Milford chronicle., 1926-08-06

the financial centers, once favorable
to protection and usually Republi-
can, who due to changes in the in
ternational financial situation, are
now in favor of larger importatiOns.
In the West, too, certain leaders
usually classe1 as Republicans, are
seeking to persuade the farmers to
believe that they ought to stand for
a lower tariff.
An interesting sidelight on shift
ing conditions is furnished by one
of the Democratic candidates for the
Senate in Indiana, who is Il well
known business man and banker in
private life. He is quoted as dcclar-
ing recently: mo one IS promising
free trade, and no one proposes to
jump from protection to free trade.
What we do propose is tariff duties,
the objective of which is effective
competition between foreign and do
mestic producers. What we do pro-
pose is first, the immediate substi-
tuition of a moderate tariff act for
the present immoderate act, and
thereafter slowly progressive tariff
reduction in the direction of tariff
for revenue only. In that progress
sive reduction, while anxious not to
disturb business imprudently and
unfairly, we should always think of
the consumer for whom, in much
tariff revision, there has been no
thought at ALL"
i
This sort of a tariff statement in
dicates of course, the belief of the
Democratic leaders in Indiana that
free trade is no longer a popular
battle cry. And the suggestion of
a gradual modification of the tariff
will take the student of history back
to the days of Andrew Jackson when
Henry Clay, in a period of national
crisis, although a staunch protec-
zionist himself, conceived a compro-
mise tariff which would gradually
reduce the rates and at the same
time, so Clay believed; prevent a
civil war. This gradual reduction,
however, ultimately flooded the
country with imports and produced
a huge army of unemployed.
! This quotation from the state
ment of prominet Democrat is not
given to convey the impression that
it is the Democrats alone who are
modifying their views on the tariff
because of pressure within the par
ty. The Republicans, as inferred
above, are not standing firm at all
points in the line, and in certain
sections of the country some Of the
leaders are just as prone to hedge
as the Democrats. In doing this
they are overlooking an important
and effective issue.
The suggestion that the consumer
is not always given enough consid-
Grafton in framing tariff schedules
brings up the question as to who is
the consumer. In America nearly
every man, and many of the women,
are producers rather than consum-
ers. The producers are in the great
majority. AS this is a government
by majority it is difficult to see just
why giving prosperity to the pro-
ducer would not have the tendency
to bring greater prosperity all
around.
Announcement was made recent
ly that the city of Vincennes, Ind,
would buy the site of historic Fort
Sackville. A bond issue of $4,000
has been authorized for the purpose.
The old buildings on the site will be
torn down and the ground prepared
for Identification. This announce
ment will be of interest to every stu
dent of history. In the eighteenth
century Vincennes was an outpost
of civilization. 1t was founded by the
French and then captured by the
English. One hundred and forty
eight years ago it was captured by
the new American government by
George Rogers Clark and his sturdy
band of frontiersmen.
Every schoolboy knows the story
of Vincennes, of the heroic invasion
of Clark and his men, how they
waded the swollen streams, going
for miles waist deep in water, hold
ing their guns and ammunition high
above their heads to keep it dry;
hour +bav oOuon1efe1v s11rnriSed the