The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-24
Changing Tariff Views


men and farmers alike to get some
rather surprising tariff reactions.
This campaign has made the voters
tariff conscious. Not since the Taft
campaign when the Payne Aldrich
measure was an outstanding issue
has the tariff been such a storm CEN
ter.
Tariff is not the fetish it once was.
Not so long ago, it would be hard to
find in the Northwest free trader
among farmers or merchants. 1t is
not hard now. Many farmers and
trades people speak out in meeting
that the tariff, as conceived by the
Smoot- Hawley bill, is responsible for
much Of our depression made more
acute by retaliatory tariff walls
erected by nations once our best Gus
toners.
When President Hoover was about
to sign the Smoot HaWley tariff bill,
he had protests from leading eco
nomists as we'll as from representa-
tives Of foreign nations who drew
for him picture of tariff reprisals
that would follow enactment of the
measure. President Hoover signed it
and considerable of his political
troubles started right there.
Even President Hoover. in his
statement approving the bill, had to
make certain apologies and reserva-
tons. He placed great Importance
upon the flexible provisions under
the operation of so-called bipartisan
tariff commission. But like so many
more Hoover predictions, the prac-
tice Of the tariff has not worked out
as the theoretical conclusions PROM
ised.
The trouble with all excessive
tariffs is that they are as a two
edged sword. Where some modicum
Of protection is given with seeming
effectiveness there are many items
to which the tariff absolutely bars
all market or outlet, resulting in
closed factories and decreased pur-
chasing power. In fact, the Smoot-
Hawley bill has atrophied trade and
made the general depression much
more acute. This assertion is not
made without basis in fact. One has
only to read the analysis of students
to see just what losses in trade this
nation has suffered under the perni-
cious tariff rates of the Smoot- Haw-
ley measure. That little assistance
has been given agriculture is self
evident, for no business is in as bad
a plight as the farmers
The Republicans are seeking to ex-
plain away the retaliatory tariff
steps taken by many European ma
tons against the United States as
natural developments arising under
the Versailles treaty. Mr.. Hoover
told the American people recently
that such a trend was natural be-
cause Of new national units conceiv-
ed at Versailles. 1t takes a terrible
stretch of imagination to find such
an explanation satisfactory when the
record shows that tariff retaliation
started more than 10 years after the
war changed the map of the world.
Originally tariff was resorted to
largely for revenue only. AS other
more effective means were found to
secure taxes to run the federal gov
eminent, the tariff was employed
more and more with the idea of pro-
tecting industry against unfair and
undesirable competition from coun-
tries maintaining a different stan.
/ dard of living from ours. In theory
the opponents of high tariffs seen
on sound ground, but the actua
operation of tariff barriers usually
defeats desired ends.
Political pressure on tariff making
has brought favors to one section OIL
the nation at the expense of another
Log rolling, high-pressure lobbying
and other political weapons give tc
some sections tariff favors deniec
others. In recent years the tariff
has been political grab-bag and a.
a result there has been created al
economic monstrosity of menacin,
proportions.
In 1860, Great Britain abandone,
an elaborate protectionist policy TO
practically complete free trade. Now
with a nationalist .regime at tn
helm, modified tariff rates have beef
restored and Great Britain is seekin,
through the recent Ottawa confer
ence to knit the empire into a grea
trade entity, defensive and offensiv
In nature. When the Ottawa SEIZED
ules go into effect the trade isolation
Of the United States will be evel
greater than it is today.
II Editorial Comment