The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-03-28
TARIFF REVISION

Although PRESIDENT Iaft mas stated
that he would advise that the extraor-
binary session of congress, which will
to passing the Canadian reciprocity
measure, it looks now as though the
Democratic house will pass n tariff
measure.
1t is not likely, however, that the
majority party in the house will be
able to make any change in the tariff,
ule. A moderate reduction, say not to
exceed 25 per cent of the present
duties, would probably be able to
pass the senate and receive the sig
nature of the president. While this
reduction may not completely annihi.
late the wool industry in the United
States, it would greatly cripple it. At
the present prices offered for the pro-
duet s~heepmen will this year hardly
make their expenses, and with a fur
Their reduction would be compelled to
continue business at an actual loss.
The history of tariff legislation in
this country reveals the fact that the
American people are unable to stand
prosperity for any length of time. Up
to the time of Cleveland IS second ad-
ministration, the country had enjoyed
a long period of prosperity. But in
March, 1898, a Democratic president
and congress took the reins of govern
ment and the first legislation of conse-
quence to be enacted was the iniqui-
tous Wilson-G German tariff act, which
became a law early in 1894. It's effect
upon the country was ruinOus. All
work was stopped at once and me-
chanics who had been living in com
fort were obliged to content them
selves with the barest necessities of
life. Real estate values shrunk until
thousands of men of small means who
had their homes partly paid for were
rendered homeless. Unable to keep up
the interest on the mortgages due they
were forced to give up possession.
Coxey's armies and free soup-houses
filled the land, which condition con
tinued until McKinley's inauguration
restored the tariff and prosperity. In
a majority of cases it took the men
impoverished by the Wilson, German
act ten years to get back to where
they were before it was passed, and
now that they have had time to catch
their breath it is to be tried again.
Clamp Clark and his satellites,
swelled with the lust of power and
hoping to gain control of the presi-
dency, profess to believe that the re-
suit of the last election was due to a
desire on the part of the people to
have the tariff reduced. That is hard
ly the case, for had the tariff been the
only issue it is probable that the result
would have been different.
There are many theories advanced
which figure out perfectly with lead
pencil and paper, but which, when
put into practice, do not yield antici-
pated results. The tariff is one of
them. 1t is an historical fact that I'M
der a high protective tariff the IL
try has ever enjoyed the fullest meas
ure of prosperity, while under any
other system the opposite has been the
result.
While it is true that the people of
the middle west believe that reduc-
tion in the wool schedule will result
in cheaper clothing, they will find,
too late, that they are mistaken,
Should the tariff be taken off wool
entirely a great industry would be de-
stroyed, with the result that all other
lines would feel the effect in many
ways, but principally in a general re-
duction of wages and the opportunities
for securing employment.