Milford chronicle., 1929-06-21
ANTI-PROTECTION SOPHIsTRIEs

ANTI-PROTECTION SOPHISTRIES
Opponents of the protective policy
are not now strong enough in this
country to make a frontal attack on
the principle of protection. This
has become the settled policy of the
country, and during the last cam
paign the old arguments against
protection were not heard from any
quarter.
Anti-protectionist therefore limit
themselves to attacks upon the
schedules of any protective tariff
bill introduced. They deal in wild
generalizations about excessive rates
and "robber" schedules which they
assert wgA increase the cost of liv-
ing. They tell how much the pro-
posed new tariff will cost by the
sophistical expedient of adding the
rates to the prices of all commodi
ties consumed in the United States.
Experience has proved that import
ers do not sell what they buy abroad
on the basis of cost to them. They
merely undersell the domestic pro-
ducer enough to take the American
market, and by the time the article
has reached the ultimate consumer
the price of the foreign article is
equal to that of the article made in
America. If thus given the oppor-
tunity to cripple or destroy domes-
tic production, the price of the for
eign article is raised to new heights,
as was illustrated in the case of
certain grades of women's gloves
when an adequate tariff was refused
by this government and American
factories were compelled to "shut
up shop"
The test of the justification of any
tariff rate is whether it more than
measures the difference in the cost
Of labor entering into the production
of the article at home and abroad.
You probably have noticed that no
such analysis is attempted by crit
les of the pending tariff bill. Does
the proposed tariff on sugar more
than represent the difference in
cost of labor between the Cuban
Deon and the American beet sugar
raiser or factory worker? This is
he essential problem involved, but
t is never discussed by the imagina-
i've politicians who would prefer
1eon-made sugar to sugar grown
Ind manufactured by Americans en-
Dying the American standard of |
wages and living.
The American people will be and |
hould be guided in their considera-
ion of tariff schedules not by the
wishes of foreign employers who at
ain cheapness of production by
happening the worker, by import
rs who contribute nothing to our
Industrial upbuilding, by interna-
ional investors who seek to bring |
bout worldwide economic COM
lunism, but by the just interests of
he American people. The demand
Or protective tariff is based upon
he difference between American
nd foreign wages and standards of
wing. The American people do not
ropose to surrender our high
tandard of living. 1t can be pro-
scted only by tariff schedules
leasuring the difference in labor
Osts at home and abroad. Let it be
lown that the proposed tariff
ehedules violate this principle and
lie American people will agree that
"robber tariff is in sight. Those
no care to take the time to read
lie House hearings on the tariff will
salize that this principle has been
ept steadily in mind in adjusting
lie tariff and that in many instances
lie full bridging of this gap has not
zen asked or received by American
roducers.