The sun., 1908-05-20
FOR A TARIFF COMMISSION
MANUFACTURERS ON RECORD
AFTER A HOT DEBATE.
A scmi.Judicsal Board OF Experts Inyesti-
gate the whole luesuOn-Minority Re-
port Favsrs Leaving the Tariff To
CORgress--AH Of Them Protectionlsts.

The National Association Of Manufao-
turers at yesterdays session Of the annual
convention at the Waldorf-Astoria put
itself on record as favoring the creation
of a permanent semi-judicial tariff COM
mission or q board Of experts with view
to a revision Of the tariff. A good sized
rumpus was kicked up over this resolu-
ton. but it finally went through with one
dissenting voice The association, although
recognizing the necessity for an adjustment
OF the tariff schedule. still sticks to the
cardinal principle Of protection. Here
are the resolutions which were adopted:
Resoirsd, First. That we emphasize the
importance Of m aintaining the principle Of
protection Of American interests. Of farm.
factory and labor.
Second, That we recommend to Congress
the creation Of permanent semi-judicial
tariff commission or board Of experts which
shall investigate thoroughly and scientifically
all matters pertaining to the subject to the
end that Congress and the Executive may
be fully informe ed and shall assist the State
Department when desired in the formula
ton and negotiation of treaties of reciprocity.
Third, That we recommend as a basis OF
protective duties upon which the commits
sion shall work the principle OF international
costs, to wit: Protective duties should repre-
sent substantially the permanent direrential
between the cost Of production in foreign
countries and that in the United States, with
an ample mar gin for safety.
The report of the committee on tariff
with the resolutions was read by H. f.
Miles Of Racine, Wis. E. H. Dean Of In
dianapolis. Ind, announced a moment
later that he had a minority report to pre-
sent. Mr.. Dean declared that the tariff
question couldn't be taken out Of politics
and that he didn't believe in the associa-
ton entering politics. He added that the
attempt which had been made by members
Of the association to browbeat Congress
on this tariff question had been "tactless
and indefensible."
1T is," said ne. doing a great damage
to the association and should not be pushed.
think that the great majority of the men,
bers of this association are opposed to
tariff revision. What there must be is
general reduction in American wages
E. P. Robinson of Boston jumped up
with motion that the minority report be
substituted for the majority, and somebody
else suggested that both reports be re-
ceived.
HTo revise the whole tariff at this time
would be crime, said Thomas sP. Egan Of
Cincinnati. Then up jumped Howard Gil
lespie Of Pittsburg.
He also dssented from the attitude of the
associations committee. He believed the
tariff propaganda as conducted was detri-
mental to the interests of the association
and that II was foolhardy to antagonize
members Of Congress on this question when
their support and efforts were so necessary
in the more important fight that the asso-
ciation must wage against the Gompers
programme. He was emphatically against
asking for any permanent tariff commits
sion.
@. F. Du Brul OF Cincinnati thought that
II the association stood for anything it
stood for a square deal. Then why should
it hesitate to give square deal on the
tariff? He didn't see how any legitimate
interests would suffer through the publicity
of tariff commission, but he did see that
the crooks couldn't stand the light"
I'm a protectionist," said he, but if
had to keep my protection under cover |
would feel that had debased my manhood.
We don't want that kind of protection any
more than we want the right to go out and
slug and sandbag labor union agitator.
the manufacturers have been maligned
enough already. The trouble ID that the
crooks who are enjoying rights to which
they are not entitled have raised the cry:
oh, we must all stand together, and the
real facts are that they are afraid to stand
the light"
George j. Seabury thought the associa-
ton was getting the reputation of being a
lot Of free traders and he wouldn't stand
for it, He wanted it put down in black
although he thought there ought to be some
sort of tariff censor.
All of this led Mr.. Miles, the chairman Of
the committee. to say that in their efforts
in Washington the committee had merely
been carrying out the ideas which had been
hxyf ha ,hnr~ in
They had been telling little of the truth
about the tariff and apparently some mem
bers Of the association were beginning to
complain already. He said that under the
terms of the resolution the association ex-
pressed no preference as between a COM
mission and committee of experts. They
left it altogether to Congress TO decide
which was the better.
Finally few of the amendments that
had been introduced were withdrawn
and the resolution went through. with Mr..
Dean voting against 1T.
Judge William II. Speer OF New Jersey
had some pointed remarks to make on the
Roosevelt-Gompers legislative programme.
"The American laborer,' said Speer. -is
patriot, not buccaneer. He desires
an opportunity to elevate, not brutallize
himself. To live. Gompers needs war.
To live the laborer needs work. and the
question, it seems to me, is. How long are
the American laborers going to permit
the tompefS necessity 10 stanC In the way
OF their progress?'
Judge Speer called the associations g
attention to what President Roosevelt
calls Aclass consciousness.
sThe President" said the speaker says
that efforts to stop legislation by organ
izations such as this are creating class
consciousness. 1t is a mistaken view
Only two classes can be created by such
eforts-one that loves righteousness and
the other that loves unrighteousness One
stands for crime and the other for disorder.
From the beginning of time these classes
have existed and will exist. In Washington
the gage has been thrown down, and Il is
going to be fight in earnest unless you
run away The trophy is the government
Of this country on righteous lines"
Judge Speer characterized the anti
injunction bills before Congress which
provide for hearing in the injunction
proceedings before the writ may become
operative as "too vicious to need analyza-
ton
"Any thinking man." said Judge Speer,
knows II his business is being boycotted
that it ia necessary TO have preventive
Justice acting and acting at once. Sup
pose the man who is suffering gives notice
that he is going to apply for an Injunction
IN Ave days. What would happen? Why,
those five days would be turned into satur-
MALTA Of violence
There are other bills, like the Payne bill,
which, according to Judge Speer, look
harmless enough Aa n nattar NJ fa nj