The Mankato free press., 1904-08-05
Rates Should Be- Changed to.
Meet Conditions.
Not Upward, But Downward
Says the Candidate.
Reciprocity Is One of His
Planks Also.
from Tuesdays Daily.

Herbert j. Miller has formally enter
ed the field as candidate for congress
from the second district, and he an
nounces his platform to be as follows:
To the Electors of the Second Con-
gressional District of Minnesota: have :
filed as Republican candidate for MEM
Der of congress in this district and will
be a candidate for this office at the next
primary election.
1 deem it proper for one who seeks
this office to state for what he stands,
what he favors and what he opposes con-
cerning the chief issue in this contest,
so that those who vote may do so in
telligently.
First. I stand squarely upon the plat
form adopted by the last Republican ma
tional convention.
Second. 1 believe in the Roosevelt
idea" Incorporated in the tariff plank of
our national platform, enunciated by him
in two messages to congress and reiter--
ated in his speech of April, 1908, in Min
neapolis, that the true measure of pro-
lection is determined by sample recog-
notion of the difference in the cost of
production, here and abroad" Protection
sufficient to give American industries
an equal show with foreign competitors :
on the basis of sufficient profit to safe
guard investment and to give to all the :
factors in production such means of liv-
ing and such opportunities for improve
ment as are necessary to the develop
ment of people fit to be American citi.
Zens, must be maintained Tariff in ex-
cess of that is ultra protection and
ultra protection is unjust and unwise.
Third. l hold that while the principle
of protection is sacred tariff rates are not
and that these rates should be
changed as often as existing conditions,
whether growing out of the formation of
trusts or otherwise, render the further
continuance of the present duty on any
article unnecessary or harmful or in
with the true measure of pro-
lection as defined by President Roose-
velt in our platform. When such condi-
tions arise then such duties are outside
the principles on which the Republican
doctrine of protection stands. Fidelity
to and maintenance of existing schedules
are not necessarily part of Republican
doctrine.
Fourth. 1 believe that the time re-
ferred to in our national platform has
come when conditions have so changed
that the public interest demands the al
teration of certain rates of duty, not up
ward but downward. Our present con-
yressman has chosen deliberately to-
stand with those who would make no re-
luction of tariff duties, and has advanced
IN them by declaring in his last tariff
speech that the "next revision may need
10 be upward not downward" and "that-
revision upward can always be undertak-
IN safely" The issue thus formed .
submit to the Republican voters of this
district for their thoughtful consideration.
ind decision.
Fifth. The present tariff on lumber is m-
necessary and harmful and is inconsist-
mt with the fundamental principle of
1t serves only to strength
n combination which is today putting
! burden on the home builder, retarding
development and improvement, and
hrowing mechanics out of en-
'loyment, by exacting unrighteous
,rofts on lumber, besides injuring and
our agricultural interests by
lepleting our forests.
Sixth. It follows from these premises
hat I favor the entire removal of the
ariff on lumber and reduction of the
uties on commodities such as machin-
ry, implements and other hardware,
which are now sold for export to foreign
markets for less than they are at home.
Seventh. I believe in reciprocity as de-
med and advocated by Blaine and Nc
linley. The declaration of President Nc
linley that ''The expansion of our trade
nd commerce is the pressing problem"
S still true. Widened markets widen
opportunity to produce and production
s the only source of wealth.
Eighth. The national Democratic plat
orm denomces protection as a "rob-
,ery of the many to enrich the few"
The only grounds for argument which
an be used in support of this declaration
lave been furnished to the Democratic
,arty by those who have abused the
principle of protection and by those who
oppose all changes in tariff schedules ex-
,ept those of an upward tendency. The