Marble Hill press., 1911-03-09
ITS USEFULNESS GONE
CAUSE OF THE IMPENDING
DOWNFALL OF PROTECTION.
Demand for Downward Revision o'
the Tariff Has Foundation In Facts
RECIPROCITY Win Canada
the First Step.

Originally the protective tarin In
the United States was based on the
theory that "A moderate duty should
be maintained on imported goods un
iii such time as home industries
could be thoroughly established, ana
able to take care OF themselves IN
competition with foreign manufae.
lures The original protecuonists were
willing to have the duties removed
when that time arrived. This may DC
called the infant industry theory
After becoming intrcnchcd hehihd
the barrier OF protective 'arlh ana
enjoying the benefits OF the special
privilege thus accorded, protected
manufacturers evolved the theory that
permanent tarir should be main
tanned in the interest of the American
. laboriug man. because OF the higher
wages paid to him than TO foreign Ia
borcrs. This was the wages theory
" protection.
When By comparative statistics II
was shown that the labor cost per
uni, OF product vas 10 higher IN
America than In Europe, because ot
the superior ability OF the American
laborlng man and the more effective
organization OF American Industry
another point OF view became neees
sary 10 Justify the protective system
and the theory was promulgated tha'
Il really made no difference bow hisL
the tariff might be, even TO the pom
Of the absolute exclusion OF foreign
goods. because competition between
the rapidly developing; American
manufacturer would keep prices do"i
TO a reasonable level.
There came the era OF trusts an'
combinations TO sustain prices, ah'
n, purchasers Of American manufae
turcd products realized that they "er
At the mercy Of the protected !ndu'
tries
This aspect Of the problem was n
real cause Of the widespread demah
fnr "A downward revision of the tar.f
that. In recent years, has ag!tate
those members ot the Republican pa
.ty who are not direct bonohclaries c
the tarln but who have been SINGER
advocates o. protection because the
believe that /; benefited the countF
as whole.
> Outside Of the ranks ot direct ben
Gclarlcs O, protection who are hgh
irg 70 maintain the special pr.ylleF'
they enjoy. practically the entire Il
u publican party has how settled NA'
) to the theory that the protective u
J. IN should be- only sufficient 10 maj
. up the difference between the cost
IS production abroad and at lone.
b Necessarily. a corrullary of this II
i CRY Is that no protection is need
1t AGAINST the products q country
0. which conditions of production a
Il similar 10 those Of the United S'ate'
ON this pround President Taft Is
sls,!ng tha, the reciprocity agreeme
between this country and Canada
y. ggst and should be adopted
n. THIS marks an advance step Nhi
= means the ultimate downfall Of +
n, whole protective system, because
,y prcgudirial investigation VIII demo
-, strate that IN most industries the VI
- resources, the enormous home mark
:. the inventive genius, and the rapac
-" for organization tn America make
possible to produce commodIt
cheaper IN this country than aoro
even with higher daily wages and
OF hlFher scale Of living for American
's b1rers than for those Of Europe
ro" This view of the problem is fr
Va tho standpoint Of the dis!ntercstea
en- SINGER, protectiouist. aud takes no
nd count o., ,the broader view OF the
mt and.ou, free trader. whose content
ia that unrestricted commerce resi-
In each nation and each commuT
aayofing !ts energies to those ind
a ,r,as for which 1t Ia best a3cd,
,rl. thus develops industries along natr
BE- lines. giving equal opportunities 70
,rn and special privileges to noae.~-h
.hs sas city Star.