Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-04-27
EACH FOR ITSELF.

organization that may DO accepted as
representative of the farming interests |
OF lower Delaware. at a meeting last
week adopted resolution strongly |
opposing the proposed imposition of
n high protective duty on potash. as
provided for I'm the Tariff bill now
The Sussex farmers, In support of
their position. set forth the fact that
potash Is ono OF the needed plant food
elements In our fertilizers, and that
this country has no natural deposits
Of potash.
This protest Is based on a sound
fact, and should bo conclusive, but il
will not be. There are interests which
will urge the imposition of heavy du-
ties on imported potash. because it
will enable them TO charge much
higher prices for their fertilizer prod
ucts. and thus enhance their profits.
Farmers. however. recognize the fact
that they will be mulcted in all pur-
chsses OF fertilizers by the enhanced
prices consequent upon the imposi-
tion Of tariff taxation. and therefore
will suffer. And so. naturally, they
protest.
But where will our Sussex farmers
stand on the proposed imposition of
tariff duties on imported farm prod
ucts by the new tariff measure? It
IN probable that most OF them will
favor such duties, In the hope they
would enable them to obtain much
higher prices for their farm products,
and thus add to their profits. The
general experience has been, however.
that protective tariff duties on farm
products. especially grain, do not
benefit the American farmers, who
have 20 invite foreign market in
order TO dispose OF their surplus crops.
To this protest OF farmers against
proposed duties on potash. which
would impose burden upon them
will no doubt be added other protests
~ other interests learn how they Will
he directly and heavily mulcted by
the tax impositions Of the new bill
Take the one item Of gloves. but q
very important one. Most OF the
gloves for women sold In this country
are imported, principally from France
and Il has been estimated the tax vii
result IN an addition Of from one dol
lar TO $3.50 per pair TO the retail pric,
Of imported gloves. VIII the women o
our country, the largest users OF i'm
ported gloves. submit patiently 10 thi
imposition? II may be set down a
fact they Will not. But the manu-
sacturers OF gloves here at home WI
insi., upon the tariff imposition. as
would enable them TO charge tn
highest prices for their products.
Thus, II Will be seen the protectiv
tax is ever in the direction Of highe
prices, and that while producers prof
by II. consumers suffer In pocket. Ye
II has been demonstrated. time an
again. that the country. as a whole
has no need for protective tariff taxa
tion. and has prospered under tari
enactments which entirely ignore
the selfish policy OF protection an
were prepared solely for the purpos
OF producing revenue. As rule, hig
protective duties do not literally pre-
duce revenue, AZ they operate to hea,
Ny restrict imports and thus reduc
customs receipts. The McKinle
Tariff law, one OF the price-raisin
measures that brought overwhelmin
defeat upon the Republican part
was entitled "An Act TO Reduce Re,
enue." for that was its purpose ar
its result. But II operated to emo
mously increase prices and the peop
immediately revolted.
Nor Is there the remotest room
these days for the contention tn
high protective tariff duties are nece
ssry In order 10 protect America
industry" American industry h
shown its capacity to compete wi
the entire world. In a profitable ma
ner, under a revenue tariff. New
in all the history OF the country, h
revenue tariff interfered with o
national prosperity. and never "
1, have such a result.
In view of these facts. these el
nsnts VI purely personal interests.