The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-10-18
The Tariff


intelligent readers should solve, clip out
and ask dsputants and campaign orators
the following simple questions, requiring
logical consistent answers thereto.
l. Can tariff on an article cheaper
it, and vet simultaneously raise the pro-
ducer's wages? If so, how?
,. Would shrewd protectlonists,
like the steel, woollen and sugar trusts
desire tariff, if it cheapened what they
sell-goods--a made dearer what they
buy-labor?
;. Can we protect laborers by max
ing dear, throug III tariffs, what they buy
-goods-and admitting free Through
unrestricted immigration), what they
sell-labor?
4. If tariff on products cheapens
them, ought it to be put on land
cheapen) farm products, which form the
bulk of our exports? Why cheaper, for
foreigners, that with which we principally
pay them? And, ii farm produce prices
are not increased thereby, why try to de-
ceve the farmers thereby? DO not for
eign export prices of our immense sur
plus, farm products. regulate their prices,
entirely regardless of all our tariffs
! thereon?
s But, if protective" tariff increases
factory prices. it does not thereby neces-
state a larger volume of money to handle
| the same products, thus CORRESPONDENCE
increasing the financial stringency?
g. If tariff on manufactured articles
cheapens them. ought it not be put
the Iightest on the finished products and
the heaviest on the raw material Ito
cheaper it) and thus widen our manu-
facturers margin of profit" Why do
all protective" tariffs invert this order?
WHY have any compromising tariffs,
| or Whv allow exporters any tariff draw
backs on their improved raw MATERIAL"
7. If the tariff is no tax" why re-
fund to the exporting manufacturers 80
| per cent. of the duty on their imported
raw materials? Why do SO if the for
eigner pays it? Do our tariffs enable us
to tax foreigners" and then with
| theirs. to tax us, thereby perpetnatng
taxation without representation" against
which our patriotic forefathers rebelled?
Can we tax ourselves into prosperity?
Unless a protective" tariff enhances
domestic factory prices, why did the Nc
| Kinley tariff give the sugar producers a
bounty" in lieu of the removed sugar
| tariff?
Q. Why more laboriously produce the
| desired thing itself instead OF its cheaper
exchangeable equivalent? If toll itself is
more desirable than its fruiis-labor pro-
ducts-why not prohibit all labor saving
tools and machinery?
TO- Aside from gifts or plumber, can
anything but production, or trading lessen
labor products for greater ones. enrich
| either an individual, community or a
| ,,,tiAnO Hoes i,Vr l1hnr 10
wealth?
H. As trade is mutually beneficial,
WhV by tariffs debar men from mutually
increasing wealth and happiness by
trade?
u. AS foreigners exact pay involving
| American labor cost, can imports dis
place american labor?" If they will
| accept pay involving no labor cost to us,
why not trade them as much OF this mex
pensive delusive nothingness as we can
| for their substantial goods?
Is II ''protective tariff" is good,
would not prohibitive tariff be much
better still?
ii. If International trade is impover-
! iShing is not Interstate trade equally
| hurtful?
IS. Can foreign trade be injurious.
| yes. SilIpplHS SuOSiOlSS ~ lOatcl H.
| desirable?
IS. Why. with gunboats blockade our
enemies ports to inlure them, yet with
tariffs blockade our own to benefit our
| selves
II. Why simultaneously build the Pan
anna Canal TO facilitate trade and pro
! teCtive" tariff to hamper it?
IS Can trusts be injurious. yet the
tariff fostering them benehcient?
| 10. Why are free trade Engand's az
erage wages higher than those Of pro-
tecied Germany, Italy. Russia and all
other protected" European nationso
Where age of country. form of govern
ment, density OF population, standing
armies, exhausted public domain and all
| else, save tariff, are similar, does not
free trade" give the most factories,
| ships, trade, wages and general pros
perity and protection" the least?
20. As labor alone creates all wealth,
| can tariff laws Chat create nothing en-
| rich one class without taking 1t from
another CLASP
a. Whv not decrease the taxes on
labor, its products and exchanges, to en-
courage them, and proportionately in
crease taxes on monopoly, vice. extrav-
agance and other evils, to discourage
them?
22. Why not use facts. logic, honesty
and common sense in politics as well as
in business? Why elect propagatorS of
falsehood, deception, fraud and giraffe
ID. WEBSTER GROH.
Hagerstown, Md, October nth, 1912.