Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1908-05-06
A Vital Business Question.

All who are engaged in active
affairs, and follow their conditions
intelligently, will closely observe
the tariff planks in the national
platforms. What the Republicans
will do is in no material doubt.
They will support, squarely, firm
ly and absolutely, the policy OF
protecting American wages and
industries. Such revision will be
recommended as may be consider
ed necessary at this time, but the
changes will be along protective
lines. AS for the Denver tariff
plank. it will be against any and
all forms Of protection, though
multiplying words to say so. The
Washington Star says: 'Mr. Bry-
an is at heart Cobdenite and so
is Judge Gray. In fact, the trail
of Cobdenism is over the great
majority of the men now alive who
assisted Mr.. Cleveland to office in
March, 1893" The only conspic-
uous mark made in Congress by
MIR. Bryan during his service in
the House was an elaborate speech
against protective tariff, or the
protective policy in anything. He
advocated free trade, and has never
said that be has modified his views
in any particular. There would
be no protection in tariff if he
had the power or influence to strike
it out.
The recent defeat of Winston
Churchill for Parliment in Man
chester, the home of Cobdenism,
shows how strongly the English
people are swinging back toward
protection. Throughout the most
of its long history England was
protective. 1t has given a large
degree of free trade long trial,
with unsatisfactory results to it,
self. It's Industries are subjected
to IN increasingly serious coupe
ti;ion by protective countries, es,
peclaily Germany, whose rise in
al! forms Of production is Que OF
the remarkable developments Of
of the time. England is protective
in some things and, as far as these
90, Is able to maintain its position.
Its merchant marine Is nationally
fostered. Heavy subsidies, or
what amounts to the same thing,
made possible the building of the
largest and swiftest ocean liners.
The Manchester election is a note
of warning that British legislator;
can not misunderstood. Holding
the free-trade bag has become un
popular with British manufactur
ers, merchants and v:orkmen. Bn1
the Bryan party sticks to it that
the unprohtable thing, a preten
tious fallacy from the first, sinai
he transferred to the United States.
The people of this country have no
use for the palpable failure.
Senator kuox puts the case wei
when he says that the purpose OF ,
re-examination Of tariff schedules
will he to adjust them TO presen
circumstances, if decided u be
''either TOO high to be just or to,
low to encourage industry" Blu
this work, as he, observes, shouis
be done by men wise enough t
distinguish between revision an:
ruin, looking to an encouragin.
employment of capital, liberia
compensation for labor, furihe
diversltication of industries, am
renunerative prices for agricuI
cultural and other bone products
Protection is an element In the IN
iereSts and opportunities Of ever
American citizen. No matter wha
issues may present themselves !
the campaign, u protective ,aTi
must be one Of the Fundamental:
} The Bryan party will attack il
, perhaps with cautions phrases, bu
, the anlnus Is l'!u,n. Ii is enoug
TO kBnw that the Democratic .}art