The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-10-09
AND THEY NEVER
POINT TO ITALY
AS An Illustration of Tariff
Rates.
HIGHLY PROTECTED COUNTRY
Which is Seldom Heard of in
the Tariff Matter
There's Reason.
ITALY A GOOD ILLUSTRATION
(By Clyde H. Tavenner.)

(By Clyde H. Tavenner.)
Washington, Oct. 5.-Why do
protectionists never point to Italy
as an illustration of how excessive
tariff rates protect" the common
people?
Italy Is one of he most highly
protected countries of Europe. 1t
is famous as a country flowing
with milk and honey"
Yet they never talk about Italy,
do the upward revisionists.
While in Italy three years ago.
the writer learned at first hand
some OF the reasons why our pro-
tectionists never say, Look at
Italy"
Italy puts heavy duties on both
agricultural and manufactured i'm
ports. She pays her people exceed
ingly low wages. She charges them
very high prices for the necessities
of life. They emigrate in large
numbers.
To understand the situation
clearly We must 20 back to 1887.
About that time a violent reyolu-
ton in the system OF Italian GUS
toms was brought about. A power
full political group of textile manu-
facturers Joined forces for their
W n
group of large landowners. Tariffs
were heartily increased. But not
on everything. That powerful band
of textile manufacturers took good
care that lesser manufacturers, who
made articles needed in the textile
factories, were not enabled to put
up their prices.
Hand in hand with the powerful
manufacturers the big landowners
came out for slice OF the tariff
pie" In order that they should be
sufficiently compensated for being
in politics. the landowners had a
heavy tax placed on wheat. In It.
ally 1t is only the big landowners
who grow wheat. Three out of ev-
cry four landowners in Italy are
possessors of small properties, cul-
'ivating fruit for wine. They have
TO buy considerable part of the
wheat they eat. SO it happened
that where one large wheat farmer
got bigger profits. three small fruit
farmers got hit. That is the way
protection invariably works out.
What is one mans protection is an
other mans poison.
Hark, however, this further re-
sult of the Italian tax on wheat:
of Italians never eat wheat
except in cases of illness or on
special festivals. They make
bread maize. In this and in other
re spects the standard of living of
the Italian people is very low, be-
cause prices are too high.
An enormous fiscal and protec-
tive tax was also put upon sugar.
The prices rose so high that Italian
farmers watched their oranges,
lemons, peaches and other products
IF warm and generous sun, rot on
heir trees in order that the 80
OF the sugar syndi-
,ate might levy upon consumers a
'early tribute.
Far and away the chief of the
italian industries are silk Keeling
md silk throwing. These indus
rios have been seriously hampered
~ protection. And Italy is the
home o. the si!Eworm.
II is calculated that while ten
Italians lose by protection, only
me stands any chance of gaining.
lie does not always gain, for the
country does not progress. The in
erests of Italy are sacrificed to the
me in ten.
In other words. excessive tariffs
n"reased the cost of living to the
Italian people just as the Payne
Aldrich law is increasing the cost
II living in tie United States.
Is T. anv wonder that the protec-
iorists never ask us to Look at
talv?"
Hunters from ohio. Indiana and