The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-02-07
TARIFF REVISION PROGRAM.
Postponement Until 1909 should Meet
Views OF All Sensible Republicans.


II comes more or less authoritative
" from Washington that there win be
no further talk OF tariff revision az
this time. That decision IS in accord
ance with sound common sense. Tho
country is at the present time at tho
height Of prosperity and Il would be
folly 20 undertake 20 revise the tariff
at such a time. That there are some
schedules which might be changed and
which ought to be changed may be
admitted and Is admitted by all. No
one can be such a fool as to contend
that any taxation scheme is perfect.
The tariff Is In its very nature one OF
the most complicated compromises IN
our national enactment And II Is be-
cause Of these complications and com
promises that many people have hon
estly opposed any tariff changes or
tlnkerings az this time, fearing that
more harm than good would come
from such procedure.
Gov. Cummins. of Iowa. began this
agitation even before President Roose-
welt was inaugurated. lie tried TO
force Il into the national platform OF
Chicago and he went 90 Detroit and
told an audience about that time that
he was for revision now. Immediately.
/ by this congress tmeaning the con-
gross then IN SESSION. and he kept
mp until he said finally and we be
lieved then and still believe. unwisely
that all the insurance graft OF all the
insurance companies OF all time did
not equal one-hfth OF the tariff graft
In one year. That was the other ex-
IRENE. We do not now believe that
the governor meant what he said. lie
could not have meant Il. but he was
carried away With the facility OF utter
ancc that has been given him. and he
was annoyed at the delays in a matter
for which he had been n special advo-
cate. II was In ntterances Ike these
that many Republicans found the ami
mus OF their opposition 10 the present
governor.
The pOstponement OF tariff revision
until 1903. that Is until after the pres
idential election OF 1908. will meet. we
believe. with tho appreciation OF nearly
all Republicans. Even the governor OF
Iowa. who has been 80 insisient on
this question. cannot but acquiesce In
the decision OF tho wisest leadership
IN congress. with the advice and con-
sent OF the president.
To undertake tariff revision now
would be n most disastrous proceed
ing. not merely from a party stand
] IL l..
tant. but from a financial and indus
trial standpoint Ii will be easier aud
create less disturbance II done imme.
diately after the next presidential eicc.
ton. When Il - done at that time the
new tarin cannot be made an imme
dlate and bitter political Issue. but
the new schedules can be put lntn 81.
feet with the least disturbance. Tho
conditions Of the country IN the mean
time may undergo serious changes
and this program on the tariff VIII
have to be varied accordingly, but tho
fact that there Is TO be no revision
until then viii IN Itself be an impor.
tant factor IN che continuance OF Our
present high prosperity. The agree.
ment reached In Washington Is ono
Of the best assets In our continuance
in prosperity.
II Is 10 BE- hoped tina; there viii be
no Republican dissent 10 this pro.
gram. and We feel certain that Il viii
not come from the governor OF Iowa,
who has been learning some wisdom
and moderation on such Issues. The
agreement Is satisfactory to the busi'
ness interests. and the politicians
ought 10 see Il IN that way.-ceda.
Rapids Republican.