Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-20


both announced that the senate should,
In its consideration Of the tariff bill.
hispense with efforts for oratory and
deal only with logic and practical Ell
fects.
They are emphatically correct
The changes that 1t Is desired to
make in the tariff matters are not CT
sufficient Importance to stop the bust
ness Of the country for year on &C
count Of the uncertainty of what may
be. done
1t is evident that the whole bust
ness fabric of the country does not
have unlimited faith in the ability OF
congress to decide this tariff matter
in a way that will be for the most
general good-this is always the case
In the consideration of any business
proposition.
It is fact. that the prosperity CT
this country depends upon the policy
of the political party in power. 1t IS
also a fact that the country has had
prosperity when 1t has had protec-
tive policy in power and it is just as
much a fact that it has had hard
times under any other kind of pol
{ icy. So 1t seems to us that 1t is not
necessary, in view of the information
furnished by the workings of the pres
emit schedules, to put in the whole
summer hindering business and bus1-
ness interests, by squabbling around in
this tariff debate. Business judgment
Is what should govern now more than
personal debate.
Business progress should not be
STONED or hindered, but should be al
lowed to continue. The country mas
enioyed for the last dozen years IN
nneuualled period of prosperity. But
In that time there has developed GER
tain brand of oratory that has come
nretty near getting the upper hand OF
the country 1t has had some narrow
escapes. 1t has in the main, escaped
nationally, but the great following
that some of those who advocated var
ious theories had, has had its erect on
the people and officials. 1t is strange
thing that in good times there is IL
sort of popularity that attaches to
speech against almost anything that
is a noticeable success. The same Ut
terances would attract little attention
in time of real panic. In times OF
adversely we have to depend on the
very successes that are criticised
when they are working over time.
The present tariff bill has governed
during the most prosperous time the
country has ever enjoyed. Under this
prosperity the wage Garner, the farm
Or and the business man have pros
nered. Surely this bill does not need
radical changes and the changes that
are made should be only those that
are dictated by logic and practical
good sense.
in fixing tariff schedules it is the
Judgment of the succersful business
man that is needed, not the oratory OF
the Chautauqua lecturers. The sene-
tors should bear in mind that they
are now dealing with pig iron and not
poetry. They are working with a
measure that has to do with the pros
perity of the country and the success
full accomplishment of this measure
must come from the practical applica-
ton of business judgment. II some
of the schedules are too low, then
they should be raised; if some are too
high, then they should be lowered and
it should be done before business is
stopped by the uncertainty of deciding
which way we are to go.
However, it must be remembered
that there is a vast difference be-
tween protective tariff and the COM
petitive tariff. If the competitive tar
iff allows foreign goods to be shipped
into this country, then those goods
that are shipped in must necessarily
interfere with the sale of those that
are made in this country. That Is the
point that must be taken into consid-
Grafton. If the factory in this coun-
try cannot sell its goods at profit,
1t cannot employ people to make
them. The man who is out of job
and has no money and no work with
which to get any money, cannot buy
goods even if they are cheap.
The country is anxiously waiting
for congress to adjourn, so that bust
ness can go ahead.
A