Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-11
HEED PAID TARIFF
PROTESTS BY u. S.
Change in Nations Attitude,
Because of Growing Export
Trade, Is Revealed.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

The transmission to the Senate Of
protests against the proposed new
tariff. and the publication of them, is
a sign of q change that has real mean
ing The change lies in the fact that
this time serious attention is paid to the
protests. Similar protests came during
previous tariff revisions, and the atti-
previous tariff revisions. and the atti-
tude then, as expressed in the literal
words of an old-time Senator. was let
EN- howl" Some present high-tarlf
Senators continue in that attitude. But
the most important of the business lead
ers to whom such Senators cater have
changed their position.
Today, the biggest business interests
in America do a large export business.
Therefore, they have a sound CONNER
cial reason for not stirring up resent
ment abroad. In former revisions, the
businesses most concerned with the
tariff did little or no export business,
and had no concern except to get the
whole of the American market. Also
at the time of former reviSionS, our
chief exports were farm products such
as cotton and other raw materials ike
copper. The feeling then was that
foreign countries had to have these raw
materials, and that they could not back
up their protests with action.
Manufactured Goods Now Sent.
Now. however, much of our exports
are manufactured goods, which for
eigners can get elsewhere II they WISH.
One of our chief exporters Is the
automobile industry. The heads OF
that industry early took account OF
the present protests from foreign ma
tions. and counseled moderation in the
new tariff. That caused resentment
among protected industries, who want
the tariff high, and among their
spokesmen in Congress. This resent
ment Is at least a part OF the motlve
for sIInmoning the automobile men 10
appear before the Senate finance com
nittee. The spirit, in part at least.
one which says in effect: Ine au0o-
mobile people want the whole tarHi "
be moderate, so let them TAKE . u.s.
of their own medicine" Reductlon Oh
the 25 per cent duty on foreign auto
mobiles is in part a retaliation against
that industry, and is also in part an
effort to make the tariff as wnole
look lower to the public.
The automobile men do not really
care much whether their tariff is re.
dyced or not. No foreign machine coulo
make any material headway IN Amer.
lea. even If there were no tariff. Wnat
the automobile people want most
urgently is expanding sales ABROAD. 10
accomplish that the automoplie inouS,
protests and eager to- nave our "iioi0
tariff made moderate.
Heed Business Battle.
While the foreign protests are taken
seriously by many large American nusl-
resseS and bv many important pubic
men in Congress and out of it, some CT
the old spirit of ignoring such protesCs
stiIl survives. The controversy Is main
1v between two groups OF business men,
Gne group wants only or NANNY tIe
American market and demands protec-
tion The other group wants NANNY
the foreign market and demands mou-
Grafton of the tariff in order TO make
good will abroad. A..
II would be risky to assume that the
foreign protests viii be 100 per cen'
needed in Congress. Some OF tne asiCa4
ton on this point is. as senator SmooI
saws, politics pure ana simple. Me .I.a,,
reservations are not out OF oroer WIZ
The democratic Senator, Harrison, from
the practically wholly farming state OF
Mississinpi. speaks up with eloquenI
concern in behalf of "our foreign trace
built up through the genius Oh Aineri-
There is one difficulty about heed
mo the foreign protests Most OF the
tariff items against which foreign. ma
tions protest are duties In favor OF our
farm goods. When Canada ana Ar
centins complain, it is against duties
which penalize their corn and wneat
and fiayseed and dairy products. TO re-
duce our duties protecting our farm
crops. in order to make good Will Tor tne
sale of our manufactures abroad. would
not seem good to the American farmer.
IT would seem to him like the old story
of making the American farmer the goat
and making the American manufacturer
the favored fair haired boy" If there
is ANYTHING certain about the present
tariff revision, it is that the revision
must be in the interest of the farmer.
Threats Strength Is Undetermined.
Just how much there Is in the threat
ened uniting of all Europe in Gus
toms union is hard to say. That device
has been recommended to Europe by
many economists and statesmen, includ-
ing q most distinguished group of Amer
lean bankers and leaders.
A European customs union contem-
plates mutual free trade within Europe,
and a united Europe against America.
If such q customs union should ever
come into effect, 1t would be, in the
Judgment of many, the salvation Of
Europe Upon America it would have
a most seriously adverse effect. The
best Judgment Is that mutual jealousies
within Europe will defer customs