The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-12-11

sure. Each agreement INKS US up
only with some one other nation,
and. between Us and that one. the
bargain lowers or removes tariff
barriers as TO only certain speci-
fed classifcations Of export and
import. Nevertheless, the tend
eacy is toward an era Of unre-
stricted trading Of worldwide pro-
portions.
The war naturally has thrown a
serious crimp into the secretarys
program OF arranging these re-
ciprocal deals IN rapid succession,
but it's delayed merely; it hasn't
been abandoned.
Furthermore, the idea seems to
be making converts. who promise
to continue agitating in its favor
even if Secretary Hull passes, Of
flcially or otherwise.
There still are protectionlsts, Of
course.
They are producers who don't
want foreign lands products, SINH
lar to their own, coming into the
United States in competition with
them-anyway. not without an i'm
port tax on the foreign stuff to
prevent them from cutting under
Yankee prices or even getting down
to our domestic level.
Seek Freer Exchange
Not long ago, however, a con-
vention Of American exporters and
importers declared emphatically
for the freest possible exchange Of
goods the world over. Inasmuch
as high tariffs interfere with eX-
porting and importing, probably 1t
was to be expected that this par
ticular group Of businessmen would
ask to have them abolished.
The other day, though, Chair
man Albert H. Gordon Of the
American Investment Bankers as
sociation's industrial securities
committee, warned a Florida gath
ering Of his outfit Of the import
ance Of recognizing the folly OF
worldwide tariff barriers" Such
recognition, he said, is essential
for prevention Of a complete
breakdown Of confidence in the
capitanstic system as postwar
development, 70 matter who wins
the CONFLICT.
It's noteworthy that President
William Green Of the American
Federation Of Labor was a speaker
Of this same bankers convention.
Now, labor always has been very
cold toward the. notion Of tariff
reduction. on the theory that it
would result in big imports of I'M
derpaid foreign workers products.
leading to a lowering Of American
wages. So If Bill Green subscribed
TO Al GorGon's thesis, it amounted
to a highly significant acquisition
10 the free traderish lineup.
It's true that Bill didn't mention
tariffs. but ne did pledge labor's
support TO any sound plan to avert
q postwar slump. and freer trade
was part Of the plan advocated at
the very convention ne talked to.
-. Arguments Convincing
Arguments for Secretary Hulls
reciprocal trading agreements
sound rather convincing.
The proposition is that Uncle
sam can very well yank down his
tariff barriers. letting protected
countries products in, with no con-
cessions from them 10 US in return
for ours 10 them; its got TO be
done mutually and. country by
country. gradually.
Il doesn't necessarily follow that
therein be 10 tariffs for revenue.
Uncle Samuel will urgently need
all the money he can get and i'm
port taxation is one way Of getting
&. same as internal taxation. Abb
soiute international free traders
contend tina. It's a poor taxation
method. They think so because
the average consumer doesn't real
lie that he's being taxed. since the
cash doesn't come directly out Of
his pocket.
An income tax. for Instance. is