The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-05-25
Current Comment on Leading Topics
TAFT RAISES A STORM

TAFT RAISES A STORM
AS predicted by The Independent last weel
Secretary Taft's decision that Panama canal SUI
plies shall be secured wherever they can b
bought cheapest in the markets of the world ha
aroused storm Of protest. Already the stand
patters" have begun to growl ominousy. Writ
Ing in the Chicago Record Herald, Walter We'll
man describes the situation thus:
No one should understand that the de-
termination of the executive commlttec Is
to buy all it's ships machinery and materials
in foreign countries. Probably the great DuiK
Of all purchases will be made in the United
States. But the decision of the committee is
that 1t will buy where it can buy cheapest II
it can get the lowest prices in the United
States, it will purchase here II foreign man
ufacturers and dealers underbid American
sellers the contracts will go abroad On the
face of it this looks like nothing more than
good business policy. But 1t does not please
the high tariffites at all. They look upon it
as rank heresy. They perceive, as everyone
perceives, that 1t raises the whole tariff ques-
ton, and raises it in a manner calculated to
give far more comfort to democrats and In
who have helped push up the walls and who
have made exclusion of foreign trade in any
form an article Of party faith. 1t will be
long time before the Panama commission, the
administration and the country hears the last
of the storm brewed by this important de-
cision s'For generations we have been teach
ing that it is better to buy at home, even II
we have to pay little higher prices, be-
cause that is for the general good" said
one member of congress. THAT is the very
essence of the protection doctrine Yet here
comes the government and says it is not
willing to abide by the practice OF the coun-
try. 1t will break down the rule to which
it is at least morally party, and will buy
abroad whatever it can buy there cheaper
than at home In other words, you and can't
20 into the worlds market and buy where we
can buy cheapest. The tariff prevents us.
But the government, having no duty to pay
on what it imports into the sthmus, an
nounces it's intention to go into the worlds
markets and save all the money it can. A
fine example indeed for government to set
in protection country! What are VIC COM
ing to, anyway" One prominent hightariff
senator, expressing his amazement, said he
would have to withhold comment until he
had seen the official Endorsement of Secretary
Taft upon the commissions action. He could
hardly credit lie statement that the COM
mission proposed to purchase considerable
amount of supplies abroad discriminating
against American goods. Another senator
who ranks high in the republican party, said
he would regard the action as highly unfor-
tunate and certain to bring the republicans
face to face with the tariff issue in its keen
est form. He said it would give the demo-
cratic party just the weapon it most badly
needed in it's fight against the protective
tariff system. Even If most of the supplies
and machinery be purchased in this country
at the lowest possible or export prices, the
high tariff people argue that the damage is
already done. The action of the government
serves as confirmation strong as holy writ of
the cry which the democrats and the tariff
reformers who are not democrats set up in
last years presidential campaign. Volumin-
Gus pages were devoted to meeting this argu-
textbook were devoted to meeting this argu-
ment of the enemy that American manufac-
turers deliberately sell abroad cheaper than
they sell at home, and that home consumers