The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-22

) Extent One of the States Most Vai-
Il liable Assets-Hon. john S. Hen.
! derson the Tariff Issue,
r With Particular Regard to Lumber.
ITO the Editor Charlotte Observer:
The large determining factor II the
: making Of a tariff bill seem; to be
! local ~self-interest. The representa-
fives of each section and Of each
Estate, trade. advantages North Caro-
Iina's Senators and. Representatives
seem to think that it is e~xpedient TO
have a protective tariff on lumber
THE State is flooded with pamphlets
all arguing that local Self-interes de-
mands North Cardinals approval of
this legislation.
None has argued that protection on
Number is best for all the people OF
the whole country. Does political
reconomy-which is broad common
,sense-show hat it is a good policy
for North Carolina even from the
standpoint of local Seif-intereSt?
This is an argument by a North Caro-
Iinian from the sole standpoint of
North Carolina ~self-interest.
The stock tariff phases are: Free
trade, tariff for revenue only, protec-
tive tariff.
is tha the foreign competitor enters
dhe United States without ever a y
ing tariff to the government. It al
lows the foreign manufacturer what
ever natural advantages his goods
and methods Of manufacture may
give him.
The practical effect of tariff for
revenue only is that the foreign. man
q ufactured article completes with the
homemade article under the handi-
of PAYING tariff to thc govern
anent+ The in the United
States, in paying this difference in
.ycost. pays astax-to the government
qon the imported article; to the Ameri-
can manufactures +. on the home
made article. :,
The practical effect of a protective
tariff is that the tax is SO high and
the handicap to the/foreign manufac-
turer SO great, that the foreign arti-
qcles does not enter the country The
tariff thus brings no revenue. The
consumer uses the homemade pro-
duct entirely. Il The consumer pays
the duty on the article to the Ameri-
scan manufacturers taxed for the
benefit of a class (the American man
ufacturer) and not for the support of
the government.
Protection by closing the door to
the foreign article enfOrcaS the use
of the domestic article. If ehis article
is q p~erishabIe natural pro-
tection aid in its destruction
: Following these general truths. it
is necessary to consider that timber
Hand is one OF North Carol,na's ma
tural Inseparably connected
with the forests Climber lands are
fertile soil in valleys along streams.
n water powers.
The richest farm lands in North
Carolina are. the lands lying along
her streams. These lands. are owned
by farmers, the products Of whose
labor are sold finally to all the people
af the State. For the good of the
farmers and OF the of the
fruits Of their labor. or the good of
all the people, these rich bottom
lands should be i~ntelligently con-
served
The industrial success Of North
Carolina depends in a great measure
upon the successful development of
her water powers. There is on the
North Carolina rivers available water
power greatly IN excess of the present
demand for power by all Of her man
ufacturers. Her manufacturers buy
this power at advantageous rates
rather than buy coal from the out
: paid the power goes in a
great measure into the State. The
money paid for coal goes outside the
State to enrich another State. The
employees Of the power the
manufacturers buying the power,
their employees, the consumer of the
manufactured articles - principally
cotton goods-are all benefited by the
.cheaper water power. For the best
interest Of all the people, the water
power of the State should be intelli-
gently conserved.
protection on lumber drives away
iorelgn competition. Protection necas-
.sitates the use Of the domestic arti-
Gle. Protection means deforestation
oI TIMBER lands. Deforestation
means washing away the humus OF
Ire,soI. causing extremes of flood and
ruin fat Extremes Of flood mean
ST. TIE rich bottom nds-wash-
~ away Of soil and deposition of