The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-21

Dusnel less on the Canadian side than
on this side. In 1904, it was % cents
| less; in 1905 and 1906 it was 6 cents
less. His sturdy and unyielding in
sistence that the agricultural interests
must be saved from the cheap land
and cheap labor of Canada convinced
the senate. The senator's attitude re-
garding the duty on farm products is
well known to every farmer in the
state. He has championed their cause
at all times and their products are
amply protected.
Tariff Commission
Senator McCumber favored the APP
pointment Of a commission of experts
who should investigate and report the
facts as to the cost of production at
home and abroad. He was opposed to
delegating such a commission the right
TO frame legislation, or to advise con-
gress as to the character of legisla-
ton it should enact. In other words,
he maintained that the commission, if
created, should be placed within con-
stitutional bounds, and that is a sound
contention.
His guiding star throughout the BIT
ter struggle which took place in the
United States senate over tariff revis-
ion was the best interests of the Amer
lean people. The record on that prop
position, is an open book and complete
ly answers the accusations Of his crit
les. He exercised a clear and indie
pendent judgment. When he believed
the downward revisionists right he
voted with them. When he thought
the high protectionists right, he voted
with them.
What did Senator McCumber accom-
pitch during the special session for
the people of North Dakota? This:
A reduction of all duty on everything
the farmer buys; adequate protection
on everything he produces. Or as a
senator APPLY said 'The farmer buys
everything from tack hammer to a
threshing machine cheaper, and sells
his products higher because of the pro-
lection given to him by this bill"
He stood for free lumber to build
the farmers home, free coal with which
to heat that home, free oil to light it,
free fence posts, free wire nails with
which to fasten the wire.
He has been severely criticised for
voting for the Payne tariff bill as it
finally emerged from conference. He
so voted deliberately and after a care
full study of all questions involved.
He knew full well that the bill was not
perfect but he also knew that it was
the best that could be passed at that
time. In voting for that bill he kept
! in mind, and in judging that action on
| his part the people must remember,
that the republican party did not prom
Use free trade tariff, not a downward
! revision, but revision in which should
be recognized the principle OF protec-
tion with the minimum and maximum
rates to preserve without excessive
duties that security against foreign
competition to which American manu-
lecturers are entitled, and also to
maintain the high standard of living
of the wage earners of this country
who are the most direct beneficiaries
of the protective system. Senator Nc
Cumber maintained that the question
OF wages is one between prosperity and
stagnation. A tariff that does not af-
ford sufficient protection gives us stag
nation, while an adequate protection
gives US a reasonable degree of pros
perity
In carrying out that pledge Of the
platform the sixty first session of con-
gress enacted a tariff in which there
VI ere 654 decreases from the Dingley
Jaw, 220 increases end 1850 items Of
the dutiable list unchanged. The ar
ticles on which duties were decreased
represented $4,000, 100000 worth of
consumption, while those increased had
a consumption value of less than
81 90, 100000. The increases were on
luxuries and the decreases on neces-
sites, and in the first month of the
law more than 81 per cent of all i'm
portations were free of duty, the larg-
est percentage of free importations we
have ever had under any tariff, not
even excepting the Walker tariff of
1S46, which was called free trade tar
iff. The increase of revenues has been
nearly $4,000, 900 in six months, MAX
ing the Payne law the best revenue
producer we have ever had, and that
is prime necessity in our increased
expenditures for the greater develop
menr of the country.
The tariff law, however, short of his
ideal 1t may be, is a republican meas
ure and has the approval of the pres
ident and the party's great legislators,
Senator McCumber supported 1t as
such.