The Cairo bulletin., 1909-02-17
OF THE TARIFF COMMISSION
CONVENTION HOLDING IN IN.
DiANAPOLiS.
SOUTH FOR PROTECTION
Says Congressman RansdeIl--Tariff
Should Cease to be Football
For Politicians Says
VanCleave.

opposing political parties and whose
views on the construction of the tariff
4 differed as widely as the tenets of
sheir parties. sat side beside as dele
gates and joined in the tumultous ap-
lplause today as speaker after speaker
in the first National Tariff Commits
sion Convention vigorously de-
nounced the present tariff and the
method of its construction That the
present present tariff system has
been outgrown and that the United
States fingers decades behind the sci
entific methods of European countries
was repeated almost as often as n
new speaker addressed the delegates.
That the prompt establishment of
non-p partisan tariff committee was tie
only remedy for present conditions
was repeated as often.
On the nature of the commission:
| whether it should be permanent bu-
reau mad an adjunct TO the depart-
ment of commerce and labor; an an
pointiye commission, one composed
Of experts only or a body of business
men empowered to engage experts,
the speakers differed as apparntly as
did the delegates, but of the urgent
need for it there seems nc dispute
J. w VanCleave, of St. Louis, pres
dent ofthe National Association of
Manufacturers. who was made per-
manent chairman, aroused enthusi.
asm by asserting that the tariff must
be taken out. OF partisan politics AMI
Congressman Fowler of New Jersey,
who Is sponsor for the Beveridge com.
mission bill now before congress,
caused a demonstration when he as
serted that the tariff must cease to
be the football OF the political parties.
Former Governor Guild, of Massa-
chusetts. Senator Brown, of Nebras-
ka, and Congressman Ransdell. OF
Louisiana, gave varying view points
of their section. That there was lit
tie conflict save on minor points was
indicated by their speeches. Guild
spoke his thought plainly concerning
the combination of the Chicago pack
ers, the duty on hides, and the alleged
yictimizing of the American farmer
Senator Brown did not except him
self when speaking of the mystiica
ton of the average congressman OH
the subject Of the tariff, and Henry
r. Towne questioned vigorously the
ability of the members of the ways
and means committee to deal intelli-
gibly with the same subject II. L.
Miles, as a manufacturer, coincided
with Townes.
Ransdel's Address.
That the south is rapidly changing
its ideas on the tariff question favor
ing protection instead of free trade,
was the declaration made by Repre-
sentative Joseph f. Ransdell of Louis
lana. Discussing the Southern farm
ers interest in a traiff commission.
hr. Ranslell urged the convention d.
secure non-partlsan business com-
mission which will help to remove
the tariff problem from party poll
tics.
Being n citizen Of Indianapolis"
said Mr. Ransdell. which has 50
many protected industries, sugar.
rice. lumber. etc. | cannot help lean |
ing somewhat to that side. and i'm ny
opinion the whole south is rapidly |
changing its ideas on this subject |
l.. nil
much about political economy. but
do know that when We purchase a ton |
of steel rails from Great Britain for |
one hundred dollars we get the rails |
and Great Britain gets the money
and when we poduce the rails from
our own mines in our own mills We
have both the money and the rails |
Now. surely. the latter condition IS
much better than the former. AMI It |
seems right and proper to assist In |
procuring and maintaining It by wise
tariff enactments whenever possible"
Reform Needed.
Mr.. RansdeH declared that great /
abuses have crept into the tariff AMI |
that many changes in the tariff Law
are necessary. 1T is most unforia-
nate" he declared, that this great
question which concerns so vitallv |
the welfare OF our nation should evcr /
have been a partisan one and for pol
icies and schedules should have been
adopted in many eases for political
effect rather than for economic reas-
ems.
Nj. RanssieT discussed the tariff
from a revenue point of view and de-
e'ared that all political parties have