Potosi journal., 1904-02-03
DEMOCRATIC ENDORSEMENT.
The Republican Tariff Policy Re-
ceiyes Approval of Member of
the Opposition.

Representative Watson, Of this state,
Gid a neat piece Of political maneuvering
in forcing Representative John S. Viii
liams, OF Mississippi. into practical in
dorsement of the republican policy on
the tariff question, says the Indianap-
oils Journal. Mr. Williams is the leader
of the minority in the house and re-
ceived the complimentary vote of the
democrats for speaker. While he was
speaking on the tariff question MIR. Wat
son. by some sharp questioning, led him
to declare, first, that the democratic
party did not stand for free trade; sec
ond, that it favored tariff for revenue
only, and third, that it favored the re-
publican policy of lowering duties as
time and circumstances should justify.
If the democratic party has any fixed
principle it is opposition to protection
in ary form, and, of course, advocacy of
the opposite policy. The opposite of
protection is free trade, but the party
dare not avow this openly. So Mr.. Will
liams denied that it stood for free trade.
When asked if he stood for tariff for
revenue OILY liz itpliSd any tai III
that will provide for the necessities of
this government is more than equal to
! tariff that must pay the difference be-
tween wages in the United States and
those abroad This was an ingenious
evasion. of the question and indicated a
desire 10 get away from the party's rec
ord
Fina ly. as Mr. Williams was contend
ing that the tariff should be revised, Mr..
Watson nagged him to tell what kind of
revision he meant. 1T would take
some time TO do it, he said Time
would snter as factor into the process,
| necesss rily so Great Britain. whose
slogan was free trade, did not reach
| free trade by sweeping out of existence
all the industrial conditions that then
| existed. Gradually, little by little, she
| reduced 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 correct
| Iy ths. process by which Great Britain
| passed from protection to free trade
| and he ignores the local conditions that
were hought to make it necessary. but
he does incidentally indorse the tariff
policy Of the republican party. That
policy is not one of hard and fast adher-
| ence to any particular tariff schedule
| but of adherence to protection as Ions
| as asd to the extent that it may be need.
| ed 1'-r the encouragement of American
| indr tries. the control of American
| marEats. and maint aiming the American
| standard of wages The republican par.
| is in favor of tariff revision when
| ever circumstances or changing cordi
| tions may show that revision is Gesir
| able, bat always on the lines of protec
| ton The republican platform Of 1885,
| said:
| EVE ienew and empha size our !I5gianc.
| to the ;olicy of protection as the buwari
| of An cican Industrial independence an,
| the TO: ldati Of American development
| and uaperity. We are not pledged
to any particular schedules The question
| Of rates is n practical question, to be gov
| erned l. the conditions OF the time and o
| produc.i1n: the ruling and uncompronais
| ng pTiUtiple is the protection and devei
| opment If American labor and industry
This clearly implied that tariff sched
ules n ght and should be changed t,
! suit changing conditions, but never t,
| the detriment of American labor and in
| dustrics That is the republican policy
| and Mi Williams virtually indorse
It.
In vi.w of this new definition Of dem
ocratie policy by the minority leader il
the house, one is led to ask what is tn
| democratic tariff policy, anyhow? Fo
wears i1at party advocated free TRACE
| then for another term Of years a tarii
for re1 enue only. and now it is threaten
Ing to climb on to the republican plat
form. 1t should be warned off Tha
ground has been preempted by the re
publican party.