| Show GOV CUMMINS FAVORS TARIFF REDUCTION republican governor of iowa makes a most remarkable speech before the reciprocity convention he addresses himself to those who are afraid of tariff revision detroit dec 10 we arc here for mutual profit to get thoroughly aroused over this question of reciprocity so that we can go homeard home and do some effective work to bring about the reci relations that we want said C of chicago as hf took charge of tho national con fadius fadi Uc today after it had been called to order there present nearly delegate s from the northern tier of states and several from canada when F D smith of detroit president of the chamber of commerce called tha convention to order he said 1 I give you a warm word of welcome a president of the detroit chamber of commerce ajan actual report from the various members of our association we find that there is not a dissenting voice not a discordant note but an absolutely unanimous and hearty interest in the subject of reciprocity reciprocity means something it appeals to citizens citiE ens of all classes but especially ally to the business men and commercial organizations of our country the merchants and manufacturers of this city feel that we should have the privilege of placing in the hand of our neighbors the goods we have to sell to as great advantage as possible not having in mind to cripple their industry but to promote by a treaty an in cr chango of commodities which will be i benefit to all gov cumminas of iowa poke of reciprocity and the tariff he said in part there is a spirit abroad in some quarters which condemns treaty regard to the advantage it tenders if it be found that any home industry however insignificant inay be injuriously affected by it if thi spirit ii to continue and to pic vail reciprocity may as well be at onan abandoned and the country left to choose between alie unalterable schedules ofa the highest possible protective tariff and the disastrous consequences of absolute free trade little or nothing can he accomplished until we are milling to approach tariff schedules in precisely the same spirit that c approach anny other subject of legislation so long as tho controlling minds of congress insist that the welfare of the country demands that the tariff be let alone there ii no hope for practical or substantial reciprocity there arc many ardent advocates for alia believe that tariff schedules should be changed only through reciprocal treaties I 1 amnot one of them it seems to be manifest alint a prerequisite to ny material or important reciprocal tariff la a 1 milling ness to adjust whenever fairly required our the conditions of the times reciprocity will never win its way until wo are willing to treat the tariff rationally instead of hysterically and the first step in the process is to be willing to such changes us from time to time may be Miary to bring tariff schedules into harmony with the principle which in diatra their exit ance J believe some changes are damand rd now without to a ion of duties leac dby ty other country upon our exports I 1 tin unalterably to or light or trivial reason change should not be made unless it j clear tho duties arc too high or too low tariff like 11 II other dawg or to ho made unmade and remade according to the public and we arc not to be warned off by the cry that fl are on bioly ground and that the faired vestments of the priests aro not to be touched by profane hands there are notably in the iron and steel schedule although not confined to it are in defensible which roo man v ill even fit tempt to defend and which aro at war with the real object of protection as free arid itself they coh be greatly induced an still whole j al american market pay the highest american wages and be rewarded with an ample american profit and therefore ther eforo they ought to be reduced not years hence but now there are materials which our experience has shown us be admitted free because they would give our people more work to do in preparing them for their ultimate uses and it should be fonenot don enot a year hence but now it is said that in order any schedule or any part of any sched ulc the whole tariff mastbe taken W i and revised the work of years discarded and a new law substituted I 1 deny the proposition it is tha unworthy shelter of two divisions in the army of opposition first those who want to perpetuate something which they know would be condemned under impartial investigation vesti gation and second the timid souls who would rather not vote at all alian vote right or wrong I 1 for one have stood too long and too often before the people of my country defending the principle ot protection to admit that the schedules which carry it into execution are the of a miserably and contemptible barter and exchange among the special representatives of interests why should we not approach the consideration of a change in the tariff schedules in precisely the name spirit that controls us a we approach 11 II other modifications in casting why should we not forever this apparition of imaginary danger perpetually petua lly invoked to paralyze the mind of inquiry when it turns toward tariff duties our motto should bs care in everything fear in nothing it ia a hinder upon the fundament al truths of tho world to say that the prosperity of the people ever lias been or ever can bo impaired by doing aliat is right and just and fair what evidence is there to show for the assertion that correction of the grossly excessive duties would hasten the day of extreme commercial activity to a close T none whatever sav othe erica of aboe who want it tobo let alone but who ought not to be let alone repeated by the coterie ot statesmen who have become imbued with the calm philosophy ot the citizen ot arkanas who refused to mend hia roof in dry weather because it was unnecessary and did not mend it when it rained because it was impossible we who believe that the time ii come in which to make certain change are in favor of no modification that will admit except th rought fair reciprocity which will increase hither than diminish the work to be done in this country a single dollar of imported tie we do not favor the reduction ot any schedule below the point the american manufacturer can if he will monopolize the whole american market at a fair price we stand for tariff duties BO adjusted that the potential competition from other countries will prevent producer at home from exacting more than a just and reasonable price for what they produce c muff either approve or disapprove doctrine of reciprocity upon the assumption that any treaty or bargain which it into effect will be advantageous to both the high contracting parties and that both will receive benefits which st promises we that any such treaties or bargain will have the effect of admitting to the united state competitive commodities modi ties upon better terms than there and that h to say upon such terms as will enable the producer to nt least Jair lV compete with the home producer and therefore there fare it is not only probably ant certain that adv ruch arrangement will result in dl mini abin the output of ahe homa producers in thoe upon which our dutt is reduced or it vill help n to look thi proposition in the eye the time ha gone by when we can mt ourselves or the people with mellifluous praises concerning reciprocity if continued on page six GOV FAVORS TARIFF continued from page one it is intended to employ the doctrine only in those instances in which we can get something and give nothing it i botfan idle dream and as well eliminate the word from our platform and expunge it from the literature of political economy it is possible that the superior sagacity fattic fatt hc Ai diplomat might occasionally commit larceny of that character but if it were consciously done it would be a stain upon the honor of the american name and han understood would meet the swift and emphatic condemnation of the american citizen the conclusion is inevitable that in ohp great majority of cases a reciprocal tread ty respecting competitive commodities would interfere and injure some home producer or producers and if that tact be a bar to the operation of the pie let m at once it I 1 for one however am willing to lo 10 counted among the ranks f those who ix lieve the consequence is not a bar and that great public policies should not be viewed from eo narrow and illiberal n standpoint the purpose of any such treaty on our part would he to open up a new market or enlarge one already discovered for our products and if those who are charged with the responsibility of making in our behalf a commercial trade are of the opinion that the whole the market thus opened up or enlarged to us will take more of our pro auces measured by the labor required to produce them than tho new admitted to our shores will obliterate then wo should make the trade whenever the people lake up tho subject cong refa will take it up alao and whenever the people shall pass upon it congress will register the decree localized interests may prevail when the people are quiescent but they cannot tide the blonn of public agitation and anger student of the subject knows that we can make a treaty with canada that anore wark to 10 lo in the united states than we now have and the time will come M hen adoption of any such treaty will depend not unon the will of any state or any district but upon the centralized light will of all the stales with regard for the welfare ot au the protective policy of the lunsted states h impregnable against assaults of its enemies and if the citadel falla it will be its friend fc sleep while the world afi awake it willbe because its friends mako its and perversions so obnoxious that they obscure alie and the glory of the principle itself il self vt |
