Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-05-02
THE LAW a, OF TRADE.

produced Ill ono country CAedpCI lidA
in another, that is the proper place to
produce them" George Z. Roberts.
This is not the dictum of a free
trader" of the old school, but of a
student of international trade of the
Mckinley school. In fixing national
policy Mr.. Roberts would unquestion-
ably take into account certain funda-
mental differences, such as scale OF
wages and conditions Of living.-Des
Moines Register.
If the paragraph quoted from Mr..
Roberts is not the dictum Of free
trader of the old school the general
impression in this country of free trade
dictum is wrong. Richard Golden
advocated unrestricted commerce and
when Gladstone held his tariff debate
with Blaine he took the same ground.
1t was Cobden's theory, likewise Glad
stones, also the demOcraticc party's in
years agone, that tariff fOr revenue
only was the only tariff justified, and
there can be no protection in tariff
for revenue only if laid honestly and
consistently.
The Register tries to modify Mr..
Roberts bold declaration for free
trade by declaring that the disting-
uished economist would undoubtedly
take into account certain fundamental
differences, such as scales of wages
and conditions of living" If those
fundamental differences" are taken
into account in the framing of a tariff
law, free trade is put out of the run
ming and a protective tariff must re-
suit. Domestic producers can and will
hold the American market if granted
protection to the extent of compensat-
ing for the difference in wages paid
here and abroad and for the difference
Of the costs of living in this country
and elsewhere. That is the warp and
wool of the protective principle and the
general warfare of this country can
ask no more. It is Numerically opposed
Ito the principles laid down by Mr..
Roberts when he says, IF goods can
be produced in one country cheaper
than in another. that is the proper
place to produce them" What free
trader would go farther?
1t is an economic impossibility for
the manufacturer in the United States
to pay his workmen at the rate of S.
per day and hold the American market
lin competition with the foreign manu-
facturer who secures similar labor at
50 per day, other things being sub
stantially equal.
students of international trade of
the Mckinley school" believed in no
such doctrine, the esteemed Register
to the contrary Notwithstanding. They
believed and still believe in protective
tariff that lays duties based upon the
difference Of cost of production here
and elsewhere. In other words, they
believed and still believe, in good
old protective tariff
Mckinley was elected president Of
the United States in 1896 and nobody
will deny that he and his friends die
tated the platform upon which the
republican party fought its battles to
victory that year. That platform
doesn't sustain the claim of the Reg
lister that protectionists of the McKin-
| ley school believed in the sort of tariff
/ that Geo. f. Roberts is now advocat-
ing. Here is just what the platform of
1896 did say about protection:
I'VE renew and emphasize our al
legiance to the policy of protection as
the bulwark of American industrial
independence and the foundation of
American development and prosperity.
The true American policy taxes for
eign products and encourages home
industry; it puts the burden of revenue
on foreign goods; 1T SECURES THE
AMERICAN MARKET FOR THE
AMERICAN PRODUCER; it upholds
the American standard of wages for
the American working man it puts the
factory by the side of the farm, and
makes the American farmer less de-
pendent on foreign demands and price :
| it diffuses general thrift and Pounds
the strength OF all on the strength of
each. In its reasonable application it
is just, fair and impartial; equally OPP
posed to foreign control and domestic
monopoly. to sectional discrimination
and individual favOritism"
At that time we were operating
under a democratic tariff. as we are
now, and conditions were most unsatis-
factory. Continuing, the tariff plank
upon which Mckinley was elected,
isaid:
"We denounce the present democrat tic
tariff as sectional, injurious to the