Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-11-24
TARIFFS AND rAnrIsaNs.

the American tariff are regarded with
satisfaction in the commercial centefs
of Europe and proceeds to argue from
this basis that lowering of the Amer
lean tariff, while u good thing for
foreign manufacturers. will mean dls-
aster to American industry.
But our contemporary seems to Tor
get that If America trades with Europe
both sides may and no doubt will be
benefited. And even II Berlin, Glasgow.
mud Manchester are pleased at the
prospect of lower tariff rates. that IS
no indication that America should DC
Sispleased.
The recent election undoubtedly sig
nifies tariff reduction; but that tins
means injury to American industry Is
q. conclusion of partisanship that finds
little support in the facts of the case.
Downward revision was the real
platform upon which President TAFT
was elected, and was no doubt re-
Eardcd by most OF those who voted for
him as the promise contained in the
party platform.
In explaining how he himself re-
gardcd this platform pledge, President
Taft, in his letter OF Aug. 29th TO
Chairman Mckinley, said this:
THE truth Is that under the old pro-
tective idea the only purpose was 70
make the tariff high enough TO protect
the home industry The excess OF the
tariff over the difference in the cost
of production here and abroad was not
regarded as objectionable because 1t
was supposed that competition between
those who enjoyed the higher protection.
would keep the price for the consumer
down to what was reasonable for the
manufacturer. The evil of excessive
tariff rates. however, showed itself in
the temptation of manufacturers TO
combine and suppress competition. ana
then to maintain tho prices so as to
take advantage OF the excess of the
tariff over the difference between the
cost of production abroad and here.
These words are generally taken to
mean just what they say: but only
extremists for high tariffs can discover
In them that the President Is in favor
of injuring American Industries.
Consider now the platform utterance
T. Oh tIlt ldllll uuoUtsi NY luc iiiNihiib
Democratic convention:
Tariff taxation, like other taxation,
should be for public purposes only.
and not for private profit; and should
be so levied as not to discriminate
against any section. class, industry Or
occupation"
This only re-cnforces President Tafts
statement; and similar abundant proof
can be adduced to show that Repub-
licans and Democrats alike regard the
present tariff rates as too high.
MIR Foss. Governor Elect of Massa-
uhusctts, is thought to owe his re-
markablc success ut tho polls to such
presentations of the tariff issue as he
made, for example on Oct end, :,
at is an unwisc economic policy that
forces the manufacturers OF the United
States to cross the border and erect III
Canada mills and factories that up to
the present time have involved an out
lay of S30O.000,000 and then to deprive
our own people of tho opportunity 10
produce the goods manufactured in
those American establishments III
Canada"
- liit lliStlipd pS "iliSii ~ 10
proposed to effect this downward re-
vision OF the tariff was clearly stated
by Woodrow Wilson, Governor Elect of
New Jersey. in the closing speech OF
his unprecedented canpulgn:
Certainly not BY rapid and radical
changes Iii our present tariffs, but by
such a prolonged and steady change
as will bring about an adaptation Of
the fiscal policy of the Government
to the real needs ana circumstances
of our manufacturing and laboriag
classes. with n view ultimately to get
upon this basis: the taxation for the
support OF the Government OF those
things for which 1t will be a real hard
ship to pay high prices; II taxes upon
these do not suffice. the taxation of
those things which 1t will least bur-
den the people to pay for. things not
absolutely neccsSarea things which
they can do without without suffering
or privation, and throughout the whole
process an honest seeking for tho
things which will yield the most
revenue with the least burden to the
people"
In all this, we fail to find the yelled
threats of which our contemporary
SolipiuinS, aSaiIiSl any KIM OF enter
prise or any sort of manufacturing in
dustry in America. There is nothing
alarming about the present outlook,
nothing that should tend to bring
about the business depression or panic
against which our contemporary so
earnestly warns the people Of the
country. In fact to admit the nero
truth, business Is not now and has not
been FOR some tlmc past iii n salts
factory condition in this country.
The question of partsnnship may, or
II may not, flgure very greatly in the
tariff revision that may now be re-
Sarded as certain. on the ono hand.
eminent members OF the Republican
party are urging President Taft to be-
gin AT once the worl, of revising tho
tariff downward, without waiting tor
the next Democratic House to tako
M this work. at Washington, various
Republicans express tho hope that tho
President will summon the Sixty-scc-
end Congress early in the spring In
order to deprive the Democrats OF cred :.
1t for taking the initiative In the mat
ter Of tax reduction"
We do not think, however. That tho
President, IL he does call an extra
I session to deal with The tariff, will act
from such q motive. His own stand on
these matters. as quoted above. would