Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-27
CONTINUED from yesterday

"i III ih lhe following clause in
our platform:
Gradual reductions should be
made in such other schedules no
may be necessary to restore the tar
IN To revenue basis"
HI regards this threatened de-
parture from the protective system
as fatal. We are here brought face
to face with the theoretical diff
ference between the positions of the
two parties on the subject of tariff.
The Democratic party regards a tar
in law as revenue law. the pro-
lection 1t gives being incidental.
the Republican party regards a tar
In law as framed primarily for pro-
lection. the revenue being inciden-
tai. As the effect OF a given rate
on particular article is the same
whether levied Tor the purpose OF
revenue or for the purpose of protec
ton. ii may be well to define the
difference between revenue tar,ff
ana protective tariff. A revenue
tariff is so framed as to collect a
revenue and you stop when you get
enough; protective tariff may be
so framed as to collect but little
revenue, and yet lay a heavy burden
upon the people-and you never
know when TO stop. To illustrate;
tariff may be made so high as to
absolutely prohibit importation. If.
in such a cas-. the manufacturers
yield TO the temptation mentioned
by Mr.. Taft and combine to take
advantage of the duty. the con
sumers will be heavily taxed. ana
yet none of the money will reach
the treasury.
Let us suppose another case. II
we import one-tenth OF certain
kind of merchandise and produce at
home nine-tenths, and the imported
and domestic articles sell at the
same price. then the treasury re-
ceives duty on the foreign article
and the manufacturers collect nine
times as much on the domestic ar
ticle as the treasury collects on tho
one-tenth imported. 1t becomes
matter OF great importance, there
fore, to the people at large, wheth-
er the tariff is intended to raise
revenue or is framed in the interes'
of the manufacturers and for the
purpose of protection. No one would
think of employing in city,
country or a. state, tax system un-
der which the bulk of the tax would
go to the collectors, and yet the Re
publican leaders demand the con
tinuance OF system under which
the protected interests receive far
more than half the money collected
from the people through the opera
tion of a high tariff
AS a tariff law interferes with
the natural laws of trade, one who
proposes a protective tariff. takes
upon himself the burden of proof
to show, first, that a protective tar
in is right in principle; second that
it Is wise as a public policy, and
third. that it is necessary. And, yet,
what protectionist attempts to pre-
sent an argument in support Of any
OUt VI tHtSc DIOpOslIiOho8
Is 1t right to tax all of the people
for the benefit OF a few? Where
community has attempted to col
lect taxes for the aid of an indus
try. even when the industry was to
be located in the community the
highest court in the land declares
such a tax to be larceny in the
form of law If city government
cannot rightfully tax all the people
to bring an industry into the city.
where such benefits as are conferred
are more easily seen and NOR
universally enjoyed who will say
that a farmer in the Missouri Val
ley can be rightfully taxed to sup
port an industry in a distant state
AS matter of public policy. Is
IL wise that the industries that do
pay should be compelled to carry
upon their backs industries which.
according to the arguments made
by their representatives. could not
live without aid? Have we not seen
this system introducing corruption
business upon an substantial ba-
sis? Having secured tariff from
one party, the beneficiaries loudly
declare that the country Will be
ruined IL any other party obtains
control OF the government. Manu-
facturers have intimidated their
employees and threatened them with
a reduction in wages unless a party
favorable to the system was con
tinued In power. This is an old &c
vice. and there are indications that
II Is being resorted to again the
New York Leather Betting Como
pany has sent out a number OF let
tors to companies with which u mas
business dealings, asking them TO
most in their factories a notice say
ing:
believing that the election OF
ToU and sherman means safe
o,d conservative administration