New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-23
.foVyyG TOWARD HARMONY.

We iudre from Senator Foraker's reply to
Secretary Tafts Columbus speech that these
two eminent Republicans are more nearly in
agreement public policies than appearances
have hitherto indicated. Senator Forakers ar
guments certainly prove that, though in form
he still dfssents from Mr. Taft's conclusions, In
spirit he is not far from approving and accept
ing them We frankly confess that we were
ourselves not little nonplussed by the state
ment made by Senator Foraker in letter writ
ten to a member Of the Ohio Republican State
Committee on the eve of that committees meet
ing TO indorse Mr.. Taft as Ohio's candidate Tor
the Republican Presidential nomination. III
the letter the Senator asserted bluntly that he
was not at odds with Secretary Taft or any
other Ohio Republican on the railroad rate reg
ulation issue. His exact language was:
To-day there is wide difference OF opinion
among Republicans on question OF the most
vital Character. The question refer TO is not
the regulation of trusts. railroads and interstate
commerce, about tchich Too arc d1t nnifeo out inc
tariff question.
We expressed some surprise at this announce
ment inasmuch as Mr.. Foraker had been freely
crticising the policy Of railroad rate regulation,
as embodied In the Hepburn rate bill, and de-
claring that the measure was tndefenslpie IN
theory and would prove al absolute fallure III
practice We could not harmonic the Senator's
two attitudes. Yet on further explanation, they
sppear TO be reconcilable. At Georsetown'
Ohio, on Wednesday Mr.. Foraker seemed dls-
posed to take credit for various commendab Die
features of the Hepburn act, which, ne SAID
Except the rate-making provision, were IN
.scorporated into that bill IN the Senate most OF
"them with nv active assistance and some OF
"tbern IN nv own motion" Abstracrly ne op-
posed the law and voted against 1t, but con-
creteIv he labored TO make it consistent anu
effective theoretically he believed that tne
grant OF power 1t makes was unconsutuuonai
and void; but practically he was Wiling 10 DC
classed as a contributor to its efficacy On 1he
working details Of the bill. therefore, ne
s,,nItes" with its supporters. 1t Is merely Oh
the underlying abstract principle that ne re-
cords his lack of sympathy These distinctions
furnish the key, apparently, to the rioais o.
+ba latter from which we have quoted
On tho tariff issue, noted by Mr.. Foraker as
+ba .4v,taIs one on which differences OF opin-
ion exist among Ohio Republicans, 1t is also
nossible to see signs Of Improvement MI
Taft. though personally satisfied mat an inilhe-
dia+a revision of the tariff would do no harm,
stated at Columbus that he favored me 1hser
tion In the next Republican PLATFORM Oh uec
Ieration pledging revision and ACTON py ooh'
s-raSs as soon after the Presidential election as
possble Mr1Foraker opposes immediate re-
vfsioh-that is, revision by Congress elected
without any mandate from the voters to over
heul the tariff He said On Wednesday:
In due time and I'm our own way we douotless
VIII revise the tariff. But what contend LOT
Is that before any such revision lis entered upon
the people shall be heard on the SUBJECT ana
T have already suggested that such step
should not be taken until after we nave =
chance to consult them in the fresloehuai
campaign OF next year
In this contention The Tribune corolaiy sus'
te,ns him. and so does Secretary Tart re" he-
nnbIicans will be found who do not want 10
have the revision issue clearly made and sub
yoitted to the voters; and so far as we can
observe there is no wide difference or opinion
on this subject among Republicans in OHIO or III
eny other stBte.
Senator Foraker is q resourceful controver-
siaIist and may prefer to maintain the appear
ance Of opposition to the two chief policies aa-
vocated by Secretary Taft. But this OPPOSE
ton seems to be concerned with details ana
side issues With the two main contentious
of tbe Taft canvass he has now shown that he
has no irreconcilable quarrel.