New-York tribune., 1912-03-05
FOSS ATTACKS TARIFF
SmOuIderin1 Discomfort, He
Says, at Nations Fiscal Policy.
DEMOCRATIC CLUB SPEAKER
Governor Blames High Duties In
directly for Mill Strike
at Lawrence.
DEMOCRATIC CLUB SPEAKE

Governor ross or Massachusetts, who
was the principal speaker last night at tho
third tariff reform dinner OF the National
Democratic Club. attacked the high pro-
tectve tariff as having been the principal
factor in causing the present high cost OF
living and brought in its wake the strike OF
the textile workers at Lawrence, which,
he added, was a nothing compared 10 the
universal discomfort and smouldaring re-
sentiment that was being evoked by III.
countrys fiscal policy
He called upon the Democrats in Con
gress for an immediate reduction OF the
tariff so that not only the cost Of neces-
saries Of life might De lowered. but that
exports from the United States increase
through a reduction of the duties imposed
on them by foreign nations, which now
retsliate for the high tariff to which their
products are subjected in this country
a general reduction OF the tariff. he said,
was the first step to achieve reciprocity
with Canada and the other American coun-
tries. becaTse Il would convince them that
We were sincere In our desire for reci-
procitv
Speaking Of the strike az Lawrence Gov
ernor Foss said.
The pretext that the American rate Of
wages makes high protection necessary is
absolutely baseless. The un1isputed s,atis-
tics show that the wages Of laborers in un-
protected industries m the United states
are much higher than those IN protected
industries, AMI that while the pay OF
workers In unprotected industries Is greater
than that Of foreign workers In the same
industries, the pay Of workers in protected
industries in the United states IS hardly
above that OF foreign workers in the same
industries, when the purchasing power OF
the wages is considered -,
The workmen Of the great. textile mills
az Lawrence Mass, have been out on
strike for several weeks, and their con
tention Is that this highly protected in
d"e'~'- 70 lo~"er offers them living wage.
There is some justice on both sides OF the
qUes, ,ior; TIT the most significant fact IS
that these textile wages are not adequate
% meet the costs OF living when these
costs are kept az high and increasing hg-
ures through the misuse Of the tariff.
The situation AZ Lawrence Induced
directly ny the high cost Of living which
the Republican policy has forced upon us,
is grave enough in Itself, and the only
cure fer IL is an Immediate abatement Of
the artifcially inflated cost OF living. But
this Lawrence situation is only straw
TO show which way the WIND e,ows. ~
IS as nothing 10 the universal discontent
ard srnouldering resentment which our
outrageous fiscal policy is evoking.
The day Of the high tariff was over. Gov
ernor Foss said. whatever reasons might
have existed in the past for high protec-
ton From the results OF over half CEN
tury OF trial, he added. the cnly conclusion
that could be drawn was that IN the long
lrn the policy OF high tariff protection
must become. as it had become In the
United States q social and economic crime.
Il has been the shelter for exactions of
monopoly and the real cause Of almost all
restraint Of trade. he said.
A high tarr policy limited production IN
the first instance 10 the home market. he
said In order 10 keep plants going 10 their
ful capacity a belated attention was be-
slowed OF foreign markets, and then It was
found that th- artificial cost OF produc-
ton created by the nigh tariff was pro-
tection now 70 tie foreign producer against
our competition IN those markets.
The National Democratic Club invited
with Governor Foss other Democrats 70
discuss the tariff question. Senator ollie
James OF Kentucky. Congressrnan James
NJ Cox. Of Ohio. and Congre e7sman Gar
rett. % Tennessee. were the other speak
ers. Thomas ?. Donrelly. president q the
club. introduced the speakers.
CONGRESSMAN cox referred 70 story
which ne said had been told 20 him by his
political preceptor. NacMahon. the only
surviving close friend and cOnadant OF
Samuel J Tilden. about the manner IN
which the Presidency was shamefully
stolen" from Nj TiIder. This story has
been written bv NJ MscMahon. he said
and will be published after Nr. MaeNa-
hons death
Senator James said he wished 70 take
one exception 20 the speech OF Congress
man Garrett in which the Congressman
said Theodore Roosevelt did not 60 up
against the tariff barons"
Theodore Roosevelt did 20 up against
the tarln bsrons" said the Senator. but
ne did II in the dark and ! think Judge
Parker here will agree with ne"
The Senator went on 70 say that the
Republican party was divided into two
factions. the "stand-patters" and the In
sursents. The Insurgents say Steal mod
erately". The stand -psttersi say Take it
all"
Mr.. James referred 20 President Taft in
tones Of disappointment.
president Taft Is the only President
IN the history OF the United States who
ever vetoed bill cheapening clothing for
the shiver!ng poor" he declared The
Senator also said Mr Taft vetoed the
bread measure in the -four schedule