Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-09-28
FLEEC|NGTHEPUbLIC
The Protective TARIFF projects
The Foreigner.
Strong Statement as to Our Tariff
System by Republican Who Does
Not Believe in Protection Which
FavOrS fhe Foreigner at the Ex-
penSe OF Our Own People.

The tariff question has been an i'm
portant question in presidential cam
paigns, but never more important
than this year. Hundreds of letters
have poured into the Democratic Ma
tional Committee headquarters at the
Auditorium Annex showing the fall
licies OF the protective tariff league
Men who have voted the Republican
ticket for many years write that they
favor the election of William Jen-
nings Bryan on account of the tariff
as exploited by the Republican party.
Investigations show that our Ameri-
can machinery and other expectations
can be bought for just half the price
asked in our country, on the Mexican
border.
These astounding revelations have
caused thousands of Republicans to
flock under the banner of Bryanism.
o. B. Steen of Los Angeles, Cal, has
made study of the tariff question as
it is carried on under the Republican
regime.
Mr.. Steen has undisputed proof on
this matter and in speaking of the
tariff question said:
"One phase of the tariff question
that seems of sufficient Importance to
demand publicity in this campaign is
the alleged balance of trade claimed
by the protective tariff league and
officially confirmed by government re-
ports.
When you ask why that balance of
trade was not apparent in the shape
of gold imports from abroad, the ster-
eotyped reply has been that it was
carried as credit balances in Europe
which we could draw against when
needed. Republicans have been pain
fully silent in regard to this mythical
balance, due us since the panic be-
gan. The attention of the public was
first called to this fallacy in June,
1907, when we borrowed some mill
lions of gold from France, practically
hypothecating future exports of Am
erican wheat that had not been har-
vested Since that time we have i'm
ported many millions of gold all Of
which has been borrowed. My inves-
LEGATIONS show that an American
typewriter appears upon our list of
exports at the American price, $105,
and is sold in Mexico for $62.50, the
difference being part of our balance
of trade that does not exist except for
campaign purposes. | am credibly in.
formed, by those in position to
know that the same rule applies in
our exports to other countries. Many
men predict their plans for business
enterprises upon the official state
ments that enormous sums were due
us from foreign nations, and in con.
of the country have suffered. AS Z
Republican I used to believe in pro-
lection, and I may say do yet when
necessary to protect American labor;
but I do not believe in that kind of
protection to American labor that
pays an American woman two cents
for making a shirt and Chinaman
ten cents for washing it. I do not
believe in that kind of protection that
charges an American girl $105 for
typewriter and sells a Mexican banker
one of the same make for 500 1 do
not believe in that kind of protection
buy American wire and nails 40 per
cent cheaper than the American far
mer. living almost within the shadow
of the factory where they are made"