Evening star., 1923-11-21

From tho days OF Queen Elizabeth
Good Queen Bess"-until 1916, Eng
| land relied on protective tariffs to
stimulate its industries and farming.
In 1846 the manufacturing interests.
led by Richard Golden. succeeded.
after seven years Of agitation. In
abolishing protection on farm prod
, ucts by repeating the so-called
corn laws" dating back to 1863.
("Corn" was a general name for
farm products. particularly wheat
and other bread grains. England
never raised our kind Of corn-maize.)
Raw materials for manufactures
were also put on the free list. and
practically all protective tariffs were
abolished. Since then. free trade
has been the basis OF dominant Eng
ltsh economic doctrine. The policy
has been to cheaper food. even at
! the sacrifice OF farming, in order that
the farmers would seek employment
in the industries. and that employees
could live on cheaper wages. Low
wages depressed cost Of production.
, which enabled the manufacturers to
export in competition with other
I. Z X y
There already exists partial protec-
ton to a few industries, through q
law Of 1921. known az the Safe
guarding Of Industries Measure"
which permits the government TO put
| tarif on any article In whose i'm
portation there appears a menace to
British industries. And there are
revenue tariffs (not protective) on
spirits. tobacco and sugar.
= x r
Free trade Was unsuccessfui,y at
tackled in 1903 by the then colonial
secretary, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain.
When Mr.. Bonar Law succeeded Mr.
Lloyd George as prime minister. two
years ago. he pledged that during
the whole lifetime Of the parlia-
| mentary five years there would be
no attempt to interfere with the
fiscal and commercial system of the
country. because whatever advantage
would accrue" he said, "the disad-
vantage from disturbing trade would
be infinitely greater"
Prime Minister Bonar Law died q
few weeks ago. and he was succeeded
by Mr.. Stanley NJ. Baldwin Of the
same conservative party. Mr.. Bald
| win recognizes the sacredneSs OF the
pledge above quoted, and decides that
| II binds his administration. until he
| can secure mandate from the peo
pie fndorsing his proposed change
| OF the fiscal and commercial policy
| from free trade to protection. He
| therefore has advised the king TO
prorogue parliament that there might
be q new election, in whose campaign
protection would be the Issue.
Mr.. Lloyd George and Mr.. Asquith.
leaders OF the liberal party, are op-
| posing the Baldwin program in the
| interest OF free trade. The labor
| party, the socialists and the RADICALS.
! as well as the liberals. are all advo-
! eating free trade. In the interest OF
| exporters and importers.
! = X
! III Il speech at Swansea. October 90,
| Premier Baldwin opened his cam
paign, setting forth the general prin-
| ciples OF protection---to give employ
! meut to the idle-but avoiding de-
! tails as 10 what lines would be pro-
i, tected. He characterized "doles" to
| the idle as the opium OF tho public" ;"
\ and declared that Unemployment was
! neither local nor temporary.
! There can be neither peace nor
! HI ppiness in the land" hc said. "un-
/ til we have got the better of unem-
| ployment."
! He promised not to disturb the
| STANDARD of living" by protecting z
! agriculture. Therefore, the price of
| farm products will remain in compe-
| tition with the cheaper foods inl-
| ported. while farmers must buy In