The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 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.

Senator Cullom, of Illinois, who win
be reelected to the United States
state meets. declares there Is gen.
cral demand for tariff revision. Sen.
ator Burrows. of Michigan, and Sen.
ator Fulton. OF Oregon, are reported
to agree with Senator Cullom that II
tariff revision Is TO be undertaken at
all ii 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 large majority would
decide for revision As II Is now the
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 tariir revision attitude.
In the campaign of 1908 the tariff
will be an important, II not the para
mount issue, and the voters will have
a more direct opportunity OF deciding
whether they are content to continue
TO pay high trust prices, 80 that they
are expanding 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 rctaliate against
our extreme protection, will come 10
a head next year and will open the
eyes OF many voters who have kept
them shut through partisan prefer.
ences. The standpattcrs have de.
clarcd that the only 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 will
allow our products to enter at their
minimum rates or otherwise now max.
imum rates will be imposed Such an
amendment to our tariff law would
be deemed by Germany and Canada
rs 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.
1t is a very serious question aIS
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.
eminent feels that It was hoodwinked
into granting stay of proceeding
last year and by agreeing not to en-.
force their new tariff until June 30,
next, for which the United States
made no return but the promise of
reforming the way in which the details
of executing the law on imports Is
carried out Our standpat congress
refused to carry out the promises
made by President Roosevelt through
the state department and the German
government naturally feels aggrieved
and will enforce their maximum and
prohibitiye tariff against American
products unless concessions are made.
The standpat statesmen will now
have to take the responsibility of see.
ing the exports of our products to
Germany, Canada and other countries
materially reduced, or be willing to
take from our protected monopolists
part of the protection they enjoy
under the Dingley tariff The qucs.
ton is up 20 them whether they will
fish or cut bait and there is not much
time in which to decide which horn
of the dilemma they will take.