National Republican., 1883-11-30
An important chapter in Torlr history.


to him.
An Important Chapter in Tariff History.
On tho twenty y-cighth day of july 1916,
ho Walker tariff bill was under cousidora-
tion in tho senate of tho United States. It
abolished protection in tho imposition of
duties. IL was tho pct measure of tho free
traders. 1t was based on tho ultra doctrine
of u tariff for revenue only, aud so arranged
as TO present tho least possible obstacles to
the importation of foreign goods of the classes
being manufactured In the United States,
and thus to give tho least possible pro.
lection TO American industry consistent
with revenue enough for tho ncccssi-
tics of the government. Protection in
oven thai degree was thon, as now, counted
necessary evil by tho democracy. Polk was
They had boon elected by the aid of protec-
tionists. Not only had George NJ. Dallas, a
professed Pennsylvania proteotionist, boon
placed upon tho ticket to delude tho protec-
tionists into the belief that they had nothing
to fear from democratic success, but the cam.
paign was made in Pennsylvania under the
hypocritical cry of "Polk and Dallas and the
tariff of 1s42" These words were inscribed
on the banners and transparcncics of the
democratic professions. The tariff Of 1si2 was
a protective tariff. But having secured
tbn
ceodod at tho first session of the
congress that came in with Polk
to fasify its pledges made to the American
people during the campaign, aud to tramplo
protection Of American industry under its
feet. The measure it adopted is known as
tho tariff act of lsi6. Our object in referring
to IL now is to illustrate tho reliability of
Pennsylvania democratic statesmen on the
question of protection. Upon the day when
the bill passed the senate, July 2S, 1916, upon
test questions, the vote stood % to 27 Upon
motion to commit the bill with instructions
the vote, however, stood 27 to %. The rec.
ord in the Globe says:
SO there was tic. The president said he WIS
taken by surprise in consequence of the course
pursued by the senator from Tennessee (AIr. Jar
nagln), who did not vote; but as he was called
upon to give tho casting vote, he would vote in
the negative. So the motion was rejected Con.
0reSstonat Globe, 1st SECS, 10Th cong, p. 1i5j.
We venture to remark that no senator was
ever before or since reprimanded by tho chair
simply for declining to vote. 1t is evident
that Senator Jarnagin had greatly disturbed
Mr. Dallas by creating a tic vote, thereby
compelling him to give the casting vote
After all amendments had been considered
and the question came upon the engrossment
of the bill, n question of course vital to it,
Senator Jarnagin again refused to vote,
thereby again creating u tie. Having few
minutes before been Surprised" at the con-
duct of tho Tennessee senator in creating n tie,
thereby compelling him to face tho music,
this Pennsylvania protcctionist democratic
presiding officer, George Miflln Dallas, arose
and made n speech, in which he tried to ex-
cuse his conduct in voting for tho destruction.
of tho tariff he and his party were pledged to
maintain. His speech was shutting, weak,
and indirect He pretended to feol con-
strained to vote with tho majority Of tho
representatives of the people, because not to
do SO would be to intcrpose "a sort of official
veto" He thus excused his own violation
of the pledge on which he was elected
by showing that representatives in
congress had done the Same. He admitted
the bill to be bad, but, as he could not amend
it, he must take it whole. His most abect
utterance was when he sought to break the
force of the blow he knew he must expect
from Pennsylvania, betrayed and deserted.
He said:
| That 1t deals with some pursuits and resources
of my native commonwealth less kindly than she
might lOel erpect does not relieve me from my duty
but only makes its performance personally re.
luctant and painful.
We commend this chapter in tariff history
to all friends of American labor who may be
inclined to lean on Pennsylvania democratic
statesmen for support