Evening star., 1936-04-29
GHOST Of TARIFF
MAY HAUNLRACE
Democratic Move to Force
Benefit Publicity May
Prove Boomerang.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The Democrats in the Senate
thought they were executing a clever
nti-Republican maneuver in de-
manding that the Vandenberg reso-
luton which asks fer details Of A. A.
A. payments above $4,000 should also
include the names of large corpora
tions receiving benefits from the tar
iff laws of the United States in 1884.
But actually the move may prove
boomerang.
For nearly four years the advocates
Of lower tariff have been wonder
ing why the Democrats Nave failed
to keep their platform pledge to re-
peal the Hawley-Smoot tariff law,
which was a Republican measure.
Now, as the data comes out concern
ing the subsidies which the tariff has
given, the query will naturally arise
as to why the Democratic party, with
an overwhelming majority in both the
Senate and the House of Representa-
tives, and Democratic President in
the White House, has done nothing
about 1t.
Campaign Issue Seen.
Certainly if the figures which the
Tariff Commission Is obliged to pro-
vide within 60 days show that Amer
lean industries have been receiving
subsidies the controversy will arise
during the campaign. This will re-
viye the tariff issue at time when
the Democrats have been anxious to
let it slumber, especially since such
organizations as the American Fed
Grafton of Labor have taken a staunch
position to the effect that the pro-
tective tariff protects American labor.
The condemnation of the Hawley-
smoot tariff law which the Demo-
cratic National Convention adopted
In 1882, and which Mr.. Roosevelt as
q candidate accepted. as he said, at
100 per cent. reads as follows:
I'VE condemn the Hawley-Smoot
tariff law, the prohibitive rates OF
which have resulted in retaliatory ac-
ton by more than 40 countries, cre-
eted international economic HOSTILE
ties destroyed international trade,
driven our factories into foreign coun-
tries, robbed the American farmer OF
bis foreign markets and increased
his cost Of production.
Reiterated Equal Rights.
ITO accomplish these purposes and
TO recover economic liberty, we pledge
the nominees Of this convention, and
the best effort of great party, whose
founder announced the doctrine which
guides us now, in the hour of our
country's need, equal rights to all,
special privileges to none"
The same Democratic platform
pledged the party to "a competitive
tariff for revenue, with a fact-find-
ing commission free from executive
interference, reciprocal tariff agree
.ments with other nations, and an
international economic conference de-
,signed to restore International trade
land facilitate exchange"
- The Democrats have developed a
system of reciprocal trade agreements
.but not on general basis of COM
petitive tariff for revenue" They
have left untouched in many instances
the rates of the Hawley-Smoot law.
As for an international economic
conference" the one that was called
ihy President Hoover before he left
,offce, and held in London in 1888,
sWas broken up by Mr.. Roosevelt in
sJuly Of that year. No conference has
.been called since that time.
Policy Wisdom Secondary.
F, Whether the retention of the pro-
,tective principle and a removal of
executive tariff benefits that block
international trade is or is not a wise
policy is secondary at the moment
Ito the fact that the Vandenberg reso-
luton affords an opportunity to re-
svive the tariff issue for the coming
campaign. 1t would be welcome to
some Republican States where there
ihas always been relationship ex-
pressed on the stump between low
tariffs and unemployment, and it
fwould be welcome to other States,
agricultural in particular, which want
sto know why the cost of the things
the farmer buys is kept high through
undue tariff protection, whereas the
lprices OF farm products are not cor
Tespondingly increased. The Demo-
gratis can hardly be In the position
OF defending the protective tariff in
the West, or even assailing it in the
East, for their record in accepting the
Hawley-Smoot law for the last three
years is bound to be matter of dis
Scussion and there is no likelihood of
any tariff revision at the present ses-
sion, which is the last before the
country votes on candidates for the
presidency and Congress.