The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-12-22
NARROW CRAFTSMANSHIP.

which disclose rather deplorable con-
dition OF affairs in respect to American
craftsmanship. The topic of conversation
was in relation to the course MIR. SPRINGER
would pursue in respect to the tariff, pro-
viding he should be chosen chairman OF the
ways and means committee. 1t will be re-
membered that Mr.. SPRINGER expressed
the opinion that "a general revision of the
tariff at this session of Congress is imprac
ticable If not impolitic." He was, however,
of the opinion that a tariff measure should
be carefully prepared and introduced early
in the next session of Congress.
Meantime very important result could be
accomplished, in his Judgment by the pas
sage of separate bills repeating those por
tions of the MCKINLEY law which are
most oppressive upon the people and
which are most embarrassing to the growth
and development of our manufacturing
interests" Among the articles the Rep
resentatlve mentioned that in his iudg
ment should be put upon the free list were
wool, binding Irvine, lumber, with some
exceptions; iron ore and coal. I'm Short"
said Mr.. SPRINGER, "the great need of our
industries at the present time is free raw
material, and as our manufacturers would
be benefited by cheaper material, the con-
sumers of the country would receive cor
responding benefit in cheaper necessaries
of life''
What would be the prospect of the pas
sage OF the separate measure you sug-
gest2" asked the World correspondent
Il cannot say" replied Mr.. SPRINGER,
but 1t seems to me that the Republican
Senators in the northwest would be very
much embarrassed if they should smother
bill securing free binding Irvine to the
wheat growers; ano our Republican Sena-
tors would find it difficult to explain to
their constituents there a fight against free
WOOL
1t is with the matter IN this answer that
we wish to deal. We have no complaint to
II axe against Mr. SPRINGER; he is merely
dealing with facts that exist without either
endorsing or condemning them. But ii
| appears from the statements he here
mskes-and. indeed, it appears from the
whole course and conduct of men il politi-
cal life, that our Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress shape their &C
ton on legislative measures not on
the broad consideration of what would
be beneficial for the country at large, but
what would be its effect upon the supposed
interests and material prosperity of the
little section of country they respectively
represent. Thus, though it would be
against Republicans principles to vote for
tariff reduction, if he comes from the
wheat-or0yyinp sections Of the nnrthrues
it is expected that it would very much en-
barrass him to smother bill securing free
binding Irvine; or, if he comes from New
England he would find it difficult to ex-
plain to his constituents there a fgh,
against free WOOL because it would be tc
the interest of the farmers of the north
west TO have free binding twine and Il
the interests of the New England manu-
facturers to have free wool. 1t is main
tanned by all Democrats worthy of the
name, and conceded by many Republicans
that our present excessively high tariff
needs reducing and newly adjusting. Yet
the moment articles are selected upor
which to make the reduction, or to bt
placed upon the free list, Immediately tn,
Representatives and Senators from tn,
districts producing the article protes
against reduction of the tariff on that par
, ticular article; not because it would not b.
benefit to the whole country to place tn
article upon the free list, but because tn
obiecting Senator or Representative know
not how he would face his angry coustitu
ents If he did not support what they esteem
their interest by all the arts known to poll
teal scheming. The Representatives iron
the woolgrowing sections enter into bar
gains with those from the iron and steel
producing sections, that if the latter vii
help them to keep wool off the free list
they in their turn will pledge themselve
against reduction of the tariff on steel rail
or other iron products These pledges an
counter pledges are made throughout
until it becomes extremely difficult to ad
just our tariff laws, and the action of GU
great national legislature, instea
of being directed by the application
of economic principles with view to tn
general good, is guided by precariou
balancing of local interests that make
legislation fall very far short of prov1din
for the general welfare.
1t may be conceded that practical state:
manship is the art of wise compromise
but that does not justify the demagog
INDUCED INDUCED In to such an alarmin
extent by our national legislators: fo
there is difference between wise comprc
mise and the iugglery that makes an Ame
: lean Congressman pander TO the loo;
~ prejudice of the district which he repr
m n
legislative halls of the nation. 1t mu.
also be conceded that it is the duty of til
u respective Represen tatives in Congress
stand watch and guard over the interest,"
y of their constituents. For that purpos
=" were they elected, and it is their duty
y DO it. But in addition to being represent
e tives of the states or districts from whic
they come, they are also national Congress
men, with duties to discharge to the who
u country as well as to their immediate CO.
|, stituents. There are issues which arise
the course of necessary legislation that r
3 quire the sacrifice of here and there loo
interests to the general good; and what O,
ii country most needs is a statesmaush
that both recognizes that and is bra,
enough to meet the frowns of an ang,
ii constituency that may without reflectio
e conclude that their interests have bee
e blunderingly sacrificed or wicked
l. betrayed.
1t This petty political trickery SO skillful
g balancing local petty interests. ii
main view of the small m,
who practice it being to pr long their r.
n spective political lives, may be seen
d, otner things than in tariff legislation.
lie nothing, perhaps is it more apparent tn,