The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-01-17

is that a case so complex and elaborate
is not read. The masses Of the Ameri-
can people seldom see precise economic
arguments or authoritative official re-
ports. These masses depend for their
information chiefly on popular
magazines and newspapers.
The statement presented by me on
behalf of the National Association of
Wool Manufacturers to the committee
of congress contained evidence which
proved:
l.. That the working people engaged
in the wooden industry were not paid
excessive wages.
Q. That all others engaged in the
industry, those in the management and
those in the ownership, whether pri-
vate or corporate, were not receiving
excessive profits.
That there was no monopoly of
the manufacture of wooden goods in
any branch of the industry.
4. That the duties imposed on wool
en- goods under the Dingley law were
not so high as to prevent steadily in
creasing importations from foreign
countries.
This statement of facts has never
been c~ontroverted by any reputable
authority. The assailants Of the wool
tariff have always lodged the real
issues. I assert that the tetile indus
tries of the United States are relative
ly less remunerative to capital than
are other industries or business ac-
tivities, and I challenge proof to the
contrary.
disappearing the New Law.
When the Aldrich-P Payne tariff final
ly became a law on August s, 1909,
the business interests of the country
had every reason to believe that it
would be reasonably permanent. But
the new aet from the very outset was
violently assailed, and the alleged high
cost Of living and advanced prices of
commodities were all wrongfully at
tributed to the new tariff law. Take
the wool and wooden schedule for ex-
ample. It was dishonesty asserted
throughout the country that the new
tariff heavily increased the duties on
wooden goods. It was ever declared
that the law would add $125 ,000, 900
to the cost of the clothing of the
American people. Now, no increased
duties of any kind had at any time
been asked for and lone was granted.
The only changes in the wool and wool
en- schedule were slight, and they
were all reductions. There was not a
scintilla of excuse for the falsehood
that the prices of cloth, dress goods,
and clothing had been enhanced by the
Aldrich- Payne law, yet this falsehood
uyac sforofoA on1 rotfarofad mn on6
down the United States. Clerks retail
ed it over the counter to their custom
ers. It was exploited in the editorial
columns of reckless newspapers. 1t
was deliberately intended to deceive the
people-and it did deceive some of
them, for a time. Misrepresentation al
most as bold as this was employed
against nearly every other schedule of
the new tariff, and the lay was made
the pretext for exorbitant prices i'm
posed for selfish gain.
The congressional elections Of No
vember, 1910, gave the enemies of pro-
lection a majority in the house of rep
resenttives. This result was not lei
pected. 1t was predicted by me in
1904, when tariff revision was being
agitated. I said then that the project
was ill-advised and wholly premature,
that the country was prosperous and
all was going well, and that to change
the tariff meant inevitably a political
overturn and the loss of congress. That
in succession was the result Of the tar
if revisions of 1883, 1890 and 1894. If
the business men of this country could
be polled as to their opinions, / be-
lieve that an overwhelming majority Of
them would agree that we ought to
hav left well enough alone in 1908,
and that another tariff change ought
not to have been attempted. What
has been gained by it is a customs
court, higher rates of duty against na-
lions that discriminate against us, and
an improvement in the customs collec-
ton law.
However, these few good things
have been purchased at an excessive
cost. We have changed from one tar
if to another, there has been a politi-
cal overture and prosperity as yielded
to depression. The people-or rather
the politicians-have had their fun,
and now the people are paying the pip
~clusion from power, the Democratic
party will control the next house of
representatives and it is up to the
party to take the initiative in tariff
legislation. While the Democratic
leader in the house has boosted he was
"a freet trader, the boast was made at
a time when his party was in a help
less minority. / have always observed
that there is very great SOLDERING pow
err in a sens eof actual responsibility.
1t will be something of a relief to
American manufacturers to be sure of
just what they can reckon ON in the
next congress. l do not fear an open
enemy half so much as I distrust a