Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-06-22
TARIFF rs THE ISSUE
DOMINANT QUESTION IN THE CON-
ING CAMPAIGN.

DOMINANT QUESTION IN THE CON-
ING CAMPAIGN.
Principle Of Protection VIII he As
sailed ~ Democrats and Defended
~ Republicans In the Contest That
II t. Decide National Control.
The closing days Of the session of
congress brought the tariff question
~ the Issue Of the campaign squarely
to the front The Democratic leaders
made no effort to disguise the fact
that 1t II their purpose to attack the
protective system at every point. They
denounce protection a. robbery" and
declare that It should be rooted out of
the laws Of the United States. Spirit
ed defenses Of the system were made
by Representative LittleAeld Of Maine
and other Republicans. The issue was
Joined. There 10 no mistaking the fact
that the principles Of protection will
Be assailed and defended in the coming
campaign with vigor by the adherents
q the respective parties.
The more bold and outspoken Of the
Democratic leaders OF today. notably
those In the house Of representatives,
ara divided into two camps In their
Aeld operations against the protective
syetem. On the one hand are those
who denounce the protective system a.
sr9bbaFy Of the people" and who de- |
nand that Il be stopped and wholly
abAndoaea % q principle Of govern
ment With rsspsdt IA our revenues. On
the other hand. there u IN element Of |
fres trsds -leadssship who recognize
the fact that. IN outspoken avowal Of
their real principles would have the
e6ect - stfeagthen the cause Of pro-
tection. This class makes 4 covert |
attack upon tie protective system. de-
nouncing It. yet 1t the same time avow-
1ng that It = the purpose Of the Demo
cratic party only to reduce duties In
eases where duties are too high"
Many Of the tree trade advocates
6U11lF announce their adherence to the
Tree trsds doctrine. and they demand
that all duties which afford protection
70 the Industries Of the United States
Dhall be abolished and that this nation
shall establish itself upon free trade
basis pure and simple.
Probably one Of the most interesting
aspects OF the tariff discussion an It has
opened up for the approaching cam
s,aigu h the inability manifested by
Inc Democrats to agree upon the meth
"a Of attack which shall be directed
against the protective system. Some |
Of the Democratic leaders avow that !
the manufacturers in the United States |
are enjoying colossal monopoly unr
der the shelter of the tariff duties; that |
these manufacturers are fat. sleek and |
prosperous: that these manufacturers |
do not want the tariR disturbed be-
cause they lind profitable business I'M
der its operation 10 "robbing the Amer
lean people," Another class Of the tar
~ smashers asserts that the American
trade interests are suffering from the
protective policy: that the leading COM
mercial nations Of Europe are cOmbin-
1ng against the United States and clos
1mg their markets to American prod
nets: that % result Of these condl-
tons and the. consequent alleged de-
plorable conditions Of American indus
tries the manufacturers are demand
ins modiAcatiops Of the tariff sched-
ulea Thus y presented situation In
which The opponents Of protection are
attempting to prove that the "robber
baron" manufactures are ready to