Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-03-26
Is Going Through Great
est Trial England Has
Ever Seen.
MANCHESTER ADOPTS
STRONG RESOLUTION
General Tariff Urged by
Spectator and Has Many
Supporters.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press)

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.)
I ONDON. March 10.-Free trade
II the very cornerstone of the Brit
ish fiscal policy. is going through the
greatest trial it has had since the his
torc days of Golden and Bright, and
Greater far than the uDheaval a dozen
Years ago when Joseph Chamberlain
threw the bomb of protection. The
latter agitation was political with the
picturesque personality of Chamber
lain behind it, but this new movement
is spontaneous with the people and
great business organizations and is
gaining strength as 1t proceeds. 1t
began in the group of great CONNER.
cial cities-Manchester, Birmingham
Sheffield and Bradford--linked to-
gether as one community and Is
sweeping through the country. rival
I ling even the war as a topic of heated
discussion, and taking a firm hold OF
the government itself.
Manchester, the citadel of free
trade and the home Of Golden, has
taken the most drastic action In re-
jecting the traditional doctrine on
which a good deal of its fame rests
The board of directors Of its Chamber
of Commerce. being men inheriting
the old Golden spirit, sought to re-
assert the traditions of the city by re-
iterating the Manchester doctrine of
FREQ trade. BY unanimous vote Of
30 out of 33 directors present they
adopted the following resolution:
A Real Free Trade.
"The Manchester chamber adheres
to the policy of free trade, not a mere
doctrinaire free trade. but free trade
for the purpose of admitting imports
at the lowest possible cost, especially
raw materials and semi
articles. which are practically the raw
materials of various trades; and the
chamber resists proposals for protec-
tive tariffs, seeing that these bolster
up artificially inefficient industry at
the expense of the community"
This resolution brought on a storm
such as Manchester has not seen since
the war began. 1t was at once chal-
lenged by the new protective element
of the body and a vote called for the
full chamber. On the vote the direc-
tors were overwhelmed two to one,
9Ss to 527. a majority of 461 against
them and their free trade pronounce
inert. The position of the directors
at once became untenable. and the
thirty who had passed the resolution
submitted their designations. These
were accepted with thanks and cheers
and a new board not committed to
free trade is being chosen. The men
who resigned include two Manchester
members of parliament, Mr. Needham
and Mr. Nidd. and many of the solid
old figures of Manchester life. But
II was not so much the action itself.
but the symptom it showed # deep
change Of sentiment at the home of
the old free trade movement which
las aroused the liveliest comment
here and throughout the country.
Birmingham and other industrial
communities have spoken along SINH
lar lines, but without the sensational
exit of the staid free trade directors.
Birmingham's resolution calls for the
appointment of business men to form
ulate business policies. particularly
the formation of a general tariff sys-
tenn This is recognized as part OF
the same movement against the ira