The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-10-03
SPEAKER HENDERSON'S
WITHDRAWAL.

I taken ON luc very Jay WHcu the pfccl-
dent and five republican leaders in the
senate-Hanna. Aldrich. Spooner,
Allison. and Lodge-mot at Oyster
Bay and decided to ignore the tariff
question in the present campaign. No
wonder the republicans are panic
stricken; no wonder they are explain
ing it on various and contradictory
grounds. Some say that Mr.. Hender-
son, finding that he could not
conscientiously represent his consult
uents on that question, withdrew as
matter of honor: bat how could Mr..
Henderson ascertain before election
the views of his constituents How
could he measure in advance the effect
of his own speeches in influencing
the views of his constituents II he,
the speaker of the house, with his great
prestige, ability and personal ppu-
larity could not hold one of the
strongest republican districts in the
United States, what chance is there for
less conspicuous, less able and less
popular republicans to hold close con-
gressional districts? This explanation,
while credi table to the speaker 6
candor and honesty, is confession of
| Judgment against the republican party
on this issue, and republicans cannot
afford to make it.
Knowing of General Henderson, de-
votion to his party ana of the bravery
he has displayed on many occasions.
The Commoner will assume that he
recognized the irreconcilable conflict
between his own views and the Iowa
| platform, and rather than surrender his
own convictions or embarrass his party
in the state he preferred to sacrifice his
own ambition without stopping to
consider how his conduct would de-
moralize the ultra protectionists in the
republican party and give increased
prominence to an issue which the ma
tional leaders Of his party are trying to
avoid.
This question is one which is likely
to make division in his party and
it's settlement cannot be postponed.
The republican party must reform the
tariff at the risk of losing the entire
system of protection, or it must reso-
lutely oppose all tariff reform at the
risk of losing a great many republican
voters
The other leaders of his party were
attempting to delay consideration OF
the question in the hope that the agi-
tatlOn would subside without the ne
cessity of any action whatever, but
General Henderson's hasty move has
| focused public attention on the subject
and compelled republicans to take sides.
| The fight IS now on and no one can
tell how extensive the disaffection may
be or how many republicans may be
driven out of the party by refusal OF
the manufacturers and their advocates
| to make any concessions to the con-
sumers.
But while the withdrawal of Speaker
| Henderson brings dismav and confusion
| to the republicans it also brings re-
sponsibility to the democrats. Public
attention is now attracted to the free
| list as remedy for trusts. That Is
the only remedy the reorganizers have
proposed and it's insufficiency will soon
become apparent on investigation. 1t
must not be put forward as a complete
remedy for the trust evil. but as
means of preventing the extorti ion now
practiced by manufacturers who hide
behind the tariff and sell at high
rice at home while they sell abroad In
competition with the world.
II democrats propose tariff reduction
as A complete remedy for the trusts
tbav will be met by two unanswerable
arguments; first, that trust that can
OK 5ort can exist without tariff, ana,
second. that there are trusts IN Eng
land, which is generally polnteo 10 as
free trade country.
Democrats who rely upon the free
list as complete remedy or as the
only remedy for the trusts Will soon De
on the defensive, but democrats VINO
RELY upon the free list as a remedy Tor
trust extortion will put the repuplcans
ont the defensive.
AS The Commoner has repeatedly
polpted out, trust made articles snoulo
be put on the free list for the protecc,,
ton of the public. but the party VIII
make fatal mistab bike ii 1t stops WIN
that. 1t must attack the principle OF
monopoly and present remedy Wnlcn
will make 1t impossible for private
monopoly to exist IN the United States.
The Kansas City platform presents
such a remedy and it is the only
remedy now before the public. 1t Is
simple, and easily applied. and 1T has
tine merit of striking the evil 1t aims
at without disturbing corporations en-
gagged in legitimate business.
The democrats have great oppoI-
tunity they should improve it Let
them urge the free list a. protection
from extortion and let them advocate
publicity, not as remedy in itself,
Init as an aid to a remedy. and then
let them demand that the republicans
accept or oppose the Kansas City
platform remedy, which lays the axe
at the root of the tree and strikes q
blow that will kill. Let the corpora
ton be shut up in the state OF Its
origin and let 1t be denied the use OF
the mails the telegraph lines and the
railroads until it shows by conclusive
nroof that it is not trying to monop-
olize any branch of business or the pro-
duction CT any article of merchandise.
This is remedy, easy in applica-
ton, effective and complete. No other