New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-03
4 WAITER OF BUSINESS.

Senator Fairbanks and eX-SeCretary Long. in
| their speeches TO the Home Market Club in Bos-
ton on Thursday, represented the attitude OF
the great body of Republicans on the subject
of tariff revision. The Republican party is
firmly committed to protection. but it makes
no fetch of any particular scale of duties.
When if TeyiSes the tariff it will do so not to
suit free traders who want TO break down the
protective system. but TO adjust the protective
system 10 the condition of business which has
wonderfully developed in the last seven years
and produced new commercial problems which
il is the duty of the Republican party 10 meet
Senator Fairbanks thus puts the case:
The Republican party has revised tarff
schedules in the past when revision was es-
sential and it viii not hestate III l9e ti
subject them TO careful scrutiny ana alteratloil
so that our protective system may he just IN
its operation. Whenever change of schedules is
essential in the public interest. the Oh
will be made it will be made adVlSedly, IL VIII
he made with full knowledge. not in response
To mere sentiment but agreeably to sound eco
nomic necessity. Any other policy is obviously
unwise and disturbing in its tendency.
Mr. Long gave some wise advice to the Home
Market Club. some of whose members nave
seemed inclined to assume a Bourbon attitude
and resist even the suggestion of inquiry into
the operation of possibly outworn schedules
Their theory seemed TO be that the schedules
were sacred. that no defect in them must be
discovered even II II pAlSte' anu '''i' W.
doxy was preferable to truth. To them Mr.
Long said:
1t only needs that. developing the economic
theories of sound finance and wise tarln leglS-
lation which your club represents, we Shdil "o'
be thra to them. but shall revise lIell apP 49,
lion as our general interests from time to time
and indeed. require. and shall correct any
schedule that has ceased to be the agent ol
general uplft and has become the preferential
favoritism of any special interests with that
we shall have the whole country with us
The simple key TO this whole puzzle OF me
protective tariff. constituting its principles nor
narrowly nor with Partially. but Literally ana
for the general welfare. is in the one word ad-
iustment''-the adjustment of the schedule 70
The needs of the time shifting at reasonable
intervals as they shirt
The question of tariff revision is one OF PLAIN
business common sense, Any half dozen dlsln-
terested business men familiar with the condl-
lions of q particular industry could tell how
far tho DEVELOPMENT of the last seven years
had made the Dingley duties i'll adapted 10
give reasonable protection without unduly bur
dening related industries and the general pun
lie No Republican wants to weaken Iro'ec-
zion or deprive any industry of fair opportunity
for prosperous activity But when Leading men
in some lines of manufacture frankly say that
they have outgrOwn the present scheduleS' 1t
is time for sober. openminded inquiry INTO 'e
facts All that is needed is TO face the taclS'
whatever they are, and adjust ourselves 10
them. If the popular IMPRESSION a"ou' an!
particular. dutv is mistaken. say so, and stand
by il. If the popular impression is right-and
oven the opponents of revision admit that in
many instances it is-act on 1t and cure the
defect.
Anv large body in Congress which did not
want to find out what was defective ana cure
If could. of course, make any revision trouble
some. But If opponents of revision are merely
tinid about opening up the question: ana hol
striving to perpetuate some undue pieces OF
favoritism. they may be treasured. general
agreement among Republicans to stand hrmF
for protection. but for no private abuse oil pro
lection and to inquire in good faith into me
schedules said to he outgrOwn with the soie
purpose of reaching a fair Judgment. Woud
make simple the adjustment which popular
oninion REQUIRES All that is wanted is the
truth. and all that is needed to make the truth
perfectly safe is a united purpose to do noth-
ing but discover it and act upon IT,