The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-08
THE "wIDDLE Coz RISE"


large part % the nov prevalent opin-
ion, belief and convict ion with regard
to the influence OF the tariff on COM
modify prices il no more than the fruit
OF pOlit ical hubiub. anv money expended
Tor the maint enance Of such an inst ltut ion
will he well and wisely used Much will
be done for the social. political and
economic peace 81 the count ~ IL the tarin
hoard wall show IA il can. that the cost OF
most 81 those commodities for which "a
large part Of the money OF the American
people is paid il not appreciably affected
by the tariffs schedules For years We
have been assured on the one side that
the tarln il robbery Sand that all except
Few who are Unfortunately enriched by
its operat ions are the wret ched victims
OF its oppressive influence. On the other
hand We are assured that protect ion Is
through high wages Millions OF people
firmly believe. though foolishly. that the
tarih on commodities represents sum
that individual importers OF materials.
whether raw or finished. place to their per-
sonal accounts in the banks. and that il it
were not for he tariff prices would fall by
approximately the sum supposed 10 he
absorbed by the individual beneficial ries.
The utter absurdity OF this mott
should he ent irely obvious. and it's preva-
lence IL puzzling. The duty on corn il Is
cents a bushel. The crop Of the United
States - about % per cent. Of the entire
crop Of the world. From what country
would or could come any supply Of corn
that would affect the prices by even a
tract ion Of a cent? In the last fiscal year
We sold 81. 10000 worth OF corn TO the
United Kingdom. - .oOO. 900 worth to Can
ada & 500 600 worth to Mexico. s.. ZOO. ONN
worth TO Germany. and Ss.ooO,OoO worth
10 other countries. Would the price Of
corn drop Is cents a bushel IL the duty
were removed? IL would not change one
fifteenth Of a cent. The duty on milk il
, cents gallon. Ia II conceivable that a
supply would come from Canada or from
any other market that would change the
price received by tho dairymen or the
price paid by the consumer? The duty
on butter is Q cents pound. and on eggs )
cents dozen. From what source could
a supply Of either be obtained that would
affect the price in this coun-
try? In 1870. Argentina exported ap-
eo,OOO, OOO bushels u wheat
ri a total export value Of sioS .oOo 600
gold. In the same year the United States
az ported a. 5Oo. on bushels 81 an = port
value Of S5O. 400, oOo Where n the danger
of cheap wheat from Argentina. Canada
or any other country. and what is the
probability Of cheaper -four IL wheat is
put on the free list
These are n few 81 scores 81 art icl lea Of
daily uss and consumpt ion about which
just such questions may I've asked. No
better way of taking the tariff out "
politics Can he found than rha, 81 sub
ituting facts for fallacie~. of put ing
ruth IN the place II political fapdnodle
There are articles the price Of which
il inquest innshly affected by the tariff.
sugar for instance: hut there are many
on which the tariff has no influence what
ever. or an influence 80 small that it can
only BE- regarded a. immat erial. If the
tarif board sAes fir To- do 40 10 can do much
To correct the now prevalent mis,Ind.r-
standing and misconception Of the rela-
ion Of tariff 10 commodity prices. It can
do much 20 take tho tariff out n politics
nv stat ernenfs Of fact supporte. ny figures
and by persistent rei' GRAFTON 81 the-e
fac,s until they are clearly est abli-hed in
he minds If tho people. The President
.ays that the middle and juss course IL IN.
rev i-ion ~ one schedule n = time after
careful. clear headed and non part i-an
inaury. Much can he done m the 1Ir~c-
ion Of Mr.. Taft - desires II tn. tariH
board. nv the report and the repetition
n facts. will shake the. belief Of the now
and misguided many that th.
peopl" II the United States live. move
and have their being solely nv virtu. of
he tariff. that all commodity prices and
he nat ional w~lfar" depend solely on tho
larif schedules. II can show that the
duty on bacon and hams hoes not increase
tn. price ~ those commodities Z cents n
pound. thar the price 81 lnri ~ not in
creased u CENTS a pound. that the tariff
Hoes not increase the price Of fresh beef
and pork H.. cents pound or the priC" of
rahfage- > cents each. IL can tell u-.
,pprn imstelv ~ least the amount of
iu'y Represented IN a ten dollar. twenty
iollar or fifty dollar suit OF clothes II
an publish n comparison Of American
and British prices NJ standard shirtin g.
and she.tings. drilling- and glnRhams.
and the tariff rates on these articles
Thetarin rates IN iodoform and -ulphlte
II ammonia. on gypsum and gas ref OF :. on
ron ore and anvil-. shingles and wooden
.oo,hpicks. and several thousand other
arr icle-. all affect ur NOR. or less directly. |
M, few Of VA are directly concerned by
hem, and few Of liz would know IL II the !
rat 80 were increased or decr.a sed. All ar.
directly Interested IN the duties and the
.rect of the dut los. on "a comparatively |
short list 81 ar; icIcs ~ fouh and clothing
The greater part OF the demand for tariff
-evision springs from belief that revision
II the duties on those articles would re-
i,ice the cost Of them Much of rhe clamor
y III sub-ide IL il - known that on the price
y many Il not OF most Of those commodi- |
lee tarin revision would have no apprecia-
Die effect With the -ubsidence Of clamor |
based on misconception busines-like adj !
ust rn~nt OF now badly adjusted rates on |
Articles entering into industrial and com !
nerc,al processes could be carried on in a |
manner.
Reading Men. |
Fvo- me Hdriord CoUr1m |
M 81 the students together drew out for use |