The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-06-12


Arguments Face Two Ways IL
Campaign. Both Sides Think They
Have Good Thunder"
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Of all th'
muddled situations that confront th'
politicians as they draw their lines toi
the next presidential fray there L
none to compare with the tariff.
Something has gone wrong with th'
tariff, 1t is not acting according &c
Dolitical tradition. But it is, neverthe-
less, in the forefront OF every pohtlca
discussion-the press agents OF the
two old parties are hammerlng away
on the subject even thus early in the
campaign and there is every reason &c
believe that despite the wet and dry
issue. despite the contention as to the
world court, despite the difference IN
democratic and republican conceptions
OF a proper international policy, the
old tariff, veteran OF many hard
fought battle, will be found dong
business at the same old stand on the
musings when the Ides OF 1924 issue
in the auadrennal scrimmage Tor the
suffrage OF a free people.
Dropped From Sight in 1920.
The tariff represents one OF the few
fundamental differences between the
democratic and republican parties: II
was almost lost sight OF in the I9IO
campaign, so keen was the issue over
the league OF nations. Many persons
thought the tariff was dead. The re-
publicans sighted it in their platform,
So did the democrats. But now as
1924 approaches and battle fronts are
being formed the tariff looms up once
more as the great bone OF contention.
The broad claim OF the democrats
TODAY is that the tariff is to blame tor
all the high prices prevailing.
The broad claim OF the republicans
is that the tariff is responsible for an
almost unprecedented wave OF pros
perity sweeping the greater part OF
the nation.
The remarkable part OF the situation
is that 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 to
the innocent bystander it would seem
that you can take absolutely the same
set OF figures and make theretrom a
perfectly consistent speech in behalf
of either the democratic or the repub-
lican contention.
In such circumstances there is not
much hope for the voter.
Imports Climb Steadily.
When the Fordney-M cCumber tar
iff bill was enacted it was stated that
il imposed the highest duties levied
in a third OF az century. 1t was said
that the duties were so high that they
would constitute tariff wall, shut
ting out all foreign products and
thereby defeating one OF the purpos-
es OF the bill-the raising OF revenues
TO help support the government and
bring down domestic taxes.
Instead OF falling off with the levy
ing OF the new high duties imports
have been steadily climbing until at
last they have unbalanced the exports
from the United States by something
like S60.000,000 a month. This is the
first adverse trade balance the United
States has faced in many years.
The republicans naturally are point
ing to the figures with pride. They
a wonderful success as a revenue pro-
Queer and has brought more exports
into the country than ever before.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
The democrats, arguing from the
same premises, ask where there Is
protection to American industry in ar
act which brings in more foreign
goods than ever before. The tariff eX-
perts OF the administration say thai
the decrease in exports Is due to the
fact that the big market and h1gf
prices prevailing in the United State'
have not made it necessary Tor Amer
lean manufacturers and producers tc
dump their goods upon the torelgr
market.
The democrats say that the higf
prices which are keeping potential eN
ports at home are entirely due to tht
high tariff rates and that the hlgf
prices reflect the increased cost to tbs
American consumer OF the high tariff
rates.
The democrats are claiming that thu
recent unwarranted rise in the price Q
sugar was due to the tariff. 1t IS ad
mitted that the new rates put into
6T16Cl last september only alliCt'iit ~
to an increase OF one-siNth OF a cen
a pound, whereas the market has riser
over three cents a pound. Still tn
tariff wall" is blamed by the retner
for their big boost in prices.
The democratic claims as to hlgf
prices in general and as to sugar i
particular appear to be well ground
ed, at least in theory, until a turthe
examination OF the official figures !
made
They show that in addition to suga
the greatest increases in price recent
" have been shown in furs, raw sill
and rubber.
Situation Muddled.
And furs. raw silk and rubber ar
on the Tree hist There is no TART
against them because they are not, an
cannot be, raised il this country. Th
republicans therefore say that II suga
had been Oh the free list 1t Woul
have gone 10, too.
1t is small wonder that the poIlt'
clans are muddled over the situation
When they begin their counter-bat
terv work in the next campaign tn
voter will be nluddled also.
But no matter what the figures ma