Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-07-22
BUSINESS DEPRESSION
AND THE TARIFF
Walter S. Dickey Of Kansas
City Replies to the Editor Of
the st. Louis Republic

: Some weeks ago the editor OF the
st. Louis Republic, under the caption
"The Tariff and Business Depres-
sion,'' addressed an open letter to
Walter s. Dickey in a column and a
half article on the editorial page and
asked a number of questions and pre-.
scented som arguments with regard
TO the effect OF the Underwood tariff
law upon business. Here follows Mr..
Dickey's reply:
Kansas City, No, May 81, 1915.
Editor OF the Republic,
St Louis, Mo.
Sir: Some time ago while travel
ing in the Pacific coast country /
t~elegraphed you from Niles, Cal, that
] would answer your courteous com
munication. My visit was prolonged.
and since returning circumstances
have prevented earlier attention.
Not having at my command a well
organized, "ross indexed newspaper
library. morgue. etc, etc, ] will not
attempt to reply in detail to all ques-
tions. But in general let me say that
as coming events cast their shadows
before" so the mere prospect Of a
tariff for reyenu only. In this great
country OF ours, sent a shiyer through
the land, causing business to langulsh
and employment for the artisan to
be diminished, and the actual real.
ization of such a tariff has wrought
havoc TO all N institutions. Our
purchasing and consuming power as
q nation has already been enormously
automatically contracted.
You express surprise that imports
covered by certain schedules We're less
during 1914 under the Underwood bill
than during the previous year under
the Payne-Aldrich bill. am not sur.
prised.
We always import less dollars
worth OF merchandise per capita I'm.
der Democratic free trade tariffs than
under Republican protection tariffs
when each is in full swing and opera
ton. This. OF course. will not sur
prise you, for you give evidence that
you examine records.
With great respect to you and all
Kindness to others. | am forced to
believe that this is unusual on the
part Of the ordinary spellbinder, for
whom you show some contempt. as
well as on the part OF many writers.
I mould Hn ula1 ~ rnt u-nrld mint 7
for the e~dification Of your readers
the per capita importations during the
fiscal year closing June 80. 1892,
when the Mckinley tariff was In full
swing, and a comparison with the per
capita importations during the like
period closing June 30. 1896. when the
Wilson, German bill was in effect. or
course .importatlons multiply In an
.ticipation OF a higher tariff. and are
suspended in anticipation OF a lower
tariff. No fair comparison, therefore,
can be made except during periods
unaffected by recent or anticipated
The reason for this is
manifest. Whenever We are prosper.
We consume everything in sight,
and import everything we can hear
OF. When we are depressed we have
much surplus to sell, for We consume
and import less. Unfortunate
lS, however, a large surplus with
Democratic prices never makes US
rich. To illustrate: During the cal.
endar year 1896. our per capita con.
SUI, ption of wheat, including seed,
had decreased from nearly six bushels
per capita during the Mckinley tariff
10 less than four bushels per capita
during the Wilson4G orman tariff. This
Increased TO seven bushels per capita
the Dingley tariff 1
You will agree with me, OF course. I
hat II all labor were out OF employ ]
nent, II all factories were closed, and
III business ruined. we would import I
do not think the Under. I
wood bill should have credit for the 9
disastrous effects wrought. think, q
ny dear Mr.. Editor, that your book Q
is erroneous. You should put
1ss OF business on the debit side. Z
In reporting this bill, which became O
law, Mr.. Underwood expressly stated b
lat IL was the intention OF the y
amers that no industry should be 4
BILE TO claim exemption from compe. 4
ton with all the world He did not, g
oweyer. give an estimate Of the an. c