The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-07-31
THE TARIFF AMI
EXPORT EXPANSION

James j.. Hill, the famous Northwest
ern railway magnate, is out in a state
ment combating the notion that to re
store prosperity in this country there
must be an upward revision of the Tar
if. Forcefully he argues against any
such proposition. He says manufactur-
ing in this country has been stimulat-
ed to such an extent that our home
markets can no longer absorb all our
production and that foreign outlets
must therefore be provided.
But why does Mr.. Hill assume that
a revision downward of an American
Tariff automatically ~revises downward
a foreign Tariff Mr.. Hills native
Dominion of Canada, after rejecting
reciprocity, has boosted Tariff rates
on American importations, especially
steel products, since the Underwood
Tariff laws gave Canadians new mar
let opportunities in the United States,
which, for instance, enabled Canadian
steel manufacturers to sell rails to
American railroads at a time when
American steel mills were running ON
short time and badly needed the bust
ness. In the Argentine Republic re-
Gently there were street demonstra-
tions in favor Of higher Tariffs against
American shoes, and it is announced
that the Argentine authorities are re-
vising the Tariff upward against Amer
lean products, although we are letting
Argentine grain, live stock and hides
into our market free of. duty. Brazil
has lone the same thing. Downward
Tariff revision in the United States
does not create a market for a dollar s
worth of American products abroad,
and it is curious to hear anyone argu-
ing otherwise.
1t is true, as Mr.. Hill states, that
manufacturing has been enormously
stimulated in the United States-and
Protection did it over the protest of
those who would like to make this
country an agricultural dependency of
Europe. The better reason, therefore,
for not bringing about additional dis
placement in the American market of
American-made products. Why give the
foreigner the real and substantial boon
OF free access to our markets, without
taking into account his cheaper cost
of production in order that we may
send our own manufacturers ON a wild
goose chose for customers in these
countries, where, owing to cheaper Ia
Dor costs, goods can be manufactured
and foodstuffs produced more cheaply
than here at homef
The very recent history Of the United
States proves not only that you can I
increase your sales abroad by merely
letting the foreigner have your own
market, but that the existence of Pro-
tective Tariff is no barrier to export
expansion. AS a matter of fact, our
exports grew enormously between 1900
and 1910, and the best of it was that
We sold half a billion dollars worth
more stuff in foreign lands than for
eIgn producers sold here. The Under
wood law reversed that process, and by
destroying our home market and the
vitality of our home industries reduced
exports, while increasing imports, until
the European war began.
1t is quite probable that Free-Trade
would be helpful to railroad systems
winch have their mileage along the
border line between Canada and the
United States, with feeders running
into Canada. But the shipment of for
eign made or raised articles into the
United States to displaee in our mar
kets articles made or raised in this
country does not represent a permanent
contribution to our national wealth ex-
cept in the matter of transportation
charges, which of course, stay in the
United States. Mr.. Hill may go on ar
guing that downward revision of the
Tariff helps rather than harms the
United States, but after having expe-
rieneed the pangs of the new freedom