The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-11-15

Usual Free trade blunderS.
pray, how is a wayfaring voter
going to distinguish a Democrat from
Republican? Send a dollar to the
Republican campaign committee and
get the solution to this puzzle. OF
course the Democrats must talk tar
III; that is the only garment Mr.
Roosevelt has left them. "-Poston
Globe.
Right you are. The Democrats
must talk tariff whether they like to
or not They are compelled by good
politics on the other side to antagon'
ize the stand-pat position, and in do
ing this they are compelled to antago-
nize protection. II is an uncomfortable
position, made 50 by the wise de
termination of the Republican mana
gers to force the fight on Dingley
tariff, stand-pat lines.
Much easier it would have been for
the Democrats II they could have
faced a divided opposition, an opposi-
ton weakened and demorallzed by the
confession that the Dingley tariff was
all wrong and ought to be forthwith
tinkered and patched in the interest
of larger foreign competition, lower
prices and lower wages.
But It was different when the ma
tional Republican congressional com
mittee. backed by President Roose-
welt and Speaker Cannon. decided up
on a stand-pat campaign.
All of a sudden the Republican
''progressives" in Iowa ceased TO be
progressive. They readily consented
to the adoption of stand-pat plat
form. and are now falling over each
other in insisting that the tariff is the
issue. and that Republicans must be
united and harmonious In fighting the
common enemy.
They didn't talk that way prior TO
the Oyster Bay stand-pat conference.
Then they were shouting for the
nomination of a tariff wrecker on a
tariff-wrecking platform. and swear
ing that they would bolt IL any other
candidate or platform were adopted.
Now they sing small about tariff
wrecking. and are begging for stand
pat votes.
How is Il In Massachusetts, that
other storm center of tariff mug
wumpery?
A month ago the Democrats were
in high feather. Republican dissen-
sion on the tariff made the road 10
Democratic success look level and
smooth. Free Trader Whitney had
decided to be the Democratic nominee
for governor. Free Trader Foss was
hoping 10 capture a Republican nom.
iuation. and Mugwump Guild was de-
claring that he could not be the
Republican candidate for governor I'M
less allowed to stand on a tariff-rip-
ping platform.
But things have changed The
stand-pat programme of the congress
sional committee. the stand-pat
speech Of Speaker Cannon at Danville,
and the stand-pat letter OF President
Roosevelt have knocked into splinters
the campaign plans alike OF the free
trade democrats and the mugwump
Republicans.
Free Trade Whitney has decided
that he will not take the Democratic
nomination for governor: Free Trader
Foss has discovered that he cannot
get a Republican nomination for lieu
tenant governor or anything else;
Mugwump Guild was at last accounts
hoping that nobody would remember
his silly break of a month ago as "a
refusing denomination on any save q
tariff-ripping platform.
The Republican stand-patters have
won out. and the Massachusetts, Re
publican tariff resolution is going tc
be written by Attorney General
Moody. as per suggestions from Oys
ter Bay
All this has come OF the patient and
forceful tactics of the stand -patters
Theirs was the sane aud sensible side
of the controversy: theirs the good
business and the good politics side
They have fought long and hard.
Ever since Cummins. of Iowa
launched his scheme OF destroying
''tariffsheltered monopolies." and Of
smashing the tariff by fake recip
rocity that could only benefit a few
favored interests. while greatly injur
ing the industrial interests of the
country as a whole: ever since Foss
forged to the front in Massachusetts
with his programme of free trade ir
raw materials and more free trade by
means of reciprocity dickers. with
Guild promptly falling into the snare
laid plainly in his sight by known FIRE,
traders. all this time the stand-pat
ters have stood pat for tariff stability
for business. for continued prosperity
for plenty OF work and high wages.
Result: The Democrats have moth
ing but the tsriff left TO talk about
The more they talk tariff the wors,
for them. They never did and nevel
can talk tariff without putting theii
foot IN H." For this gratifying situa
tion and outlook the country Is In
debted to the stand-patters. II the,
had weakened or wabbled. the coun
try would now be pinching down al
lines Of productive enterprise becaus,
OF fear and uncertainty regarding tar
IN disturbances.