The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-07-20
BRYAN AND TARIFF
FAvoRs THE TRUST ISSUE IN
THE 1908 CAMPAIGN.
Regards Silver Question rs "a Dead
Horse"-Thinks Tariff Reduce
ton Better Than Recipro-
city as a Policy.

According to the Suns Berlin ca
blegram Of June 16, William Jen.
nings Bryan was interviewed regard
ing the political situation in the
United States:
Mr.. Bryan expressed the opinion
that the next election in the United
States would turn on the question of
the trusts. The silver issue, he said,
was a dead horse
Being asked about the prospect OF
the passage Of reciprocity treaties,
Mr.. Bryan said that he was in favor
of a general reduction Of duties, in
which Ease reciprocal treaties with
foreign countries would be super.
fluous."
The silver issue being a dead
horse" it follows Of necessity that
the campaign Of 1908 must be fought
out on the tariff question. 1t will be
the fight of 1896 over again, except.
ing the elimination of free silver as a
side issue. The tariff was the main
issue in 1896. In 1908 1t will be the
only issue. Standing alone the trust
issue will be of no utility to the Dem.
ocratic party, for the only antitrust
laws now on the federal statute books
are the product Of Republican legisla-
ton. Coupled with the tariff the
trust issue can be utilized again as
1t was in 1900 and 1904, and doubt.
less will be. Handled in this way, It
may prove useful In winning votes
for Bryan from those who feel the
need Of some pretext for a downward
revision of the tariff. We can mag
Inc Gov: Cummins supporting Mr..
Bryan on the ground that "the tariff
is the mother of trusts" along with
the assured prospect of increased
foreign competition as the result Of
Democratic tariff revision. 1t would
be a little harder strain on Gov.
Guild, but he, too, might be won owe
by the promise of free trade in raw
materials. In the event that the Re
publican party should adhere to its
record Of guaranteeing equal protec.
ton to the producers and the users
Of raw materials, the temptation to
"go Democratic" might prove too
strong for Mr.. Guild to resist.
1t will be noticed that Mr.. Bryan
INDUCES in no ecstatic decisions re.
garding the beauties Of the recipro.
city system Of tariff revision down.
ward. That scheme does not appeal
to him. His intelligence revolts at
1t. Presumably, also, his sense Of
fair play rejects 1t as an outrageous
discrimination between industries
equally entitled to the benefits OF
protection, or, as he would put it,
equally able to get along without any
protection. He is right, in thinking
that there Is a better and a decenter
way to insure what Gov. Cummins
calls potential competition" He
would not revise protection out OF
the tariff in spots and chunks; he
would eliminate it altogether and
place all industries on a level foot
ing OF no protection.
So, as we are told in the Berlin in.
terview of June II, he is "in favor OF
a general reduction Of duties, in
which case reciprocal treaties with
foreign countries would be superflu-
GUS" Most assuredly they would,
With the tariff reduced to suit Mr..
Bryan's ideas foreign producers could
get into the American market with
out paying anything for the privilege
They could keep their own tariff in.
tact. Moreover, Il tariff having
been swept away, we couldn't reduce
1t IL we wanted to. We should be
exactly in the present position OF
Great Britain. a convenient dump
ing ground of all creation.
Mr.. Bryan's preference for tarif
reduction and his treprobation Of reel
procity dickers as "superfuous," will
of course, suit his party, and 1t may
as we have said, appeal strongly te
tariff r%evisionists like Cummins and
Guild, but it is going to be bad fol
the American Reciprocal Tarif
league. How can the enterprisint
organization keep on raising money
with which to exploit its scheme o.
foreign trade advantages when the
ground shall have been dug from un'
der its feet by an all-rOund tariff
abolition that leaves no basis To-
special dickers? Flour is no more in
~dispensable to the bakers dough thar
duties are to the dough O
the Reciprocal Tariff league.
But Mr.. Bryan's temperance upol
the scene as the accepted candidate
Of his party presents a PLEASING
phase in the political situation ant
outlook. 1t serves to clear things III
and straighten things out. Il will
bring the armies ~squarely face to fac
upon a single issue: Protection O
free trade. 1t will put courage int
the party Of free trade and back
Ebone into the party Of protection
Both parties need bracing up.
Eggs and Pence.