The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-24
Congressman Campbell of Kan
sas Spoke in Boston.
He Argued for a Protective
Tariff System.
THE PRESENT TARIFF BILL
"An Act to Encourage Indus
tries in Other Countries
An Old Time Republican Cam
paign Speech.

Boston, April 24.-Congressman Philip
Pitt Campbell. of Kansas. addressed
the annual banquet of the Boston City
club here today. His subject was "A
Protective Tariff.' He said:
Protection is so related to prosperity
and free trade to Ianguishing industries
that 1 may be pardoned for calling the
matter to your attention at this time.
Before doing so. let me note that
there is a difference between financial
panic and industrial depression. Finan-
cial difficulties, like the panics of 1873
brought on by bank failures precipita-
ted by fear that may or may not be
well founded The panic is over when
the fear is over. Industrial depression
spreads over the country as its indus
tries close and it's laborers go out of
employment, and remains until the in
dustries open and the laborers return
to work.
Our countrys prosperity covers the
periods of our protective tariff laws.
Our periods of industrial depression are
recorded with our nonprotective or
tariff for revenue laws.
From 1888 until 1916 our tariff laws
provided for the protection of our mar
kets for the products of our own in
dustries. During that period our man
fractures multiplied, our IdDOr was
employed at fair wage, farmers had
a market for everything they could
produce: mechanics, merchants, and
business men of every kind prospered;
and there was an abundance of reve-
nue. with which to defray the expenses
of the government
From 1916 1924 the tariff law pro-
vided sucl- low rates on imports that
they were nonprotective, and our in
dustries were unable to compete with
the conditions of manufacture in for
eign countries. Our factories closed,
labor was out of work, business of ev-
cry variety Ianguished. farmers were
without a market, and revenues were
insufficient to pay the expenses of the
government. Bankruptcy and ruin of
industry were on every hand.
From 1924 to 1888 the law providing
taxes on tmportations made rates that
protected our markets for the products
of our industries and labor. Manu-
facture vived, industries sprung up
and multiplied. labor was everywhere
employed, farmers had a market for
their products, business of every char
acter was active and prosperous, and
revenues were so abundant that the
national debt of two wars was entirely
paid and national nride and prosperity
were at high tide.
That Period From 1888 to 1912.
From 1888 to 1S42 the tariff law
nOnDTOLeCIlNe
closed; mills, factories, shops were
idle; laborers were out of employment;
farmers were without market; busf-
ness depression bore down so heavily
upon all the people that great finan-
cial crisis spread over the land, TAX
ing ruin to every branch of business
Revenues were again insufficient to
pay the expenses of the government,
and Its bonds bearing IL per cent
could not be sold at home or abroad
in a time OF profound peace.
From 1912 to 1S46 the tariff laws
were again protective. Again business
of every character revived; mills.
shops and factories opened their doors
to idle labor; farmers had market
for everything the farm produced;
revenues poured into the treasury and
were sufficient for the governments
expenses.
From 1876 to 1861 the tariff laws
were nonprotective. Our industries
again languished. and laborers were
again out of employment, and our
farmers were again without mar
ket Business was prostrated, and
financial distress covered the country
Revenues were again insufficient for
the expenses of the government, and
the period closed with a bankrupt
treasury.
After the Civil War.
From 1861 for a third of a century
the tariff laws were protective. These
years marked a period of the greatest
growth and development recorded up
to that time in our country's history.
Rebellion was suppressed, the suprem-
acy of the constitution maintained,
and the nation preserved. Industries
grew and multiplied, and prosperity
marched to the music of spindleS and
the hum of machinery. The smoke Of
industry told the story of prosperity
everywhere in our country. Laborers
increased in number and wages made
rapid advance. Farmers everywhere
had an active market for all the prod
ucts of their industry; the revenues
were sufficient to pay billions of dol
lars of war debt and to defray the in
creasing expense of a great govern
m emf