Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-26
FOR RECIPROCITY, TOO
McCleary Claims That II is Not
Incompatible With Protection.
McklNLEY'S LAST SPEECH
Declares That It is the Doctrine of the
Republicans.
PLATFORM OF THE PRESIDENT
Quotes Letters and Speeches of Mr.
Roosevelt and Says The Are In
Line With Party Principles.
PLATFORM OF THE PRESIDENT

vi representatives.
II Is evident said Mr. McCleary that
one of the principal issues in the congress
SIGNAL campaign this fall will be the tariff.
1t becomes proper. therefore. to consider the
attitude OF the parties ON this subject ae
expressed In their national platforms.
Republican Platform of 1904.
las to the tariff. the republican national
platform of 1904 says: Protection. which
guards and develops our industries is a
cardinal principle of the party.
The measure of protection should al
ways at least equal the difference III the
ccst or production at home and abroad
We insist upon the maintenance of tho
prrcipie OF protection, and, therefore, rates
of duty should be readjusted only when
conditions have so changed that the public
interest demands their alteration. but this
work cannot be safely committed to any
other hands than those of the republican
party To intrust IL to the democratic
party is to invite disaster. Whether as in
1892. the democratic party declares the pro-
tective tariff unconstitutional, and whether
It demands tariff reform or tariff revision.
its real object is always the destruction of
the protective system. However specious
the name, the purpose is ever the same A
democratic tariff has always been followed
by business adversely, republican tariff
by business prosperity. To republican
Congress and republican President this
great question can be safely intrusted.
When the only free-trade country among
the great nations agitates a return TO pro-
lection the chief protective country should
not falter in maintaining it,
1--WE have extended widely our foreign
markets. and we believe in the adoption OF
all the practicable methods for their
further extension. including commercial
reciprocity wherever reciprocal arrange
ments can be effected consistent with the
principles of protection and without injury
to American agriculture, American labor or
any American industry
This authoritative statement of party
central
thoughts, namely:
81. That protection is a permanent cardi-
nal principle of the republican fiscal sys-
tenn and not mere expedient to be EN-
ployed for local and temporary purposes.
80 That the difference in cost of produc-
ton at home and abroad is the minimum
measure of protection-not the exact meas
ure, but the minimum measure. There is
no reference to any maximum. so 1t is plain
that according to the republican doctrine
the only danger to be feared is that re-
sultng from fixing rates of duty too low.
%. That revision of the tariff is not
thing to be entered upon lightly, but that
rates of duty should be readjusted only
when conditions have changed that the
public interest demands their alteration
and that In such revision protection accord
ing to the measure stated shall always be
maintained.
~. That in any reciprocity arrangements
entered into by the United States the prin-
ciple of ample protection to every Ameri-
can industry must be preserved
Stand for the Republican Doctrine.
IT stand unequivoeaily and without slut
tering for the republican doctrine of pro-
lection and reciprocity. enunciated in the
republican national platform of 1904
that platform has been Interpreted by The
odore Roosevelt.
1.-The last republican national convention
was held in Chicago in 1904. and it's nomi-
nee for the Office of chief executive of the
nation Theodore Roosevelt then and
now President of the United States
And now let us see how the nominee of
our party for the presidency understood the
platform on which he was nominated. the
platform which he pledged himself to the
American people to do his part to carry
out if elected.
I'm ascertaining his views 1t would be
manifestly improper TO quote anything that
he might say casually in private CONVEX
sation in conference with men of varying
views with whom il is his duty to consult
from time to time and not unnecessarily
antagonize. Only views expressed publicly
and uttered deliberately with the very OBJ
Ject of giving to the public his judgment
should be quoted; and preferably what he
said In his speech of acceptance and his
letter of acceptance should be used If they
cover the matter in question.
MT. McCleary then quoted from President
Roosevelt's letter of acceptance dated Sep
TENDER II. 1904. addressed to Chairman Cam
non of the committee OF notification; from
the Presidents speech accepting the nomin-
alton for the presidency; from a speech of
the Presidents at Logansport, Ind. two
years previously and from the Presidents
tariff utterance in a speech at Minneapolis
Mimi. April 4. 1908, in order to present to
the House "the Roosevelt idea" as to tariff
rates. Mr.. McCleary asserted that he had
quoted enough to show that the President
not only approves the doctrine enumerated
in the national platform. but that he him
self probably suggested the language of
the platform.
Referring again to the Presidents speech
of acceptance, Mr.. McCleary quoted Mr..
Roosevelt as follows:
I'VE believe in reciprocity with foreign
nations on the terms outlined in President
Mckiniey's last speech which urged the
extension of foreign markets by reel
procal agreements whenever they could be
made without injury to American industry
and labor.
Kernel of the Mckinley Idea.
at is worthy of special NOTE said
Mr.. McCleary. in conclusion, that in thus
referring to the reciprocity ideas in the last
speech of our martyr President at Buffalo
President Roosevelt administered singing
rehuke to those who have endeavored to
pervert MeKinley's speech TO their own
Ell DIS. In the words that / have quoted
President Roosevelt has given the kernel
of the Mckinley idea. This is the repub-
liean idea, the doctrine enunciated In the
republican national platform as interpreted
by President Roosevelt.
From this brief but comprehensive re-
view, Mr.. Chairman. it will be seen that
the republican doctrine of protection, as
Is embodied in three fundamental ideas.
namely, the permanency of the protective
tariff policy, ample adequacy of tariff rates
and stability of tariff laws. 1t will also
be seen that the supplementary republican
doctrine OF reciprocity demands that all
reciprocal arrangements must be in COM
plete and absolute harmony with the con-
trolling fundamental ideas of protection
THAT is the doctrine enuaciated in our
national platform as interpreted by our
ca ndidate, the doctrine on which we were
intrusted with power; and party honor de-
mands that IL administering the govern
ment we. in good faith. carry out that
doctrine in letter and in spirit.
'sThat was the republican doctrine In
1854, il is the republican doctrine now.
approve it and contended for 1t In 1904;
approve Ii now and propose to contend
for 1t In the coming campaign deem
1t my patriotic duty 10 do my utmost 10
have it understood and approved by the
peorle OF the United States now as then
Other Speakers.
Representative Pou Of North Carolina de-
voted forty minutes to comments on the
republican tariff position. We are as
sured. he said. .:of at least two moro