Bill But Argues That condil
tions Are Now Changed.

New York. Nov. 23-The December
Century will contain an article written
by Andrew Carnegie, telling his views
on the tariff question. In it the great
ironmaster says the need of tariff as a
protection has ceased and that its only
good now can be as source of revenue
for the nation.
With this end in view he advocates
the retention or even increase of the
duty on those things used only by the
rich, and advocates heavy reduction or
abolition of the duties on manufactures,
such as steel products. under which our
once infant industries" have grown to
giants. equal to combat With any for
eign concern.
Mr.. Carnegie says he is pot a con-
vert to new views, now that his direct
connection with those industries which
profited under the tariff has ceased He
says there never was a time that he
did not think the tariff should be cut
when the "infants' had attained full
growth. and he refers to the prophecies
he made to his associates that this ac-
ton soon would be taken.
Gives History of Industry.
The article gives a review of the
steel industry from it's birth. The first
with u-hifh he CON.
nected began operation soon after the
passage, in 1870, of the tariff law put
ting a duty of SIS per ton on imported
rails, the cost in England being sloo.
He tells of the troubles and perils fac
ing the pioneers in the trade, especially
the hardships of introducing the Bes-
semer system, then in use In England.
The Edgar Thomson works, In which
Mr.. Carnegie was Interested, rushed TO
the front in this venture and the other
steel men We're forced to recognize II.
Previous to the passage of this law,
Mr.. Carnegie says, the trade was too
uncertain to attract capital. 1t really
was the civil war that convinced legis-
lators that America, could not depend
upon English steel. To induce Amerl-
can capitalists to take interest in the
trade, congress, after conferences with
steel makers, passed the "Schenck
tariff.
This committed the republicans to
protection policy, and in the thirteen
wears following the industry grew
enormously, despite three attempts by
the democrats to repeal or reduce du-
ties.
Praise for Mckinley Bill.
."The protective policy had full swing
until 1890" Mr. Carnegie then contin-
ues. "when the Mckinley bill was
passed. People generally think of this
bin as highly protective; on the con-
trary, it reduced the duty on steer rams
beams, and all structural shapes, mans,
forgings, etc. from 20 to 80 per cent.
which 1 strongly advocated; but Tor
the first time it also gave adequate pro
lection to the tinplate industry Whlch
previously had no existence in Amer1-
ca. one experiment having failed thru
pressure of foreign competition.
"Another feature of the Mckinley
bill was novel. 1t provided that 80 -
cent of the duty should be refunded
upon foreign iron and steel used in
manufacturing articles for export.
This gave American manufacturers
all the benefits of free trade in their
contests with foreign manufacturers
thru THE world, and should be feat
ure in all future tariffs. All things
considered, the Mckinley bill was the
wisest tariff reform measure ever
framed"
Mr.. Carnegie then tells of the dis
trust regarding the tariff which fol-
lowed the introduction of the Wilson
bill and tells of the efforts he person
a]ly made to secure a milder measure
and of the relief afforded by the Ding
ley tariff.
Situation Now is Changed.
Now, Mr.. Carnegie continues, the
tariff needs must be looked upon from
a new viewpoint. The need of pro-
lection for our industries has ceased
because of the strength of our man
ufacturing concerns. In this connec-
ton he says:
"Much water has run under the
bridges since then. Many changes have
occurred and hence many changes can
be iudiciously made in the tariff
There is no doubt about this; but, on
the other hand, / have been led to
the conclusion that conditions have
changed so greatly in the interval that
the tariff should now be viewed from
a. new standpoint. The writer assumes
that a decided majority of our voters
are agreed:
"First-That it is advisable for ney
countries to encourage capital by
protective duties, when seen to be
necessary to develop new industries.
"Second--That after full and exhaus-
tive trials, if success be not finally at
tanned, such protection should cease.
except as noted hereunder.
"Third-That should the experiment
succeed, protection becomes uHneces-
sary, and should steadily but gradually
be abolished, provided that the home
supply of any article absolutely neces-