Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-09-21

ports from those countries with which
we have reciprocal relation an(
which admit certain agricultural pro
ducts Of ours free. This, Limitation
made Canada the only country which
could be effected by the provisions
of the clause. Now, in our negotia
tions with Canada for reciprocity We
attempted to secure free meat and
free flour. Canada would not consent
to this because she feared the effect
of our competition with her meat and
-four. This showed that importations
of meat and -four from Canada with.
out duty would not have any effect
to lower the price in this country
of either. In normal times. But this
free list bill was giving Canada some
thing for nothing. This congress at
the close of the act approving the
Canadian reciprocity agreement d.
rected me to continue negotiations
and expand its terms, and yet in
these provisions it proposed to de-
prive me of using the concessions of
free meat and free flour to secure con-
cessions from Canada. Thus the bill
was so loosely drawn, it was drawn
on such wrong principle, and with
so little information. and it purported
to do so many things which it did
not do, that had no hesitation in
vetoing it.
Bill was Drawn on Wrong Principle
Finally, the cotton bill came to me.
1t passed the house under rule
that permitted to- amendments what
ever. l had tne bill examined by ex-
perts, especially with respect to the
chemical schedule, and even in the
very short time l had, found the
greatest confusion produced by the
amendment. The bill was i'm.
possible and of course vetoed it.
There was in the passage of the bill,
in the amendments, and in the general
treatment an indication that the sup
port of the bill was based rather on
a desire to make a political record in
favor of lower duties than upon .
serious proposal to change the law. At
least this is the only explanation that
can be offered of the careless, inarti-
fetal, and altogether unsatisfactory
character of the taree bills.
have gone into this matter at
considerable detail in order that my
position with respect to these bills and
the general treatment of the tar
may be understood. am in favor of
the reduction of the tariff wherever it
can be done and still give living
measure of protection to the indus.
tries Of the country that need it. But
l insist that We have reached now
point in the history of tariff making
when everyone ought to realize that
the tariff should not be changed and
business disturbed, except upon in
formation which shall enable us to
pass bills that will disturb it least
Whole Business System Rests on Pro-
tectve Tariff Basis
Our whole business system rests upon
the protective tariff lhasis. The real
hope Of men who are in favor of
lowering duties is to pursue the policy
of securing accurate Information to
keep the tariff rates down as low as
possible consistent with the life OF
the business protected. The natural
operation of the tariff under those con-
ditions and American ingenuity is to
continue to reduce the cost of pro-
duction, and that in itself will secure,
If we adhere to The policy, a reduction
of the tariff rates from time to time;
but to cut, them now with black
smiths TOOLS" is to invite in the next
two or four years a revulsion of feel
ing, and then a recurrence of higher
rates and the old system of high
tariffs. This I would deprecate, and
so far as can with the powers given
me by the Constitution, propose to
stop such a movement and to secure
a reduction in accordance with the
principles of the republican platform,
and on information accurate and i'm.
partial. If that policy is not approved
by the electorate, then, of course,
those of us who are now in Office
must give way to men who will carry
out different policy; but while we
are in office our position ought clearly
to be understood. We follow this
policy not only because we are pledged
to it. but because We believe it right,
because we believe that full dis
cussion and a clear perception on the
part of the people will convince them
ultimately to aprove and adopt it.
Will Uphold Policy
This. said the president, Il would
depricate. and so far as l can, with
the powers given me by the >consti-
tuition, propose to stop such a move.
ment, and to secure a reduction in &C.
cordance with the principles of the
republican platform. and Information
accurate and impartial. If that policy
is not approved by the electorate.
then, of course, those of us who are
now in Office must give way to men
who will carry out different policy.
but while we are in Office our position
ought clearly to be understood
POLICE ASSIST BOY ON