The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-27
REVISION OF TARIFF
/ ON CAUTIOUS PLAN
democratic Leaders Confronted
Y by Business Worth Many
4 Millions of Dollars.
VAST INTERESTS AFFECTED
President Wilson and Congress
/. sional Committee Chairmen
I Scanning the Situation.

Washington, March 2s.-It's a $40
O00.00o.o00 goose of the golden egg
which the tariff revisionists are oper-
atinE upon. hence their caution and
care lest Its laying qualities be de-
stroyed.
That is to say. the value of the pro-
ducts of American manufactures pos
sible OF being affected by tariff revision
amount to the stupendous sum OF S2Q.-
672.0 900. according to census figures.
The business affects the direct employ
ment of more than 100000 Of wage
earners, and also their wages of more
than $4,000. 600. 900.
I, These are the direct and first contact
interests affected. In addition. there
must be considered the vast allied in
terests OF transportation, affecting an
other army of wageearners: the collat-
eral welfare of the food producers,
whose market for their products Is at
stake; the smaller army Of middle
men" and their employees. dependent on
tirely upon volume of food and manu-
features to be dispensed by themselves;
the Eo-betweens Of the ultimate con-
sumner and the producer.
And in the background. the helpless
group of the dependent women and
children of those leEions of men whose
avocations and earning powers are lin
the issue.
Leaders Feel Responsibility.
Thus do President Wilson, Chairman
Underwood and Chairman Simmons feel
the great patriotic responsibility for
Legislative action resting upon the
party In power, aside from the political
sequences of congressional action.
While the fortunes of the Democratic
party and the present administration
will rise or fall with the success or
failure of tariff legislation, these men
realize that the country's prosperity
Is also to be taken into account. and
the material welfare of many millions
OF men, women and children Is in tho
balance.
In the new Congress. vested with the
power to loose and bind, the high
power and the low, so TO speak. over
the welfare of the nation will he many
new men unacQuainted both with tariff
legislation and with the extent of the
interests involved.
In fact, it is doubtful II tho country
at large realizes tho extent of the
manufacturing industry which has
grown by leaps and bounds in the last
two decades until II has reached pro-
portions that staggers the imagination
to picture. But the men who are now
Healing with the tariff bill, and Presi-
dent Wilson. who Is 70 be the arbitei-
iof inevitable disputes between the fac
lions, are posted on the details.
d The census figures which enter into
calculation In considering the extent
OF the manufacturing industry were
taken for the year 1909. The per cent
of increase In the output for fve years
prior TO 1903 was nearly so per cent.
md as business has not stagnated
iihere must be large increase in the
four years from 1909 to 1918 so that
The figures above presented must fall
short of the actual volume of the
business of to-day.
Tariff md business.
The object of the men who are lead
ing and directing the effort at tariff
Il.
trippling the enormous business of
american mills by subjectinG them to
undue competition of cheaper foreign
labor and methods.
President Wilson and Chairman I'm
derwood believe thta this object can
be accomplished. They are proceed
Ing 10 Its achievement with confidence.
as they hold q warrant from the voters
70 attempt it, a warrant issued by in
dividuals In the last election.
II Is significant, that the ten States
which lead In manufactures, and, in
TACT, produce more than four-hfths of
the total output of manufactured ar
lcies. went Democratic In the last
election or. at least. repudiated the
Republican party by voting for third
ticket.
Those States, are New York. Penn
New Jersey. Michigan, Wisconsin. In
diana and Missouri, named in the order
Of the value of their manufactured
output New York produced over
three ana one third billions dollars
worth of manufactured goods. employ