Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-11-27

| y
past week They are John d. Rookie
Teller and Andrew Carnegie. The
former as a witness before inyestiga-
tors OF the Standard Oil Company and
the other as the arthor of the article in
the Century magazine on the subject
of tariff reform and in which he makes
some startling statement in FAVOR oil
the democratic position on the tariff.
j Mr.. Carnegie's article is entitled
"My Experience With and Views
i Upon the Tariff" He first reviews the
tariff movements, down to the present
Dingley law, giving number Of an
ecdotes, in which he figured with the
prominent tariff leaders of the various
movements. He adds:
"Much water has run under the
bridges since then. Many changes
have occurred, and hence many
CHI anges can be judiciously made in the
tariff. There is no doubt about this;
but on the other hand, i have been
| led to conclusions that conditions have
changed so greatly in the interval that
the tariff should now be viewed from
new standpoint. The writer assumes
that decided majority of our voters
are agreed.
! .'First-T-at it is advisable for new
countries to encourage business by
tariff duty, when necessary TO devel-
op new industries.
"Second-That after full and ex-
haustive trials, if success be not final
Iy attained, such protection should
&C ase, except as noted hereunder.
"rhird-That should the experiment
succeed, protection becomes 1nDeces-
saIy and should steadily but gradual
| ly be abolished, provided that the
home supply of any article absolutely
necessary for the national safety shall
not thereby be endangered. y
Further on Mr.. Carnegie says:
"We have already become by far the
greatest of all manufacturing nations.
! Our infant industries of the past
have reached maturity, and speaking
generally, are now quite able to pro-
tect themsell es. The pulling infant IN
the nurses arms that congress in 1871
nursed so tenderly will appear next
year before its guardian as the stall
wart child, who has conquered in
many TELLS, thus proving himself
worthy of the protection bestowed
rpon him in his youth and fully vim
dica:ing the protective policy approx
ed.
"NV bile the tariff as whole, even
today has ceased to be primarily ben e.
ficiai as a measure Of protection, it has
becolue of vast Importance from the
stan,i point of revenue and it is to this
festuee that / bespeak the special at
tention of readers of all parties for du-
ties upon imports, not for protection,
but for needed revenue, should not be-
come party question. Reasonable
men of all parties may be expected to
approve this plan of obtaining reve-
nue..
"The writer has co-operatei in max
| ing several reductions as steel manu-
facturers became able to bear reduc-
tons. Today they needed no protec-
ton, unless perhaps in some new
specialities unknown to the writer, be-
cause steel is now produced cheaper
here than anywhere else, notwlth-
standing the higher wages paid per
man. Not ton of steel is produced in
the world at as small an outlay for la
Dor as in or country. Our coal, coke
and iron ores are much cheaper be-
cause more easily obtained, and our
output per man is so much greater,
owing chiefly to the large standardized
orders obtainable only upon our con-
tinent; the specialized rolling mills;
machinery kept weeks upon uniform
shapes without change Of rolls and
several other advantages.
"The day has passed when any for
eign country can seriously affect our
steel manufacturers, tariff or no tariff.
The Republic has become the home oft
steel and this is the age of steel. |
may probably be found that there ex-
lists the small manufactures of some
speciality in steel which will need a
measure of pcoteetion. The writer
hopes, if such there he, the committee
will give patient attention to such
cases. 1t is better to err on the side of
lgiving these too IA uch, rather than too
little support. Every enter prlsa of this
| III oh hn itar