Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-03
]. 5. IS HANDICAPPED
Expert in London Finds Dit
terential Tariffs Are
Needed
SUGGESTS BOARD TO MAKE WAR
Chicago Merchant Has Plan for Study
ing Tariff Arrangements of Cont
mental Nations-America Bound to
Have Trade Enemies and Trade
Friends-New Plan Outlined.

London. June 2.-Alexander I'll.
views as those of representative
American business man are worthy of
attention. even if they do not receive
universal appreciation. has come TO the
conclusion after study of the tarlil
policies of several continental nations.
that the United States must have re-
course to diiferential tariffs II Amerl-
can trade is to hold it's own in the
great commercial war among nations,
the signs of which are beginning 10
show, according to Mr.. Revell, on
every hand Mr.. Revell said
TT is superfiuous to repeat that the
war of the future will be a commercial
war AT the same time, judging from
the apathy displayed in many direc-
tions for preparation, one would not
think the gravity of the situation were
generally appreciated.
Let me bring the question home at
once and say that the United States
does not seem to be fully prepared to
mold it's own in the fight for it's just
and reasonable proportion OF the
worlds trade. In the first place, we
have to bear in mind in preparing Tor
commercial war many of the same
principles that nations observe IN
war with men and guns.
America Not Prepared.
Eve are bound to have enemies and
we are bound to cultivate other nations
as allies, Those nations that buy as
little as possible from America when
we can supply them as cheaply as other
nations and that subject our manufac-
turers and exporters to unfavorable
conditions, are, of course, our trade
enemies. On the other hand. those ma
lions that buy literally from us and
give our merchants fair, equitable
treatment, are our friends.
These same conditions are con-
| fronted by nearly every other nation
as we'll as our own; but, unlike the
policy of the United States at present.
some other nations including our most
formidable rivals, have astutely mace
better plans for rewarding trade
friendship and retaliating against
unfair treatment.
.sTake, for instance, France and Ger
| MANY Both these countries are at
present able to offer greater incentives
for trade friendships and correspond
inply more severe retaliations against
their trade foes than we. Flexlblllty
and discrimination are the proper
terms to describe their tariff policies,
and these ideally strike the keynote
in the changed conditions that Will
characterize success in the coming
war.
Wants Board of Experts.
"Our system lacks mobility. 1t is
too unwiedly What we want is
board consisting of three or four of
the most able trade experts of our
country which will be able at a mo-
ment's notice to reward a friendly
trade act at the hands of another ma
ton or punish unfriendly trade acts
as soon as they are made. mus I'M
der such plan, we would be able to
apply remedies and preventives ac-
cording to the ever changing condl-
lions that characterize the fluctuations
of the balance of trade. Such a board
should sit either in Washington, Chi
cago or New York, and great care
should be exercised in the selection Of
level headed experts to constitute the
board.
con my return to America I intend
to submit the plan just given you to
the National Business league, and there
is no doubt in my mind but what alert
business men will give it careful con-
sideration. Whatever objections may
be raised to it-and I recognize that
there are many-I can think of none
better, and we assuredly need some
plan Of campaign if we are to hold
our own in the coming struggle"