Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-07-15
With Difficulties In sight that
Are DIFFICULT.
The Paramount Issue for 1908 is
Paraiyzing Politicians. y Few
PrOgnOSfiCafiOnS From Man on
The Inside, at Washington, the
National Capital.

There are some tariff reformers whom
it is impossible to please. They not only
want the tariff question made an issue
but they want it made the only issue,
and, strange to say. they are for the most
part men who supported President Nc.
kinley, the high priest of protection,
when the money question was declared
by the democrats to be the paramount
issue. If you talk to these tariff reform.
ers about the trust question, they at
once become conservative and express
fear lest business may be disturbed by
any attack upon monopolies. II you
suggest railroad regulation, they are in.
clined to think that enough has been
done in that direction and that the sub.
ject is not very important anyhow. Even
imperialism does not stir them very
deeply, for what are the principles of
government when compared with tax
upon the merchandise? Such tariff re-
formers are always complaining that the
democratic party does not put enough
emphasis upon the tariff question, and
vet, they have spent the last twelve
years in weakening the democratic party
and in propheeying it's annlhilation.
During this time, however, the demo-
cratic party has gone along including the
tariff question among the issues discussed
but recognizing that it was not the only
issue and in two campaigns, at least, not
creased it's prominence during the last
few years, and it will doubtless occupy a
more conspicuous position in the next
campaign than it has since 1892. The
party's position on the tariff was strongly
stated in '92, but the president, when
elected on that platform, refused to call
congress together to carry out policy
upon which the party was united, but
did call congress together to force through
policy upon which the party was di-
vided.
Tariff reform sentiment is growing.
The protective principle is weaker than
it has been before in generation, and a
demand for tariff reform may be more
urgent than in recent years. Every ex-
cuse that has from time to time been
given for the eXtortion practiced under
the tariff schedules has been worn out,
and there are now no new excuses to
offer. There is no doubt that the party's
position will be strongly stated in the
next campaign and courageously defend-
ed, but it is not likely that the question
will be declared to be paramount. It is
really part OF the trust question, and
the trust question can not we'll be con-
sidered apart from the tariff question any
more than the tariff question can be
considered apart from the trust question.
The question Of railroad regulation is
also part of the trust question, for the
protective tariff and the railroad dis.
elimination have contributed largely to
the growth and prosperity of the trusts.
These three questions are closely united,
and they raise the same issue, namely
whether the government shall be admin.
istered in the interest of the whole peo.
pie or in the interest of few. The
friends of tariff reform ought to join
with the opponents Of the trusts and the
advocates OF railroad regulation and
make fight for the application of demo-
cratic principles to all of these questions.
There will be tariff reform enough in the
next campaign to please any genuine
tariff reformer, and there ought to be no
quarrel as to the relative Importance.
They are all important, and no one in
terested in any one of these questions
should waste his energy by abusing the
persons interested in the other questions.
There will be glory enough for all if
victory can be won for the democratic
maxim, equal rights to all and special
privileges to none."
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