The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-17
Editorial Comment
on Current Subjects
M'kINLEY AND THE VISION.

NRioLu lhC hhauSlpliu LtuSeEs1
That the vision Of PresideN Nc
kinley as TO the possible broadening
OF our markets through reciprocity in
international commerce, thereby Sc
curing an entrance into countries then
still closed to US by reason OF finan-
cial, fiscal and national barriers,
should be referred to enthusiastically
by the Secretary Of Commerce is in.
deed sign Of the times. MIR. Redilcld's
letter in yesterdays Public Ledger
was worth reading for many reasons.
1t presented in striking fashion the
developments and the opportunities
brought by the war. But when McKin-
ley anticipated them TO an extent he
hardly evoked the enthusiasm he de.
served. One party was fearful lest the
policy Of protection be In s3me way
endangered, and the other condemned
that policy in general, and the Mctsin.
ley tariff in particular, as the moth.
er Of trausts." Yet Mckinley cid have
vision, and so did James G. Blaine
before him; but although both cried
out for freer trade they did not believe
in burning down the house in order
TO enjoy roast pig, or that It was nee.
essary to yield the principle of protec'
ton to home industries In order intel.
ligently to secure for the United States
Its proper share Of tho worlds trade.
Moreover, while President McKin.
ley was giving voice to his great vi.
sion at Buffalo the German government
and the German people were proving
In a way that the world mas never sur.
passed that an unexampled develop.
ment OF trade could take place while
at the same time there WIS applied TO
the home industries not only the pro.
lection OF customs tariffs but also that
Of combinations within the empire.
The German trusts, or cartels, II you
wish-the thing Is the same-encour-
aged by the government, in connection
with the German method Of promoting
trade in foreign countries and the lay
ing OF protective home tariffs. secured
for them the very markets about which
the vision OF Mckinley conferred. But
at the time Mckinley was uttcring the
words that Democratic statesman
now finds so inspired the Democratic
party was engaged In campaign OF
bitter attack on the tariff and on its
so-ealled progeny that finally stamped.
ed the country. We may now wonder
what 1t was all about. A protective
tariff and even combinations and trusts
and big business are In high favor in
circles where formerly there was moth
ing but condemnation for them.
And, moreover, the Mckinley VI
sion, too, was taken up sensibly by the
Commercial Museum people here in
Philadelphia, who knew that foreign
trade was not only matter OF govern
mental legislation, but of individual
preparation and technical understand
ing and q general credit system that
would work wonders whatever the fis.
cal policy of any home government
might be. But they have been as
voices crying in the wilderness, since
the country was led to believe that
with approximate free trade and the
abolition Of all trusts and combinations
the millennium for American trade
would arrive. What fools paradise
we should have been in the war fortu.
nately has prevented us from learning;
but 1t Is time for us to take the Mckin.
ley vision as guide to develop the
plans Of conquest laid down twenty
years ago by our local experts and also
to take a leaf from German experience
as to the value of combinations and
tariffs at home as the ornamental
method for the conquest Of the worlds
markets at large.