And State Papers 615 



system that is, the principle of putting American 

 business interests at least on a full equality with in- 

 terests abroad, and of always allowing a sufficient 

 rate of duty to more than cover the difference be- 

 tween the labor cost here and abroad. The well- 

 being of the wage-worker, like the well-being of the 

 tiller of the soil, should be treated as an essential in 

 shaping our whole economic policy. There must 

 never be any change which will jeopardize the stand- 

 ard of comfort, the standard of wages of the Ameri- 

 can wage-worker. 



One way in which the readjustment sought can 

 be reached is by reciprocity treaties. It is greatly to 

 be desired that such treaties may be adopted. They 

 can be used to widen our markets and to give a 

 greater field for the activities of our producers on 

 the one hand, and on the other hand to secure in 

 practical shape the lowering of duties when they 

 are no longer needed for protection among our own 

 people, or when the minimum of damage done may 

 be disregarded for the sake of the maximum of 

 good accomplished. If it prove impossible to ratify 

 the pending treaties, and if there seem to be no 

 warrant for the endeavor to execute others, or to 

 amend the pending treaties so that they can be rati- 

 fied, then the same end to secure reciprocity 

 should be met by direct legislation. 



Wherever the tariff conditions are such that a 

 needed change can not with advantage be made by 

 the application of the reciprocity idea, then it can 

 be made outright by a lowering of duties on a given 



