The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1940-03-29
SENATOR HARRISON OPENS
ARGUMENT ON EXTENSION
OF RECIPROCITY PRO IAN
Describes Smoot- Hawley Tariff Act as One Blov - Country
and One Cause Of Collapse
of 1882

Washington. March Z-senataf
Harrison Of Mississippi chairman OF
n SenasE Finance Committee.
opened arguments tocay on me floor
IN favug q 4 r~aree-year extension
o. the Roosevelt ASEzsnSstrations
reciprocal trade AgreeEnenn pro-
gram with = plea for continuation Of
that policy which has beer helpful
IN he enlargement Of cur inter-
national trade and beneficial 70 oar
own people
What wt are trying 70 do with
tire trade agreements program Is 70
strengthen par economic position
and enlarge cur foreign trade
through the exchange of mutual
concessions without injury 10
American industry OF American Ia
Dor tire Senator said, adcinF that
reasons which tmpelied US to enact
this legislation as an emergency
measure N 1894 and again IN 1897
exist now 70 = far greater degree
because Of war conditions abroad
LAuding this coamtry-s trade po-
Sinon as compared 70 the DAYS fol-
lowing passage Of the Smoot-Hax-
ley tariff act. which ne described IS
an economic blow Senator Harri-
son declared -ou export trade fell
from So billion In 1923 70 lie billion
In 1882. railroads appI I'd 10 the
courts for recciyerxnips. the mil
hons Of our former employed found
themselves IN bread line. and ii waS
not long until the economic collapse
was complete
Il would not say he declared.
that the high rates In the Smoot-
Hawley tariff Law were the only o.
the major esuSe Of the collapse. but
certainly the adoption Of that policy
played q large part In creating that
disorder.
At the same time ne said that
while perhaps the trade agreements
program has not accomplished
everything We had hoped for. we
must admit that marked improve
ment has taken place when we
consider the dark background
against which this policy VA In
angurated six years ago"
Senator Harrison said the record
showed that the Committee which
has negotiated the trade agreements
with - countries has zealoukly
guarded American industry and Ia
Dor from any injury resulting from
the exchange Of mutually advantag-
eou concessions"
That this policy has been sue
cexsfuily carried out" ne said. rs
many instances when witnesses np-
peared before Us (the Senate n
nance Committed they complained
not Of what had been done, but
rather Of their fear OF something
that might happen IN the future.
In that connection. he cited testi-
mony By representatives Of the
National Wool Growers Association.
the National Association Of Wool
Manufacturers and q farmers and
stockmen's group
We have given the world q sound
reciprocal trade policy" the Sen
ator said. We have given them an
opportunity 70 trade with Us and
with each other on just principles.
II the policy written IN this .
luton Is destroyed. II We. Is > great
government. turn our backs upon
II We throw 10 the winds an OPP
portunity In the future 70 help pee
Piles OF the world along rational. un-
selfish and just principles Of inter-
national trade. BY doing 70. We m
vite our foreign neighbors at the
close Of this war 70 begin another
one and that win be q trade .
And let no one be deceived as 20 The
magnitude Of that war.
Referring 70 the armed European
some DIV. and wien It comes. those
In foreign countries who are nov en-
gagged in the manufacture Of imple-
ments Of war-and il Is said they
number 90 million, and those N-o0d
million who are trainping the bat
tiefields o. bivouacking In their
camps viii return 20 peace-ume oc-
equations and when they do.
factories viii reopen. fields that re-
manned Idle vii again be titled. and
with only exhausted treasures 70
supply their needs. foreign nations
will dedicate their energies toward
increasing their productions and
selling Iseh products where they
can In these circumstances. with
out q definite program % pursue or
q constructive policy 70 follow. Il :
trade war should ensue. our country
might suffer from an economic col
lapse.
Let Us. through continuation Of
this program. extend q helping and
cooperative hand toward the goal
Of economic stability and peace
among nations
Asking consideration OF re pro-
posal IN the spirit Of broad states
manship. Senator Harrison sad
that If 2 o. the other Of The tEo
major poliucA. parties deserve the
greater credit for the principle o.
reciprocity. II would be the Eepah-
lcan party. paying tribute 70 the
able and unselfizh President. WI
liam Howard taft, IN his espousNs
Of a Canadian reciprocity agree
ment and ~reeounting how TIE Re-
publican platforms o. 1891 iso6 and
1904 preached the doctrine q red-
procity.
Sunrise. Sunset and Hit