Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-29
Mr.. Hale ON the Tariff.

Mr. Hale who is one of his party's strong
debaters in the Senate. declares against
tariff revision in any form He stands
as pat as a man well could. He interprets
the republican majorities, presidential and
congressional OF the 9Th instant as in
struction to the party not to touch the
tariff either now or during the life of the
next Congress. He puts his meaning into
these words:
The republican position and the issues
which II maintained not only commanded
popular support. but those issues were ad-
vanced and upheld in Just as bold and
courageous fashion as were the words and
acts of the President. The position of the
party upon thee great issues-the pro-
tective tariff, the currency and the ham
ding of overgrOwn, dictatorial and oppres-
sive trusts-was simply impregnable. Every
attack by the democrats upon these posi-
tions, touching either of these great issues.
met with disgraceful defeat, and when the
American people woke up on the morning
after the election and knew its results they
had a right to expect and to assume that
the policy of the party upon these three
great questions had been settled and would
be so considered during the next four
years of administration" ss
Certainly every attack on the protective
tariff. whether made in the north, east or
west. was replied to, and the general re-
suit was an overwhelming triumph for the
policy of protection. But that has nothing
to do with the demand for a limited re-
vision of the Dingley law along protection
lines. Mr.. Hale should remember that
throughout the west and northwest tariff
revision was freely discussed during the
campaign, and urged by prominent republi-
can speakers and newspapers. and we
have a right to claim that the enormous
majorities rolled up by the republicans
there were partly the result of that agita-
tion A limited revision of some of the
schedules of the Dingley law cannot in
fairness be confused with an attack on the
broad and beneflcent policy of protection.
That policy stands approved.
Mr.. Hale says further:
e Il do not look to see any movement on
the part of the administration either for
procity that will give away the benefits of
trade, which are now in our favor with
any country whatever"
1t Is safe to assert that neither the admin
istration nor any representative republican
in either house of the next Congress will
propose any tariff change 'that will give
away the benefits of trade. which are now
in our favor with any country whatever"
The object of the proposed revision is to
Increase our trade to our advantage with
outsiders, and at the same time preserve
for ourselves in it's general application the
policy of protection.
The Maine senator is of opinion that
nothing but woe will follow the man who
is instrumental in bringing on a tariff war
In Congress" Several men will invite any
woe that may follow the movement for
tariff revision, and Mr.. Hale Should be
getting ready for them His own position,
1t Is probably not unjust to suggest, grows
out of the proposition for reciprocity with
Canada. to which he is opposed. That is
only one feature of the case, and it is yet
to be threshed out in debate. 1T Is not
strong enough of itself either to, carry re-
vision or defeat it,
The logical result of Mr.. Haie's Contention
Is that the Dingley tariff can never In wis.,
dom and safety be touched by the republic
cans. AS long as the republican party is
successful every schedule of the Dinglev
tariff Is Endorsed and sanctified by the pub
lc and only by the defeat of that party at
the polls can any readjustment of customs
duties to meet changed conditions be eff
fected Mr.. Hale. in effect, pictures the
Dingley tariff as a vast balloon. which cam
not even be pin-punctured without total
collapse and WidRSpraa1