The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-05-23
NEW MEXICO'S INTEREST
IN THE TARIFF BILL

n remarks in the senate in opposition 20 the
- republican tariff bill were confined 10 the
tariff Of 33 cents proposed on woods. The
democratic senate leader made the stock argu-
ment against a tariff, that the protection af.
forded the wool growers of this nation would
be at the expense OF American consumers, that
protection Of a single industry was being ac-
ccmplished VI the expense Of all the people.
II wool were the only American product pro-
posed for protection by a tariff this argument
might hold, although the percentages Of cost
which Senator Underwood argues viii be im-
posed upon the consumer by the wool tariff,
arr unduly high.
But a national policy protection places a
Ttafiff upon a great variety os products SO that
an industries, all classes, all occupations share
IA some portion OF the protection. The in
creased costs imposed by a tariff, when such
ACTUALLY occur, are absorbed by increased
earnings made possible through the tariff I'm.
POSED for the protection of some other product.
The tariff on WOODS may make an iHper-
ceptible increase in the cost Of men, clothing,
which IL standing alone, might prove n hard
ship 90 consumers. But the other tariffs inn
posed upon MANY other imports 50 advance the
profits and the earnings of labor in a thousand
6ther Industries as to far more than compensate
for the slight advance in the few pounds OF
iwool that actually enter into a suit of clothes.
The argument of an increased consumer cost,
due to n tariff for protection ~ American in
dnstry has always been fallacious and always
will be. for the simple reason that the whole
policy Of protection 80 %Sustains earning capacity
m all Industries as 20 permit absorption with
benefit ~ the increases that actually occur in
diving costs.
The maxim that a protective policy means
prosperity in this nation has never yet failed Of
demonstration II will not fail now.
This is particularly true Of New Mexico and
- 49,. -. =. .n..l .ul.ae.. INr.. xun.l hoe
always meant falling prices and declining pros
perity in inis state, as in the other states
wherein wool growing is a major industry. In
view Of this fact. which is easy Of dcmonstra-
> tion. il is dificalt TO see how New Mexico
people can find it consistent with their own
Interests TO support the national democratic
free trade policy.
Mr.. Underwood says that the tariff ON wool
benefits "only q few great stock growers. ~
But Mr.. Underwood. clear-thinking statesman
chat he is, must have known that the wool
statistics Of the nation prove that the great
Aockmasters' Of the west produce but a minor
.fraction Of the nation = annual production I'D
that II is the small flockmastcrs of the farming
areas who produce the best aud The most of the
ciip. When the senator argues that the Amer
lean farmer keeps no sheep and does not over
balance the increase in his clothing cost from
tie increase in his revenues from wool he has
-simEly been careless in his figuring or has
neglected 10 figure at all
The cold, indisputable fact is that free wool
benefits only one class, namely the manufac-
.aturers Of the eastern seahoard. II increases
their profits. II does not decrease clothing
..epsfs. II does not help the labor these mills
employ. Free wool aids the very smallest class
and the smallest number Of citizens, while a
sprotacted wool industry aids directly the
farmers and floekmasters Of the whole nation
and quite as directly the business and manu-
vfaeturing interests of vast extent which depend
I'D large measure ON that industry for pros
I0rfty.
'len Why should any citizen in New Mexico, alive
10 his or her personal interests and the general
welfare OF this state. vote TO send 10 congress
rJiemocratic representative committed 20 that
ssgaffy 5 policy Of free trade and against the
demonstrated benefits Of protectionf
The answer has not yet been supplied. Nc
doubt 1t will be attempted in The approaching
.tsmpaign. The effort will fail to carry con,
y;etion because Il is against the facts.
1880 --0