And State Papers 551 



than to disturb the business interests of the country 

 by any general tariff change at this time. Doubt, 

 apprehension, uncertainty are exactly what we most 

 wish to avoid in the interest of our commercial and 

 material well-being. Our experience in the past 

 has shown that sweeping revisions of the tariff are 

 apt to produce conditions closely approaching panic 

 in the business world. Yet it is not only possible, 

 but eminently desirable, to combine with the stability 

 of our economic system a supplementary system of 

 reciprocal benefit and obligation with other nations. 

 Such reciprocity is an incident and result of the firm 

 establishment and preservation of our present eco- 

 nomic policy. It was specially provided for in the 

 present tariff law. 



Reciprocity must be treated as the handmaiden of 

 protection. Our first duty is to see that the protec- 

 tion granted by the tariff in every case where it is 

 needed is maintained, and that reciprocity be sought 

 for so far as it can safely be done without injury to 

 our home industries. Just how far this is must be 

 determined according to the individual case, remem- 

 bering always that every application of our tariff 

 policy to meet our shifting national needs must be 

 conditioned upon the cardinal fact that the duties 

 must never be reduced below the point that will 

 cover the difference between the labor cost here and 

 abroad. The well-being of the wage-worker is a 

 prime consideration of our entire policy of economic 

 legislation. 



Subject to this proviso of the proper protection 



