The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-29
:5upE,GEPARkERs TARfFFPoLIcY

Jndge@Parkerh asnot the
history of tariff legislation good
purpose, or he Observation-Disclosures
suggestion that Democratic tariff re-
vision can be effected without Great
ing a sense of I'M certainty andSinsta
bility IN business circles W providing
that a reasonable time shall intervene
between the date OF the enactment OF
the statute and the date for its en-.
forcement.
A little history will show that the
Democratic candidate is ignorant on
this point. or is simply begging the
question. Mr. Cleveland and a Demo
cratic Congress were elected in No.
yember 1892. The Democratic plat
form then was as it is now, and de-
aounced Republican protection as rob-
berry Of the many for the benefit of the
few. The Congress elected that year
did not meet until December, 1893, or
thirteen months after the election, and
the Wilson bill. was not passed until
August, 1894, or nearly two years after
the election.
President Cleveland was not inaugu-
rated until March 4, 1898, four months
after the election, and yet the bust
ness depression which followed began
the very day after the verdict was
| given ct the polls, and it increased
and continued until there was panic
everywhere shortly after Mr.. Cleye
lands Inauguration and before the
Democratic Congress me to carry OUT
the will of the people by enacting a
tariff law for revenue only. The "uc-
certainty and instability to business
did not wait for the law, the Congress
| or the formal beginning of the Demo
cratic administration. 1t made it's ap
pearance Immediately after the YER
dict at the polls.
The Democratic party had denounc
ed Republican protection as robbery
and unconstitutional. n the people
at the DOLLS had clothed that party
with power TO revolutioniZe tariff laws
And Immediately after hat decision
the business men of the country be
| came alarmed. They could not fore
see what the result would be. and they
could not map out their business pro
gram for the future. They lost conf
t9ence, and confidence is the sheet ar
Choir OF business. Capital became con
~servative and waited for the new ol-
der of things to begin. and labor sui
fered from that conservative waiting.
If Judge Parker is honestly in favor
Of the Democratic pledge for tariff re
form, he shows poor judgment in suS-
costing a furthe- delay in bringing
about the result to increase the period
| of uncertainty and instability. He
should know, as the whole country
Knows from sad experience, tina the
uncertainty viii be felt Immediately
| after the election of a Democratic
President and a Democratic Congress.
With the enormous business OF the
country based on confidence and pro
jected into the future, the whole fab
RE of business suffers from any gen,
| eral verdict at the polls that will de
stroy confidence. If the people of this
country really believe h a protection
is robbery and unconstitutional, and
that we should go to a free trade basis,
they should get their affairs ready Tor
the change before election, for all his
tory shows that the effects OF the
| change dates from the adoption of the
policy. If the voters, business men
and working men who are wage-earn'
ers, do not want another period of uE-
certainty, they should be careful how
they vote in favor of a change in No
vember.
OF course the do not hope