The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-08-27

sumes to threaten panic In case OF
Democratic success
The third proposition which the
protectionist must establish, namely
that the tariff asked for Is necessary
is stlll less considered, It Is true that
we pay higher wages per day than
are paid elsewhere, but that does not
necessarily mean that the actual la
Dor cost OF an article is higher here
than abroad, on the contrary, the
rule, is that high priced labor pro-
duces a cheaper article than low
priced labor. Manufacturers OF hard
ware which contains a great deal OF
skilled labor. and yet We have no
fear OF foreign competition, oven In
the foreign markets, Our agrlcul-
tural machinery Is made by skilled
labor, and yet we export II to all
countries, Our sewing machines are
manufactured by skilled labor, but
the American traveller finds our sew
ing machines everywhere; and the
list could be extended Indefinitely.
For twenty-five years the Amerl-
can worklngman has been told that
he receives higher wages than the
English workman solely because of
protection, but our wage earners
now know that this cannot be due 10
protection. because the English work
man receives higher wages than the
German workman. although the Ger
man tariff is higher than the tariff
OF Great Britain,
Protection does not make good
wages. Our better wages are due to
the greater intelligence and skill of
our workmen, to the greater hope
which free institutions give them, to
improved machinery, to the better
conditions that surround them, and
to the organizations which have been
formed among the wage earners,
A revenue tariff will not bring a
panic; II will not naugurate indus
trial depression; It will not reduce
wages; on the contrary II will slim
ulate business and give more employ
ment TO larger demand for labor,
Will be guaranty against the re-
duction OF wages. A reduction Of
the tariff will reduce the extortlon
that is now practiced because OF the
high schedules. reduction in price
will enable more people to buy, and
this larger demand for the goods
will put more people to work and in
crease the number OF Industries. A
lower price will greatly stimulate ex-
portation, and manufacturers who
are now crippled by a tariff upon
what they use will be better prepared
to enter, the contest for supremacy
In the worlds trade. "
We cannot hope to Invade foreign
markets to the extent we should, UNI
Ill we relieve our manufacturers OF
the handicap that protection places
upon them IN the purchase OF mate
rails they have to use. Neither can
we hope to continually increase our
exports without increasing our i'm
ports, Trade must be mutual II II
is to be permanent. President Nc
Kinley recognised this, and in the
last speech that he made he pointed
out that we must buy from other
nations IL we expect to sell to oher
nations.
The Democratic plan does not con-
template an immediate change from
one system to the other; 1t expressly
declares that the change shall be
gradual, and a gradual change is
only possible where the country is
satisfied with the results OF each
step taken. We elect a congress ev-
cry two years, and president every
four years, and the people can soon
stop any policy II the results of that
policy are not satisfactory. But we
believe that the experience the peo-
pie have had with protection for
projections sake" has led them to
favor restoration Of the tariff by
gradual steps to revenue basis, and
we are convinced that the advantages
following each step will be SO pro-
nounced and that the benefits will
be so universally enjoyed that there
will be no cessation In the progress
toward system under which the tar
If will be levied for the purpose Of
revenue and limited to the needs Of
the government. The low tariff law
Of 1916 did not produce panic; on
the contrary, It was so satisfactory
that when the Republican party
wrote Its first platform ten years
afterward the protective principle
was not endorsed. ,
The Democratic party has declared
for au income tax as a part of the