Gainesville daily sun., 1909-08-02
WHAT HIGH TARIFF CANNOT 90.

platform, however extreme, has ever
dared To advocate absolute exclusion.
High protection. regarded in its best
aspect. comedies privilege TO a more
or less nmited class in return for spe
cial service from those protected.
High protection can cOncede the privi
lege. One OF the thiAgs IL cannot do
Is to exact the compensation. II is
admitted that by dint Of figuring in
numerous profits and costs. favored
manufacturers have secured more pro
lection than they deserve. Can II al
ways be SHOWN that they have return
ed their fair contribution to general
prosperity, Of which high wages would
only form a part. some adequate price
for the advantages they enjoy?
II Is this question which arouses a
sense OF injustice In the consuming
public where Il is not directly interest.
ed In the favored manufacture. To
these, high protection becomes an In
strument OF oppression. and 1t is In
cumbent upon its beneficiaries TO show
this section OF the public what they
get In return. II the class made up
largely Of the liberal professions but
including clerical work of all kinds,
removed a step from the mere day
worker, is not benefited In fees and
salaries. the protected classes fail 20
make out their case.
II Is clear also that high tariff. while
it certainly stimulates high prices and.
to a less extent. high wages. cannot
improve the quality OF the output Its
tendency. with honorable exceptions,
is to deteriorate the quality. IL the
manufacturer Of an article in which he
knows he has artificial monopoly has
no competition to face, he will ad-
vance the price Of that commodity un-
til the consumer Is forced TO resort
TO substitutes. Failing to make profit
on a future advance In price. the man.
Hfacturer will strive for his profit In
the other direction by gradually re-
ducing the quality of what he supplies.
High tarlff cannot protect the con-
sumer from this, and the result is
that he Is coerced into a sacrifice for
which again Il is difficult to show that
he receives an adequate return. espe-
cially In the case OF the salaried or
professional classes already alluded TO.
Let II be understood that a sharp
difference Is drawn here between high
protection as general practice and
growth OF young industries in a new
country. Nigh protection can help the
young industries for a time. but only
such industries as must ultimately be-.
come strong enough to stand ON their
own feet. II cannot TO any popular
advantage keep alive an industry
which after being established would
die II high protection were removed.
In such an industry both capital and
labor are being misapplied II the
capitalist knew his proper function he
would realize the wisdom of accepting
his failure gracefully: while the labor
which 10 maintained In such employ.
ment should be a source OF profit TO
a community elsewhere instead Of a
burden. In the respect Of excessive
cost for inefficient service.
IL is doubtful IL high tariff can hold
a permanent foreign market, although
unquestionably Il can stimulate ex.
ports at a time OF restricted home con.
sumption. Selling to the foreigner at
only q fraction OF the price charged
at home. however. is dangerous for
the advocates OF unlimited protection,
and for this reason they restrict them.
selves as far as possible TO the home
market. Where other conditions are
equal they cannot long compete in
the worlds market, as the disappear
ance from the seas of our mercan.
tile marine shows. There the highest
OF high protection has failed to put us
in a position to compete with our
neighbors. and authorities of great
weight seriously doubt whether ship
subsidies would help the matter.
This country could not now adopt
a free trade policy without the most
tremendous dislocation to its business.
But there are many degrees between
that and giving every greedy interest