The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-06-05
Tariff and Politics

warranted increase in the price OF SUI
gar has evidently made certain that
the tariff will be the major issue in the
next presidential campaign. For it has
served 10 bring the entire question
once more before the public at the
particular place where the public most
acutely feels tin the pocketbook
Not that the tariff on sugar can ex-
cuse the thorough gouging that the
public is receiving. For the tariff on
sugar was increased only one-sixth of
a cent pound whereas the wholesale
prices has been boosted not less than
three cents.
This is the way the situation is sum-
med up by Washington News cor
respondent:
The broad claim of the Democrats
today is that the tariff is to blame for
all the high prices prevailing
THE broad claim of the Republic
cans is that the tariff is responsible for
an almost Unprecedented wave of pros
pcrity sweeping the greater part of the
nation. The remarkable part of the
situation is that the figures just made
public by the department of commerce
seem to corroborate both claims. The |
more the politicians study the figures |
the more muddled they become. and 10 |
an innocent bystandcr il would seem
that you can take absolutely the same
set of figures and make therefrom
perfectly consistent speech in behalf
OF either the Democratic or the Repub-
lican contention. In such Circumstance
Is there Is not much hope for the voter.
When the Fordney-M Cumber tar
III bill was enacted it was stated that
It imposed the highest duties levied in
q third of a century. II was said the
duties were so high that they would
constitute tariff wall. shutting out all
foreign products and thereby defeat I
ing one OF the purposes of the bill-the
raising of revenues to help support the
government and bring down domestic ,
axes.
Instead Of falling off with the levy
ng Of the new high duties, imports |
rave been steadily climbing until at
asst they have outbalanced the exports $
rom the United States by something
ike $6O.0O0,0O0 a month. This is the
irst adverse trade balance the United
states has faced in many years.
The Republicans naturally are
vomiting to the figures with pride {
They say that the new tariff act has I
'roved a wonderful success as a rev.
nue producer and has brought more c
IMPORTS into the country than ever .
eforc.
THE Democrats. arguing from the n
anne premise, ask whether there is
rejection to- American industry in an
ct which brings more foreign goods
the administration say that the de- y
lat the big market and high prices n
REVEALING in the United States have -
Dt made it necessary for American
and producers to dump
'eir goods upon the foreign market
The Democrats say the high prices g
hich are keeping potential exports at n
,mc are entirely due to the high tar "
rates.
The Democrats are claiming that :
{ recent unwarranted rise in the price ig
sugar was due to the tariff. 1t is
United that the new rates put into an
ect last September only amounted -.
an increase of one-sixth of a cent a Jul
und, whereas the market has risen co
ore than 3 cents a pound. Still the fir
riff wall is blamed by the rehners
: their big boost in price. p,'
The Democratic claims as TO high OF
ces in general and as to sugar in do
rticular appear to be wellsgrounded. mai
least in theory until further ex- ~,
lination of the official figures is a"
de. ans
They show that in addition to SUI sta
: the greatest increases in price re- on,
lily have been shown in furs, raw
(, and rubber. And furs, rubber and Dec
' silk are on the free list. There ern
10 tariff against them because they
not and cannot be raised in this cr;,
lntry. The Republicans, therefore, -,
that If sugar had been on the free ana
il would have gone up too. mes
1t is small wonder that the politi- 6ce
- arc muddled over the situation
len they begin their counter battery ~
X in the next campaign the voter chi
be muddlcd also" mar
otcrs are certain to be muddlcd by p
contrary positions, But voters are nor,
~ to analyze the situation in the the
Of past experience, that they pre- sitio
to pay little more for protected Of /
moditics if they have a lot of
icy to pay with. And that seems A
< the only excuse for a high pro- :, /,
We tariff. II does aid materially -.
a true American STAN
Of living. han,