New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-16
coyyECTTCUgrs PROTEST.

Loss thnn q wear ago Connecticut lost III Or
vile H. Platt an honored and trusted poIucdl
leader He had served the state with hdellS
ond distinction. and his long experience breadth
of vision and sober and searching Judgment Hau
Given Connecticut an enviable influence IN ma
4ionaI councis Ii is one of the commonplaceS OF
life that great men die and their words and deeds
are soon forgotten. But only hardened pes
simist could have predicted when Cohhecucul
WAS paying funeral hOnOrs TO It's foremost
statesman last April that within year policies
with which he was inseparaby identlhed woulu
be reversed and douted by his successor IN the
United States Senate Yet the Republicans OF
Connecticut who still honor Mr.. Platts memory
are confronted with such reversal and their
sense of establishment and injury is expressed III
the protest they have just sent TO Washington
against Senator Brandegee's mistaken efforts TO
smother the Payne Philippine Tariff bill.
senator Brandegee is a member of the Sen
ate Committee on the Philippines. and in that
body be voted against reporting the fayne Dill
either favorably or unfavOrably thus seeking 10
block action of any sort in the Senate. MT.
Brandegee has evidently been persuaded by the
tobacco growers of Connecticut that their in
terests are threatened by the admission of Phil
ippine tobacco at % per cent of the Dlngley
duties until 1909 and thereafter free of duty
To humor the groundless fears of a small frac-
ton Of his constituents he is willing to turn his
back on broader considerations In this respect
his attitude is in melancholy contrast with that
taken by his enlightened and generous minded
predecessor Mr.. Plat faced the same issue.
and faced 1t unselfshly and nationally When
reciprocity with Cuba was proposed the Con-
necticut tobacco growers were certain that their
industry would be ruined if Cuban tobacco
should be admitted at a 20 per cent reduction on
the Dingley rates. Mr.. Platt believed that ma
tional pledges would be redeemed and national
ends advanced by granting trade concessions 10
Cuba He was also satisfied that the Connect
cut tobacco growers had nothing TO fear from
lowered rates on Cuban tobacco. He therefore
ignored the clamor of local interests and labored
earnestly for reciprocity agreement lie hved'
too to see every contention of his local critics
confuted by our experience under the Bliss
Zaldo treaty
Mr.. Brandegee sits In Mr.. Platt's seat, but
fails 10 draw inspiration from his example.
The House Of Representatives has passed, with
the practical concurrence Of the two political
parties a measure 10 relieve agricultural and
commercial stagnation in the Philippines and to
give the FilipinOs free entry into our markets.
Having extended our coastwise shipping laws 20
Philippine commerce. we are bound in equity to
give the Filipinos the status of domestic pro-
ducers Fair dealing also requires us 10 90
what we can to revive industry and restore pros
perlty IN the Nu4C4A III 1AiC 4N
years has suffered many misfortunes and set
backs. The Filipinos have far stronger
ground on which to appeal for help than the
Cubans ever had, for we owe them degree OF
parental heIpfulness which we never owed to
Cuba Nor will the entry OF Philippine sugar
and tobacco at % per cent Of the Dingley rates,
or even free Of duty, break down our sugar and
tobacco industries. The House Ways and Means
Committee is about as rockribbed "stand pat"
q protectionist body as can be found in the
United States. Yet this committee reported and
q House Overwhelmingly Republican passed, the
Payne relief biz.
1t is idle therefore, TO talk of that measures
being an assault on American producing inter
ests, and Mr. Brandegee, If he does not reverse
himself, will live to find (for bill granting the
rilipinos free trade in ports will pass sooner
or laterl that he has merely been led astray by
the mistaken prophecies of a few Overexcited
constituents. The letter Of protest addressed to
him and signed by the leading Republicans or
Connecticut expresses, we prefer to think, the
solid and rational sentiment of the state. 1t ad-
vocates "a square deal for the Filipinos," and
declares that the policy Of the House and the
President would receive an overwhelming ma
iority of Republican votes in Connecticut" For
Connecticuts sake we are glad 10 believe that
Orville H. Platt's spirit and influence still live,
and that between the Platt programme and the
Brandegee programme the state would choose
the former without division or hesitation.