The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-05-22
TWO Questions Answered.

A Waterbury reader of the Jour
nal sends the following communica-
ton: 81 have noticed in the Jour
nails comment on the Underwood
! tariff bill, the statement that it is in
consistent My view of 1t is that 1t
| is extremely consistent-that is in
destroying protection. Isn't that so?
Can you tell me why President Will
son has two or three times lately de-
| clared he would make it hot for any
| body who tried to start panic? II
there is any panic won't it be the
party that elected Wilson President
| that will be responsible?'
The journal has, as its correspond
ent says, criticised the Democratic
tariff bill for its Inconsistency as
well as for other serious defects and
ii believes it was fully warranted in
doing so. The Waterbury reader, no
doubt recalls the fact that during
the campaign preceding the election
in November last, Democratic speak
ers and newspapers contended that
raw materials for use in manufac-
lures in this country should be ad-
mitted free of duty. When the party
came to frame its revision bill it APP
pears to have forgotten its ante cleo
ton declaration in some notable in
stances at least.
Shoes, for example under the new
tariff bill will be admitted duty free,
but the skins from which they are
manufactured, the raw material, in
other words, must pay an import
duty. So, too, with those important
commodities -four and wheat. The
Underwood bill puts -four the finish
ed product, on the free list, but
wheat, the raw material from which
the -four is manufactured, must pay
a tariff tax of ten per cent. There
are many similar cases but these are
sufficient to illustrate the Journals
meaning and to show its characteriz-
alton of the Democratic tariff meas
ure as inconsistent" was fully war
ranted.
Moreover, the Waterbury cores
pondent will perceive that in these
and similar cases the Democratic tar
III bill trainers have not lived up TO
their professed solicitude for the
welfare of the American working
man. By admitting manufactured
articles such as shoes and -four duty
free they are putting American labor
engaged in the production of those
articles into. direct competition with
the cheaper labor of foreign coun
tries engaged in the manufacture of
similar articles. Here again is in
consistency as marked as ii is men
acing.
Answering the correspondents
question regarding President Will
sons warning to those who would
precipitate a panic, halt industrial
operations or reduce wages except
under the stress of necessity, 1t may
be said, it is timely and not sub
ject to adverse criticism. The coun-
try will frown upon any attempt by
artificial means TO bring disaster up
on either its financial or industrial
enterprise for the purpose of influ-
encing public sentiment. Without
regard to their political affiliations,
the great body Of the people desire
that the new tariff when enacted be
given a fair and honest trial.
Republicans, and Progressives
alike are convinced that under il
business will suffer curtailment, that
the wages of labor will be reduced
and its opportunities for employ
ment will be restricted, but they will
view with Impotence any attempt to
artifically produce such conditions
and will uphold President Wilson in
any effort he may take to expose and
condemn those prejudiced and fool
hardy enough TO make it.-Montpel-
Ter Journal.