Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-09-24
INHARMONlOUS HARMONY.
OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS DISCORDENT ON SUBJECT
OF TARIFF
In Seattle They Are Stand Patters," While in
Portland They Favor the Abolition of Tariff
Duties That Foster Extortionate Trusts Two
Criticism Of Speech Of Senator Hoar's.

Extortionate Trusts. Two
l Of Senator Hoar's.
, Senator Hoar took occasion 70 announce
tariff duties at the coming session Of con-
OF the venerable senator, is of no special
the two leading republican journals Of the
:, but amusing. The Portland Oregonian
18th both made the speech the theme Of
OF republican dislarmony, are worth OF
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
I he "tariff REFORM and other mug
wump and democratic newspapers are
very much disgruntled over the speech
recently delivered at Salem, Mass, by
Senator Hoar, in which he announced
himself as opposed to any legislation on
the subject of the tariff at the coming
session of congress. He believed that
some changes in the tariff might be made
with advantage, but he did not consider
the time opportune for making changes.
The tenor OF the comment is that SEN
ator Hoar has joined the ranks OF the
"stand patters," as though that were
something distinctly to his credit.
The position which all of these people
who pose as tariff reformers take ia that
all who oppose tariff tinkering are un.
der the belief that the present tariff law
is an ideal measure, which under no
circumstances could be improved upon.
This does.not fairly or at all represent
the position Of the "stand patters." No
legislation framed by finite man is ideal,
and the present tariff law is no exception
to the rule. Those who oppose tariff
tinkering do so, not because Of belief
that the Dingley law is perfect in
strument; but because it is as good as,
and IN all probability better than, any
law which could be framed and pass
congress, covering all of the details OF
the tariff. There is not the slightest
certainty that if the whole tariff question
were reopened and an entirely new tariff
were framed, such as could command
the votes OF a majority of both houses
OF congress and the approval of the presi.
dent, the new measure would, as whole,
be as good wo, king instrument as the
present law.
On the other hand, there are two things
to consider: First, that to reopen the
tariff in part is to pave the way for
opening it as a whole. The suggestion
OF complete revision of our tariff laws,
if advanced, with prospects OF its being
carried into effect. would have most
serious adverse influence upon the bust
ness of the country, for that business is
intimately interviewer with our tariff
system. Nothing could operate to put
such an instant check upon the present
prosperity as the certainty of remodel
ing of our tariff law by the congress
which assemblies in December.
Coupled with this s the entire absence
OF any concrete programme OF the direc-
ton which tariff reform shall take,
save that it shall be in the direction OF
lowering OF duties, the particular ar
ticles upon which the lower rates are to
be established being in nowise specified.
The artificial cry tor reduction OF
duties is general it applies as much to
one schedule as another it never takes
concrete form, with distinct reference
to the particular paragraph OF the par
ticular schedule change in which would
improve the present law and make it a
better instrument.
This is exactly what the "stand.pat'
proposition means: We have good law
which works we'll. To enter upon the
work of enacting new legislation, cover
ing the whole subject, is to invite {
general disturbance OF business. There
is no concrete criticism OF the law al
it stands no particular schedules which
there is a general demand to have
changed. There is not an even chance
that if changes were made they would
be changes for the better. The country
has never had a better tariff nor on
under which all OF the industries Of thu
T country were more prosperous. The de
mand for change is purely artificial
Therefore, why should republicans at
tack their own handiWork and Join will
their political enemies in advocating
reputation of it?
what hope OF harmony?