Manifestly, if we are to aid the people
directly through tariff reform, one of its
most obvious features should be a reduc
tion in present tariff charges upon the neo
essaries of life. The benefits of such a re
duction would be palpable and substantial,
seen and felt by thousands who would be
better fed and better clothed and better
sheltered. These gifts should be the will
ing benefactions of a government whose
highest function is the promotion of the
welfare of the people.
Not less closely related to our people's
prosperity and well beingis the removal
of restrictions upon the importation of the
raw materials necessary to our manufac
turers. The world should be open to our
national inginuity and enterprise. This
cannot be while federal legislation,
through the imposition of high tariff, for
bids to American manufacturers as cheap
materials as those used hy their competi
tors. It is quite obvious that the enhance
ment of our manufactured products re
sulting from this policy not only confines
the market for these products within our
own borders, to the direct disadvantage of
our manufacturers, but afso increases their
cost to our citizens.
