The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-08-20
PAGE THREE

assume that the manufacturers of
the country embrace all the classes
who are interested in maintaing the
protective system, for I funny recognize
that other classes, especially the farm
ers, are vitally concerned in some OF
the schedules. All that maintain is
that when after a tariff law has been
In force 10 years and a representative
body of protectionists in principle and
interest. whose business makes them
familiar with the facts and who have
no motive for misrepresentation. adopt
such a report as the one have quoted
from, IL makes q case for investigation
into the existing tariff by congress for
the purpose of determining how much
revision is needed.
"The investigation in the end will be
conducted by the committee Of ways
and means of the house of representa-.
tives and by the finance committee OF
the senate. The schedules are for
, them to recommend and for congress
to fix after they hear evidence of the
cost Of production in this country and
the cost of production abroad, and the
conditions existing in each trade, and
II it shall turn out that popular opinion
founded on such substantial evidence
as that which have cited here should
| prove to be unfounded, then the re.
vision Of the tariff will be confined to
minor inequalities But IL the result
of the investigation justifies the report
or the National Association of Manu-.
facturers, then the revision Of the ex-
| cessive schedules should be substan-
tial, and the motive for the organiza-
J tion and maintenance OF unlawful
trusts to monopolize the manufacture
and sale of articles in such schedules
will be taken away
I Prosperity Argument Against Revision.
objection is made to revision on
the ground that we are enjoying bust
ness prosperity, that this will be dis
turbed by a proposal to change the
tariff, and that we should wait until
hard times before we revise. can
| not follow the argument. The revision
proposed is to be by the Republican
party and is not to be a departure
from the protective principle but in
conformity with It, II will affect only
those persons iniurlously who are
making an unreasonable profit out Of
an excessive rate. The present pros
perity is not dependent on such profit.
n 1t were, then It would not be the
prosperity of the whole business com
munity, but only OF few unduly ia
vored at the expense of the commu.
nifty. In the present temper Of the
people, general prosperity has not pre-
vented the remedying of other abuses
and injustice ! don't know why IL
should prevent this.
II had occasion in a speech which
delivered at Bath, Me, now about
| year ago, to express my individual
opinion as in favor Of an Immediate
revision OF the tariff, but there point.
ed out, and only refer to IL to repeat
It and emphasize II, that the revision
of tariff involves so many different
interests the country over as that IL
could not be undertaken successfully
by the Republican party, and therefore
ought. not to be undertaken at all, un.
I'll the party as . whole is in favor OF
it, ventured to express the opinion
llldl Illt StullIDtHl III ldNOT VI u TG"
vision in the Republican party was
crystalliing to such a point that in
short time we might expect to have
action upon the subject. What has
happened in the last year has only
served to confirm the view | then ex-
pressed, and it now seems to me that
even most of the extremists In the
matter of the tariff are OF opinion that
1t would be not only unwise, but un-
safe, for the party to fail in It's next
national platform to pledge itself to
revision of the tariff as soon after the
next presidential election as possible.
Those of us who favor immediate re-
vision can well afford to wait until
after the next presidential election In
order to secure substantial acquies-
cence by all Republicans. Certainly a
delay of action for 1S months ought to
furnish reason for no protectionist to
invite the certain business disaster
that Democratic revision on free trade
lines would involve. More than this,
full time should be given for the oper-
alton of new tariff upon the busi-
ness Of the country before the people
express their opinion of it. The pas
sage of a bill by the next congress
would mean the consideration by con
gress of the tariff in the midst of
presidential campaign with all the op-
portunity for misrepresentation of its
effect which its practical operation for
a year or more would refute. Further.
more, with a presidential election fouB
years removed, we can count on a re-
vision less affected by political oonsid.
erations than If made in the heat OF
national campaign"
Secretary Taft expressed his regret
at not having time to discuss other
subjects and in closing said:
Advantages Of Republican Party.
Il can not close without comment on
the position of advantage for the com
ing national campaign which President
Roosevelt, by the intense earnestness,
vigor, courage aud Success with which
he has pressed the reforms that rightly
bear his name, has secured to the Re.
publican party. A trimming, do-noth-