Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-01

UndeveIoped In Our Mountains and
Valleys if il Were Not For Pro-
tective Tariff.
Washington, d. C., April 2S.-Sen.
ator Scott, Of West Virginia, one OF
the old-tisne, rock-ribbed protection
lists of the country, in speaking on the
tariff bill in the Senate, declared that
he did so from the standpoint Of its
effect on the South in general and on
West Virginia in particular. Mr..
Scott submitted an interesting series
OF statistics to show the progress tnat
had been made by West Virginia and
the South along many lines OF indus
try and declared that his own belief
was that if 1t had not been for the
benefits of the protective tariff system
his state would today be wilderness
instead of one of the most thriving in
dustrial centers of the country.
Mr.. Scott insisted that when Con
gress is through with the enactment
of new tariff law we will not have
nearly so good bill, in my Judge
ment, as the present Dingley law"
He said that his section of the coun-
try has profted from the tariff in the
past and will profit more in the fu-
ture.
New England, for instance. profit
ed in the past" said Mr.. Scott Now
she is ready for the downward revis-
ion Of the tariff and for free coal if
she can get it. But the Southland
sees ahead OF her nothing but pros
perity under protective tariff. She
has developed more readily in manu-
features than any other portion OF
our country"
Webster, he said, was a free-trader
until conditions changed IN Massa-
chusetts AS it became evident that
that state was to become a manufac.
turing state, he became a strong pro
tectionist. On the other hand, Cal
houn. who believed that the South
was to be manufacturing part of the
country, was strong protectionist,
but when he found the South Rad
turned to agriculture and New Eng
land to manufacture, he also changed
his position and became a free-trader.
This, suggested Mr.. Scott, explains
the change OF front Oh the part of
Southern statesmen in respect to the
tariff. The 5000 000 acres of West
Virginia coal land, he said can sup
ply the markets of the United States
for 200 years with bituminous coal at
the present rate of production He
pointed out the richness of his state
in oil, natural gas. sandstone, potter's
and fire-clay, and that West Virginia
has the largest pottery factory in the
world Mr.. Scott referred also to
West Viginia's valuable iron ore, for
ests and many other sources OF natur-
al wealth
q believe, and the great majority
Of the people of West Virginia be-
lieve, that the raw material and cheap
fuel would still be lying undeveloped
in our mountains and valleys. had it
not been for a protective tariff said
Mr. Scott.
In addition" he said, ITO the pro-
posed change in tariff rates. West
Virginia is threatened with a traffic
arrangement, almost shutting her out
of the market. Lying almost half way
between the lakes and the seaboard,
Ohio and Illinois on the north. and
Iappc,rIvap;a IN The Eos4 nan rAoob
either of these shipping points wiIA
a shorter haul than can West Vir-
ginia. When the railroad rate bill
was before Congress. l suggested that
it was only a question of time if the
policy being inaugurated We're fol-
lowed, until a fixed charge per ton
per mile would be the established rate
in this country. ] fear that we are
rapidly approaching this condition,
So with freight discrimination and
tariff discrimination, can it be won
dered that my state is up in arms,
and that am besieged by letters and
tele grams begging for relief?'
Mr.. Scott insisted that sixty-seven
cents ton on eoal-provided by the
Payne bill--was small duty But,
in making the ton, long ton and in
providing for countervailing duty,
a great injustice has been done to
that industry.
Il am utterly and absolutely op-
posed to countervailing duty"
said Mr.. Scott Il think an American
Congress is able 10 pass an American
law TO govern an American industry.
Further than that the countervailing
or reciprocal clause is delusion and
a snare 1t is in the interest OF a few
coal operators located near the Cana
dian border and in the interest Of New
England. The remainder of the en-
tire country would suffer and very
grievously" Mr.. Scott said that dur
ing the late coal famine, the Canadian
officials were ordered to save their
coal for their own people, and not to