Graham guardian., 1909-06-04
JUNE 4, 1909.
"PR0TECTIONIsTs"

There are several things to be
considered by the congressman who
is called upon to vote on the tariff
question. He is to represent his
district, of course, but before a
democrat can justify vote in favor
of protective tariff he must de-
eide, first, that the principle of pro-
lection is right, second, that the
policy of protection is wise, and
third, that the protection asked for
is necessary. If it is not right to
tax one man for the benefit of an
other, then protective tariff can
not be justified, even though the
benefits of the tariff on a particular
schedule might go into a congress-
mans district. If the principle of
protection is wrong, no democratic
congressman can afford to vote for
it. AS rule the industry which
demands protection is owned by a
comparatively few and the protec-
tion given them is not only at the
expense of other districts, but at the
expense of a majority of the people
OF there own district. But, even if
a majority of a mans constituents
would be benefited by tariff law,
that in itself would not justify the
vote if the principle is wrong.
Can democrat defend the policy
OF protection? Sometimes men,
ber of congress deludes himself with
the idea that he can oppose the
principle of protection, and yet Sc
cure for his district a part of the
benefits of protection. A number
OF the congressman have been led
away by the seductive argument,
/ will oppose the bill on its final
passage, but during it's considera-
ton | will get all the tariff | can
for my district" If the policy of
protection is wise one, it ought to
be dealt with upon broader lines,
and the protection ought to be given
where it would do the nation most
good. not where it will help the
congressman who supports it. No
one can logically oppose the prin.
ciple of protection and then claim a
part OF its benefits, for his district,
and the reverse is true, that no one
who is claiming a part of the bene-
fits of protection is likely to make a
strong argument against the pro-
tective principle. The democrat
who tries to get some of the pro.
lection for his district will find that
in proportion as he succeeds he is
likely to make protectionists out of
the persons benefited, and they
will threaten TO defeat the congress-
man and his party unless the pro-
lection is continued. A congress-
man who favors reduction of only
those schedules which do not affect
his district is crippled soldier and
will be found in the ambulance or
hospital whenever the battle for
tariff reform is on.
Even if the principle of protec-
ton were admittedly right and the
policy admittedly wise, no effort is
-sja bJ ths rrot.ctioni,tS 70 ssor
tiI. ne need tbs tariff rates for
which they ask. A large portion of
the value of lumber, for instance,
is in the stumpage, and a reduction
of the tariff would not reduce the
labor cost, but merely the value of
the pine lands. What argument
Tan the owner of timber lands make
in support of law designed to in
crease the value of his land by put
ting tax upon all other kinds of
land-for it must be remembered
that the tax on lumber must be
paid by somebody and the burden
falls upon those who buy lumber. |
Aside from the arguments made
sgthlst the duty On othx rcsssarns