The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-11
Political Parties and the Tariff.

Senator Tillmau has lately recalled the
famous political deal by which the VIII
sou-Gorman tariff bill was remodeled so
as to afford protection 10 the sugar trust
and Louisiana sugar planters. His rec
election Of the bargain was that the
sugar refners We're ready to contribute
to the campaign fund, If it could be UNI
derstood that the industry would be f0s-
tered and not destroyed by the Demo-
cratic tariff policy Both Mr. CIeve-
land and Mr. German were parties TO this
bargain. according to Mr.. Tillman's rec
objection. but when il was sought to carry
out the legislative end of it. Mr CIeve-
land denounced the bill as perfdious and
dishonUrablc That Mr.. German adhered
TO his agreement with the Gugar trust
and MIR. Cleveland repudiated e Is con
sidered by the Maryland Senator's eulO-
gists as q vindicati0n of his character
and reflection upon the integrity Of
Mr.. Cleveland Honorable man that he
was, Mr.. TiI!mau moralizes, Senator
German redeemed every pledge made by
the party leaders I'm New York '-that is
to say. having agreed to deliver Iegisia-
the party war chest, he kept his prom
ise
To pass moral judgment on the partici-
pants in this political deal is not our
present purpose. II is here set forth as
a striking illustration Of the difficulty of
revising the tariff upon any consistent
principle save that of subscribing favored
interests. The Democratic party for many
years made the tariff the main issue Of
its campaigns, yet when the actual op-
portuuity Of revising the tariff fell into
its hands it was found to have been sold
out to the protected interests, precisely
as the Republican party had sold out to
the same interests. Since that time pro-
lection sentiment has gained strength in
the very region whence comes the bulk
of Democratic representation in Congress.
Southern Industries affected by the tariff
have multiplied nightly, and the inter
osts OF the South are no longer bound
up with belief in freedom of trade The
only tariff bin now pending in Congress
is pigeon-hOled becaused. rightly or
wrongly. it is believed that its passage
would adversely affect sugar and tobac-
co interests. both of large Importance to
the South. The rice-srOwers of Texas. to
quote another example OF protection
sentiment in that quarter. are opposed
to any concessions to Philippine rice
and insist upon the retention of the
duty on that staple. To what extent
would the Democratic party 20 toward
removing any protective feature Of the
existing tariff should it be returned to
power? Does anybody really believe it
would or could go very far?
The most effective work TO- revision Of
the tariff is carried on by interests which
would gain by a reduction of duties on
certain materials used in manufactures
These interests are OF precisely the same
order as those which insist on standing
pat; that is, they are governed by selfish
motives. Thus the tariff schedules will
continue to be the battle ground of con-
tending interests. and the actual tariff
legislation "a result of compromises. if
not OF mercenary political bargains. like
the sugar schedule Of the Wilson-Gorman
tariff bill. Reopening this conflict of
interests is the great bugaboo of the tar
IN question. No one can predict what
will come out OF It after it begins. Hence
the strong pressure. from every quarter.
against every proposal to disturb the
tariff status quo. Let well enough alone
is a political doctrine Of which 1t is very
hard 20 disabuse the mind Of the average
man.
These considerations conves an impress
sive warning Of the danger lurking in