The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-23
DEMOCRATIC ENDORSEMENT OF RE
PUBLICAN TARIFF POLICY.

Representative Watson. of this State. did
neat piece of political maneuvering in fore
ing Representative John S. Williams. of
Mississippi. into a practical Endorsement Of
the Republican policy on the tariff question.
Mr.. Williams is the leader of the minority
in the House and received the compliment
tary vote OF the Democrats for speaker.
While he WAS speaking on the tariff question
Mr.. Watson. by some sharp questioning. led
him TO declare, first, that the Democratic
party did hot stand for free trade; second
that it favored a tariff for revenue only, and
third that it favored the Republican policy
of lowering duties as time and circum-
stances should justify.
If the Democratic party has any fixed
principle it is opposition 10 protection in any
form. and. of course. advocacy of the oppo-
site policy The opposite of protection is
free trade but the party dare not avow this
openly So Mr.. Williams denied that it
stood for free trade. When asked if he
stood for a tariff for revenue only he re-
piled ANY tariff that will provide for the
necessities of this government is more than
equal to a tariff that must pay the difference
between wages in the United States and
those abroad" This was ingenious
sion of the question and indicated desire to
get away from the party's record
Finally, as Mr.. Williams was contending
that the tariff should be revised. Mr. Wat
son nagged him to tell what kind OF revision
he meant ut would take some time 10 do
it," ne said. Time would enter as factor
into the process. necessarily so. Great Brit
ain. whose slogan was free trade, did rot
reach free trade by sweeping out of exist
ence all the industrial conditions that then
existed. Gradually. little by little. she re-
duced the dues. now on this and now on
that, and furnished to the country in each
case of reduction an object lesson of the
benefcent effect OF removing taxation from
the consumer.
Mr.. Williams does not state correctly the
process by which Great Britain passed from
protection TO free trade. and he ignores the
local conditions that were thought TO make
il necessary. but he does incidentally indorse
the tariff policy of the Republican party.
That policy is not one of hard and fast ad-
herenCe to any particular tarlu Scnedute,
but of adherence to protection as long as
and TO the extent that ii may be needed for
the encouragement of American industries.
the control of American markets. and main
tanning the American standard of wages.
The Republican party is in favor of tariff
revision whenever circumstances or chang
ing conditions may show that revision is de-
/ slrable. but always on the lines of protec-
/ ton The Republican platform of 1896 said:
We renew and emphasize our allegiance to
Il the policy OF protection the bulwark OF
/ American industrial Independence and the
/ foundation of American development and
/ rosDerity We are not pledged 10
/ any particular schedules The question of
rates is practical question, 10 be governed
\ BY the conditions OF the time and OF produc-
ton: the ruling and uncompromising prin-
Il ciple is the protection and development OF
/ American labor and industry.
This clearly implied that tariff schedules
might and should be changed to suit chang
ing conditions. but never 10 the detriment OF
American labor and industries. That is the
Republican policy. and Mr.. Williams vir-
tually indorses IL.
In view OF this new definition OF Demo.
cratic policy by the minority leader in the