Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-05-19
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One year. $500 Six months. 800
TARIFF.

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The overthrow of every govern
mcnt since the beginning Of Gov
crmmcnts llaS been the result of
struggle for equal protection, and
against special favorS. Our own
struggle for independence was made
necessary by our being unable to
otherwise prevent laws working
greater iiardships upon us than
we're worked upon others under the
protection of the British crown.
We were willing 10 bear our pCr--
dion of the burdens, but no unjust
portion. SO when wc-~bccamc i'll
dependent States, and organized
our union, there was incorporated
into our constitution the funda--
mental principle that all should
Shave equal protection Of the law.
A Government that could take the
property of some Of its citizens and
give ii to others was intolcrablc in
the opinion Of the fathers OF our
country.
During the wal of 1912 foreign
manufacturers were unable TO send
their products to this country, and
as many manufactured articles were
absolutely necessary, a number of
factories were started here to sup
ply the very urgent demand. At the
close of the war the foreign manu-
factlTers had accumulated a Sur--
plus, and, being greatly in need of
funds, began TO unload their pro-
ducts in this country at prices
much lower than the little indus
Ties just begun in his country could
compete with. If such conditions
had been allowed to continue, our
small industries would have been
forced to close.
1t was therefore urged in Con
grcSS that something be done by the
government to protect our infant in
dustricS against sitting COMPETE
tion, so that in case there should be
other war our country would moi
be handicapped as it had been in
ahc war Of 1872, because of the in
ability to get tho necessary manu-
featured articles. Consequently, a
tariff was proposed, which added
10 the cost Of the foreign product,
would make the foreign product
cost the consumer as much or more
tllan the American product. This
was opposed because the effect OF
il would be tocompcl the American
consumer to pay a great deal more
for the American product that he
would otherwise have to pay for
the foreign product. 1t was urged
that the government had no right
TO pass laws that would result in
forcing part of its citizens to pay
dighcr prices for things just in
order that other Of its citizens could
make money; THAT TO do so, would
not be giving equal protection of
The law.
Those favOring the tariff, argued
that the government needed the
money it would get from the high
cr tariff; that the American manu-
facturc had to pay higher wages
than the foreign manufacturer, and
that the tariff was needed to keep
wages UP, and they repeated the ar
guncnt about The benefit these
manufacturing establishments would
bc to the whole country if they
were saved, in the event of another
war.
Those opposing the tariff replied
That so long as the people were buy
ing foreign products, American
manufacturers would not dc bcnc-
tiled by the tariff, and that if the
tariff were made SO high that the
American people bought the Ameri-
can manufacturers products, the
gCYcrnmcn would get no rcycnua
Tf::'om the tariff, as no foreign pro-
ducts would be coming in; that
american manufac tuners would
never pay their employees any high
Cr wages than was necessary to al
tract laborcrS from other activities
that they might engage in and that
the manufacturers were urging that
no restrictions be placed on immi-
grafton i'll order that foreign labor
would come to this country and re-
suit Ill Elcir getting cheaper labor:
and there was no any immediate
prospect OF another war, and that
It was not good policy 10 cncour-
age businesses where they could not
be maintained as economically as
elsewhere.
AS the manufacturers had great
deal ut stake they did everything
they could TO educate the public to
their point of view. and as there
were no special intcress behind
those who thought protective tariff
wrong TO finance campaign Of op-
position to the proposed tariff the
advocate Of the higher ariT won.
Had the manufacturers been con-
tent with fair profits there would
G1avC been some Justification for the