The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-14
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.

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 lie gen
eral demand for tariff revision. Sen
ator Burrows. OF Michigan. and Sen
ator Fulton. of Oregon are reported
TO agree with Senator Cullom that If
tarif revision is TO be undertaken AZ
all IL should be az a special session
IF congress TO be convened imme-
diately after the adjournment OF the
F'ifty-ninth congress on March 4th,
next Those two standpat senator's
do not. however. agree With Senator
Cullom that there is any general de-
mand for tariff legislation. yet II the
question OF revising the tariff so that
the protected trusts would be com
PEELED TO reduce the price of their
products was submitted 10 the voters
OF Oregon and Michigan there is no
doubt that a large majority would
decide for revision. As IL 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
I 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. il not the para
mount issue. and the voters will have
I a more direct opportunity OF deciding
whether they are content 10 continue
10 pay high trust prices, so that they
are expending nearly so ger 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 retaliate against
our extreme protection, will come Il
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 lonly revision they
will stand for is to revise the tariff
rates higher. with a provision that
the present rates shall be the mini
mum for those countries that vii
allow our products to enter at theil
minimum rates or otherwise new max
imum rates will be imposed. Such an
il To- y
be deemed by Germany and Canad;
as a slap in the face and add fuel e
the flame OF disagreement. and pro
woke a tariff war that would be dis
astrous to the trade between thu
United States and those countries.
II is very serious question ant
cannot be lodged as the domesti
tariff issue has been lodged by TIL
Republican leaders by forcing othe
issues 10 the front The German gov
ernment feels that il was hoodwinke'
into granting a stay OF proceeding
last year and by agreeing not to er
force their new tariff until June 81
next for which the United State
made no return but the promise o
reforming the way in which the detail
OF executing the law on imports
carried out Our standpat congress
refused to carry out the promise
made by President Roosevelt throug
, the state department and the Germs
government naturally feels aggrieve
and will enforce their maximum an
= prohibitiye tariff against America
products unless concessions are made
The standpat statesmen will no.
have TO take the responsibility OF SCI
ing the exports of our products
Germany. Canada and other countrie
materially reduced. or be willing
take from our protected monopolist
part OF the protection they EMO
under the Dingley tariff The que
ton is up TO them whether they wi
Ash or cut bait and there is not niue
time in which to decide which hor
Of the dilemma they will take.