The Washington herald., 1916-01-21
divorce TARIFF
FROM POLITICS
Permanence and Stability the
Great Need Of American
Trade.
PROBLEMS OF THE WAR

New York, Jan. eo-Tariff is Destined
TO be a major topic of discussion IN 1916.
Crowded as the debate generally is with
technicalities. the average citizen gives
up trying TO think for himself on the
tariff and believes what his party tells
him. observes the Odd Lot Review Yet
the question Of tariff is this Presidential
Of all Presidential years, Of individual
importance TO every man in the United
States because II involves the whole
United States. II should be taken out Of
the hands of the professional politician.
II should be taken out OF the hands Of
the most interested representatives Of big
business. 1t should be decided by the
whole country for the whole country on
common sense lines
Naturally the steel people, the wooden
people and the other ex-infant industries
want the old sky-high protective tariffs
put back. Judge Gary in his recent
speech held up the ogre OF an immediate
thrush of foreign competition in all lines
immediately after the war. His words
left the impression Of British battleships
ploughing toward the shores Of the
United States jammed with steel rails,
the moment peace is declared. No such
speedy arrival is likely.
As a matter OF fact, II will probably
not be for at least a couple or years
after the war that America viii be
threatened in her home markets with
serious foreign competition. Judge Gary,
while distinguished in other lines, has
never met with great success as a pro
rhetic economist In this case. however.
there is a possibility that he Is anxious
to have the country look ahead-so as
to assure the policy for the next foFi
wears, IL possible. In that period war
or no war. the United States will have
the opportunity Of dominating interna-
tional trade.
1t is abroad and not at home that
the effects of sound or unsound tar1h
policy will first be apparent
1t is a permanent policy, not details OF
a transient policy which American trade
prospects demand.
Even though they won't admit Il public.
iy, most leaders Of Industries formerly
sheltered by the maximum protection
concede that coming out in the open
has proved beneficial They say that II
took a miracle like the European war TO
permit the Industries or allow the in
dustrfal United States to survive the ex-
pertinent but they admit the experience
so far has helped rather than hurt the
patient.
Take the wooden industry. for instance.
In New England were many mills with
more or less incompetent heads Of i'm
portant departments Many held their
places because they owned stock OF be
cause they were related TO owners Abo-
lition of the tariff forced housecleaning
and the attainment OF efficiency. Then
the war came along before the patient
died-if he was going TO die, which some
doubt
Now that the war has not merely pro
tected the United States against indus
trial invasion. but has made her the in
dustrial invader. the tariff problems
should be entirely divorced from politics
and the country committed to a perms-
nent tariff policy. In order for manu-
facturers to seize the opportunities for
world trade which are presenting them
selves. IL is necessary that they should
know where they stand in the matter OF
the American tariff policy. World trade
is not won in a twelvemonth. II requires
years of patient cultivation. There are
comparatively few students Of American
business conditions who are not agreed
that a tariff is a necessity in some lines
Not a wall so high that powerful giants
will be allowed to live in slothful and
luxurious ease. but one which will afford
legitimate protection where protection is
really needed.
Almost any reasonable set Of reguls-
tions allowed TO remain stable over a
period Of years would be better thsn a
shifting of the laws, but from the stand
point of attaining the place which des-
tiny seems TO have assigned especially
10 the United States. II is necessary that
Americans looking on the international
trade opportunity should know where
they stand over a period Of years. This
is difficult in a tickle and republican
country. but II the leaders Of the two
great parties can reflect patriotism by
ignoring the opportunity OF exchanging
repartee, II they will work for the best
interests of the whole country. the goal
ha +faN