Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-12-13
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
tariff revision is to be undertaken at
all it should be at a special session
Of congress to be convened 1mme-
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 tarlH 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
a 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 wher
the present tariff act was passed II
1897.
The tariff controversy with German!
and Canada and other countries whit
are determined to r~etaliate agains
our extreme protection, will come t.
a head next year and will open tn
eyes of many voters who have KEEP
them shut through partisan prefer
ences. The standpatters have dc
clared that the only revision the,
will stand for is to revise the tarii
rates higher, with a provision tina
the present rates shall be the mini
mum for those countries that vii
allow our products to enter at thel
minimum rates or otherwise new ma2
imum rates will be imposed. Such a.
amendment to u tariff law woul
be deemed by Germany and Canad
as a slap in the face and add fuel t
the flame of disagreement, and pre-
woke a tariff wal that would be dis
astrous to the trade between tn
United States and those countries.
1t is a very serious question an
cannot be lodged as the domesti
tariff issue has been lodged by tn
Republican leaders by forcing othe
issues to the front. The German go
eminent feels that it was hoodwinke
into granting a stay of proceedir
last ear and by agreeing not to e.
force their new tariff until June 3
next, for which the United State
> made no return but the promise
reforming the way in which the detail
of executing the law on imports
= carried out. Our standpat congreI
refused to carry out the promise
made by President Roosevelt throue
the state department and the Germf
Q government naturally feels aggrievt
and will enforce their maximum al
prohibitive tariff against Americs
products unless concessions are mad
= The %standpat statesmen will nc
have to take the responsibility Of sc
ing the exports of our products
1. Germany, Canada and other countri
- materially reduced, or be willing
take from our protected monopolis
a part of the protection they emf
= under the Dingley tariff. The qu'
ton is up to them whether they W
fish or cut bait and there is not mu
time in which to decide which no
, of the dilemma they will take.
Ma,u %he Eteheriac TrIief