The Washington herald., 1907-08-23
FRIDAY, AUGUST %, 1907.
Mr.. Taft and the Tariff.

Disappointment is reflected in newspa-
pers Of all shades Of opinion over that
portion Of Secretary Tafts Columbus
speech dealing with the tariff The Ohio
State Journal. a strong supporter of the
Taft movement, expresses its disappoint-
ment with the Secretary's failure 10 come
out for immediate revision. saying it had
hoped that in spite of apparently insur-
mountable obstacles an effort would be
made at the coming session TO destroy
some Of the most hagrant tariff CRAFTS.
In the list Of apparently nsurmountable
obstacles the Ohio paper includes
Speaker Cannon's attitude and that Of
the Senate, both formidable enough. Pos
sibly these obstacles were in Secretary
Taft's mind when he concluded TO abandon
the immediate revision idea Of his Bath
speech and 10 align himself with that
element OF his party which favors post
ponement of tariff revision until after
the Presidential election. One Of the
reasons given for this shifting of posi-
ton is that chose Of Us who favor i'm
mediate revision can well afford 10 wait
until after the next Presidential election
in order to secure substantial acquies-
cence by all Republicans. From the
tactical point of view this is a very good
reason, for If revision is 10 be undertaken
BY the Republican party, II viii be neces-
sary to secure a majority for it in the
Senate and House, as well as in the coun-
Try at large Il is hardly an open Ques-
ton whether Congress, as at present con-
stituted. could be induced TO take up
tariff revision; unless. indeed, it were
forced upon the unwilling attention Of
that body by big stick" methods. Mr..
Taft, however, IS not yet in possession Of
a big stick Of his own.
There is some consolation to those who
believe that the tariff should be revised
as soon as possible N the reflection that
the capitalization Of sentiment within
the Republican party in favor Of revi-
sion, which Secretary Taft thinks is
growing, signifies a very remarkable rev
olution of party opinion concerning the
method and purpose of a protective tar
If Party organs that were a few years
ago fnslstent on the most rigorous appll-
cation Of protective duties are now az
guing for their reduction or removal:
and the protectonist theories familiar
in the lifetime Of Mckinley and Ding
ley are now re-echoed only in the sol
umns Of the country press. Ten years
ago such a deliverance by an Ohio Repub-
lican on the subject of the tariff as
that Of Secretary Taft would have meant
his retirement TO private life: to-day It
IS offered as a bid for the Presidency,
and the principal Republican newspapers
OF the Buckeye State give it their sup
port II Mr.. Taft should succeed in
gaining the Presidency on the tariff plat
form contained in his Columbus speech,
he Will have accomplished something
which but a short while ago would have
been deemed incredible. So that Mr..
Tafts attitude on the tariff. although
disappointing, still marks progress IN the
direction Of rectihcation OF the abuses
embodied in the Dingley bill
Neither party. Of course, can claim
unity Of sentiment on the tariff But unity
Of opinion is essential 10 definite action
and Mr.. Tafts position seems to be that
such unity cannot be expected among
Republicans for at least two years Il
come.