The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-08-06
MAKING A TARIFF LAW.
ON the st. Johns Republican:

| FROM Cne oI. JOnHS hepuDllCdn.
This is a billion dollar country-it
takes a vast amount of money to pay
running expenses, and any discussion
of tariff or revenue measures that
fails to take account of that fact is
one-sided and unworthy the consider
alton of thoughtful men. There. Is a
long-eared animal, possessing four
legs and powerful voice, but he
isn't at all dangerous at the end sup
posed to contain brains. He has many
two-legged prototypes who spend their
time in senseless braying about things
as they are, but have no rational sug-
gestions to make that will better con-
ditions, A biatherskite living in an ad-
joining county had himself interview
ed the other day, announcing that
Mr.. Fordney was against the farmer.
He did not say how, but the inference
was that the congressman in standing
squarely for protection was against
the farmer. Farm products enjoy a
very high rate of protection-wheat,
beans, wool, potatoes, hay, livestock,
sugar beets, barley, eggs, etc., are all
on the protected list, duties ranging
from $50 to 609o. Has any one ever
heard Mr.. Fordney advocate reducing
these duties? No. Lumber was pro-
tected to the extent Of about 1870 on
the selling price last year, while the
whole list of protected articles aver
aged about 1870.
The making of tariff Law requires
a thorough knowledge of all schedules,
and their relationship to the whole
In,
we'll informed on the tariff as Con-
gresham Fordney. Further, he has
the courage of his convictions, and
bases his position on sound reasoning
and a thorough knowledge of indus
trial conditions. The tariff on tim
plate beat Mckinley for reelection,
but it developed a great industry, re-
duced the price of tin-plate to Ameri-
can consumers and made Mckinley
president.
1t would be a comparatively easy
job to frame a tariff bin that would
suit a particular locality-protect ev-
erything they have to sell, and admit
free everything they have to buy. But
all localities must be considered; the
revenue features must be considered,
the producer of the raw material, the
laborer and the manufacturer Presi-
dent Taft announced Thursday that
he had been misquoted as favoring
free raw materials all along the line"
Raw materials are generally consider
ed to mean materials ready to be
worked up in factory; but wool,
which is a raw material to the loom,
is finished product to the farmer
who sat up winter nights to nurse
early lambs and who finally brought
a clip of wool to market. It is so
with any product of the forest or field
Tariff laws, revenue laws, taxation of
any sort constitute the greatest prob
lem of government and cannot be
lightly disposed of with a bray or a
kick. 1t takes a broad-gauged states
man, and Joseph W. Fordney is now
recognized as one of the biggest and
most Influential members of congress,
and rightly So
Those republicans who are eternally
opposing protective tariff ought to
get into the democratic party where
they belong. Every experiment to-
ward free trade and a revenue tariff
has proved disasterous. It is unrepub-
licanA Clinton county farmers can
well remember the effects of free
wool under the Wilson bill. Wool
sold in St. Johns for 9 to IL cents;
sheep sold from 75c to $3.50. For the |
last few years under the Dingley bill |
the wealth of the farmers of this coun- |
ty has increased by leaps and bounds. |
And very few Of the agricultural |
schedules will be disturbed in the re-
vision Of the tariff thanks to such
zen as Congressman Fordney. The
people Of the Eighth District are es-
Decially fortunate in representative |
who is honest, conscientious, fearless
and capable.