Fair play., 1906-12-15
CHANCE IS in 1908.
TIME FOR VOTERS TO DEMAND
TARIFF REVISION.
At Present the People Practically
Have No Voice In Congress- Con-
troversy With Germany and
Canada Becoming vexing.

Senator Cullom, of Illinois, who will
be reelected to the United States
senate when the legislature of the
state meets, declares there Is a gen.
sral demand for tariff revision. Sen
ator Burrows, of Michigan, and Sen
ator Fulton. of Oregon, are reported
to agree with Senator Cullom that IL
tarin revision Is to be undertaken at
all 1t should be at a special session
of congress TO be convened imme-
diately after the adjournment Of the
Fifty ninth congress on March 4th,
next Those two standpat senators
do not, however, agree with Senator
Cullom that there is any general de-
mand for tariff legislation, yet If the
question of revising the tariff so that
the protected trusts would be com
PEELED to reduce the price of their
products was submitted to the voters
| OF Oregon and Michigan there is no
doubt that a large majority would
| decide for revision. AS 1t Is now the
people who want tariff reform have no
voice in congress, for those Repub-
lican members who believe that tariff
reform is necessary are so tied up
by the rigid rules of the house of
representatives and the autocratic
power of a standpat speaker that
they have no opportunity of recording
their tariff revision attitude.
In the campaign OF 1908 the tariff
will be an important, If not the para
mount issue, and the voters will have
more direct opportunity of deciding
| whether they are content to continue
to pay high trust prices. so that they
are expending nearly so per cent more
on the cost of their living than when
the present tariff act was passed in
1897
The tariff controversy with Germany
and Canada and other countries who
are determined to retaiate against
our extreme protection, will come to
a head next year and will open the
eyes of many voters who have kept
them shut through partisan prefer.
ences. The standpatters have de
clared that the only revision they
will stand for is to revise the tariff
rates higher. with n provision that
the present rates shall be the mini
mum for those countries that will
allow our products to enter at their
minimum rates or otherwise new max
imum rates will be imposed, Such an
amendment to our tariff law would
be deemed by Germany and Canada
as a slap in the face and add fuel to
the flame of disagreement, and pro
woke a tariff war that would be dis
astrous to the trade between the
United States and those countries.
It is a very serious question and
cannot be lodged as the domestic
tariff issue has been lodged by the
Republican leaders by forcing other
issues to the front. The German gov
ernment feels that it was hoodwinked
into granting stay of proceeding
last year and by agreeing not to en-
force their new tariff until June 80
next, for which the United States
made no return but the promise O
reforming the way in which the details
of executing the law on imports il
carried out. Our standpat congress
refused to carry out the promise!
made by President Roosevelt through
the state department and the German
government naturally feels aggrieyeC
and will enforce their maximum anC
prohibitive tariff against American
products unless concessions are made
The standpat statesmen will nov
| have to take the responsibility of see
ing the exports of our products t.
Germany, Canada and other countries
materially reduced, or be willing t
take from our protected monopolist
a part of the protection they enio,
under the Dingley tariff The ques
tion is up to them whether they viii
fish or cut bait and there is not mucl
time in which to decide which horl
of the dilemma they will take.