Evening star., 1931-12-06
CONNALLY SCORES TARIFF
AS A DEPRESSION CAUSE
Senator Cites Shrinkage of More Than
sl,375,OOO,OOO in Exports During 1880,
i'm Radio Forum Address.

fore passage it pretended to aid the
laboring man with more employment
and higher wages. After passage labor
ing men without jobs are increased by
the millions Where is the laborer
whose wages has been increased?
Where are the new jobs it promised?
billion more dollars out of the pock-
cts of the consumers. Where has that
billion dollars gone? 1t has not gone
to the farmer. It has not gone to the
labor!ng man. 1t was intended to go
to increase the profits Of few power
ful interests. In the long run. how
ever, because Of shrinkage In trade,
these very interests may lose more than
they gain.
Denies Trade Promoted.
And what has it done for American
trade? 1t was declared to be an act
to promote United States trade. How
has 1t promoted that trade? For the
year 1880 the value Of United States
exports shrunk more than 1875 000, 900
under exports for 1929 For the first
10 months Of 1881 they have fallen
more than a billion under 1890 For
1880, imports of goods to the United
States were s1,33S, 100000 below the i'm
ports for 1929 In the first 10 months
Of 1881 imports fell more than billion
under 1880. There was reason for
that. Back of it was a cause. Some
thing made our exports smaller. Some
thing kept out imports. Something
slowed up international trade. The
Smoot- -Hawley Skyscraper tariff barrier
aroused foreign nations to retaliation.
Canada lifted her walls higher. Great
Britain has reversed her traditional pol
icy and imposed tariff duties. Other
countries in lesser and greater degrees
have done likewise. Tariffs and trade
barriers are hurdles over which trade
and commerce cannot easily vault. The
people of the United States possess sur
pluses Of goods needed in foreign lands
Other nations possess stocks OF goods
we need International trade consists
of the exchange of such commodities.
World trade is in traffic jam. There
is congestion and stagnation. Business
is not moving The tax upon 1t Is too
great. We cannot sell our goods abroad
to buy foreign goods they refuse to buy
ours.
Time Required for Revision.
General revision probably could not
session. A bill repeating the present
law and restoring the old Fordney-
McCumber rates has been suggested
There are those who propose the enact
ment of legislation based on reciprocity
with foreign nations. No one now knows
what may transpire. While the House
majority is Democratic, the Senate is
still in control of the Republicans A
Republican President is in the White
House. 1t is assumed that the President
will veto any amelioration of tariff
burdens No one believes that he will
be willing to lessen the high rates now
in effect. While moderate tariff re-
vision could be passed by the Senate,
1t would certainly meet an Executive
veto. Legislative control always carries
legislative responsibility. The Democrats
will not shirk that responsibility So
far as lies within their power they will
open up the channels Of foreign trade
They hope to move our surplus of wheat
and cotton and agricultural products
and other export commodities TO foreign
marketS-they are willing to exchange
such goods in those markets for goods
which our people need. Business will
never revive until the purchasing power
Of agriculture, labor and the producing
classes is restored. Trade, commerce
exchange, busy and busting market
bustling world market will 90 far
toward restoring prosperity and normal
business.