The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-05
PLUMB ON THE TARIFF.

Kansas tlty star.
The eleventh hour surrender of Ben But
terworth in the house has not yet been
repeated by Plumb in the senate. When
the Kansas senator offered his resolution
calling for comparison of tariff Sched-
ules, it was predicted that when the time
for voting came he would be found on
the side of protection and acting in con-
formity with party dictation. Yester-
day he took occasion to discredit that
prophecy by voting with the Democrats
in favor of an amendment to the Mckin-
lev bill which reduces the duty on table
crockery He was the only Republican
in the senate who supported the amend
ment, and his attitude is therefore all
the more conspicuous. He has become,
for the time, a national figure and the
centre of public attention.
In the speech which Senator Plumb
made in favor of the amendment, he de-
fined his position in regard to the tariff
in no uncertain terms. If he is not in
earnest his language conveys no suSpl-
CiOn of a lack of sincerity. "Thd Amer
lean people," he says, ''are entitled to
have cheap goods if competition can
bring that about. They ought to have
their inning some time, and | think
that time has come" The manufactur
ers, he said had had from congress pre-
cisely what they asked, and yet, so far
from being satisfied a bill for their bene
fit was to be put through without debate,
if that could be brought about, on the
theory that the country Is hungering
and thirsting for more tariff legislation.
The senate, Mr.. Plumb declares, loves
some duty to the American people.
There is a point where political sympa
thies end and where business interests
begin"
Plumb's new departure, of course, will
give rise to speculation touching the
causes which prompted it. He has al
ready been charged with ulteTiOr mo-
tives, and the rapid extension of tariff
reform sentiment throughout the coun-
try will tend to encourage the belief
among suspicious people that the Kansas
senator has an eye to the main chance.
1t must not be forgotten. however. that
Plumb Is a business man as well as pol
itician, and this enables him to view the
tariff question from a higher standpoint
than that of mere political aggrand
izenent He probably indicated the
chief cause of his conversion when
he said that there was a point
where political sympathis ended and
business interests began. A shrewd,
practical man of affairs like Plumb can
not close his eyes TO the danger of a
system which has Frustrated the leading
industry Of the country and is thus com
municating its baleful virus to every in
terest which depends upon agriculture
for support. There must be an early
check to this dangerous influence or the
entire commercial fabric VIII be i'm
periled. Plumb by virtue of his close
contact with the people and his varied
business interests, appreciates the vicious
effects of the tariff more keenly than
his colleagues in the senate who
have not enjoyed a favorable oppr-
tunities for studying the results. Pol
ltlCs and patriotism are not always as
ISOLATED. but they are not necessarily in
compatfblt The public man who does
the best thing for the people does the
best thing fOr himself No politician
can long continue TO thrive upon the
misfortunes Of his constituents. Plumb
knows that the system OF taxation which
protection has fastened upon the country
is impOverishIng Kansas and subiecting
its people to unnecessary hardshiIs. He
would be a very stupid politician If he
employed his influence to perpetuate
such policy. and h would show him
self utterly lacking in patriotism if he
failed 10 work for It's overthrow.