Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-05
TARIFF DISCUSSION
High Protectionists and the
Revisionists.
AN IMPENDING CRISIS
THE PANAMA CANAL SUPPLIES
THE SUBJECT.
The Economists Disparagement of Sec
retary Taft's Proposition-op-
position Not Dismayed.

The high protectionists are already gloat-
ing in anticipation of taking fall out OF
the tariff revisionists, and profess to see in
current events indication that policies look
ing to scaling down the tariff walls are
unacceptable to. the country at large Nat
urally however. the stand yatters would be
expected to see no untoward signs of the
times, and their boastings do not appar-
emily dismay the revisionists.
The last number of the Economist the
weekly publication of the American Pro-
tective Tariff League and organ of the
stand-patters, devotes considerable space
to discussion of the Administrations plan
for purchasing Panama canal supplies in
foreign markets. The tenor of the Econo-
mist's articles disparages the success of
Secretary Taft's proposition and on that
score says:
Secretary Taft at the Convention.
'As a preliminary work -out for the presi-
Dental nomination in 1908 Secretary Taft's
appearance chairman of the Ohio re-
publican state convention last week was
only mildly impressive. No rate of speed
was shown that would tend to make this
entry a favorte in the books. The con-
vention respectfully enthusiastic, but
not wildly SO. 1t received in silence Mr.
Taft's illusions to tariff revision and to
free trade with the Philippines, and in it's
platform paid not the slightest attention
to either of the suggestions. AS a matter
of fact it was stand-pat convention
Relative to tariff matters, the resolutions
unanimously adopted would hardly be con-
Sidered a sympathetic response to what
Secretary Taft said in his opening speech
to the possible necessity of readjusting
and revising the tariff in order to produce
more revenue.
Probably the delegates wondered what
Mr.. Taft was driving at. Did he mean that
by a reduction. of tariff rates importa tions
might be increased so as to produce addi-
tional revenues? If that was wha. he had
in mind the convention could not escape
from the conviction that this would prove
a costly tariff revision, for 1t would involve
the doubling of our duty-bearing and com
petitive imports.
but it may be that Mr.. Taft did not
mean this at all. Perhaps he intended 10
rates would produce enough revenue to
wipe out the treasury deficit. Perhaps he
was squirting toward tariff revision. Per-
haps. The convention took no chances 1t
contented itself with declaring that no
step should be taken that may imperl or
threaten our good times. Not much en-
couragement for tariff tinkering downward
in that declaration. All of which I'M
pels us to repeat the observation that the
preliminary working-out of 1905 for the big
of 1908 was not such as to make Mr.
IdIt an OCQS-On IdVOTlle III Inc Winter
books'
In all of the Economists articles the word
Tariff is spelled with a big and capt.
talized the same as the Deity.
The Panama Proposition.
1t Is evident from the excitement of the
high tariff men, as manifested In their re-
vived activity, that they regard the admin
istration's Panama proposition as serious
blow to the supremacy of the high tariff
and that they intend to lose no time get
ting to work at efforts to counteract the
effect of the administrations attitude. They
attach some Importance to the announce
ment of the postponement of the extra ses-
sion of Congress contemplated for October,
until after the November elections They
argue that this is another victory for the
stand-patters.
Contrary to this view, however, 1t is said
by the friends OF the administration that
the President deemed it unimportant
whether the extra session should be called
week or two before or after the state
elections. 1t is said that he was content to
yield to the representations of some distin-
gushed republicans that the calling of the
extra session in October would embarrass
the campaign, and that he holds that the
prospects for tariff revision are not mill
tated against by the postponement.