The Washington herald., 1908-07-29
MR. TAFT PLEDGES HIS PARTY TO ROOSEVELT POLICIES

public in Europe and IN this country had
been affected by the revelations OF irregu-
larity, breaches Of trust, overlssues Of
stock. violations Of law. and lack Of
rigid State OF national supervision in the
management OF our largest corporations. I
Investors withheld what Ioanabie capital
remained available. II became tmpossf- I
bic for the soundest railroads and other
enterprises 70 borrow money enough for
new construction or reconstruction
VIII Delay Restoration of Prosperity.
Gradually business IS acquiring a
healthier tone Gradually all wealth
which was boarded is coming out TO be
used Confidence IN security OF business
investments IS a plant Of slow growth.
and is absolutely necessary in order that
our factories may all open again, IN order
that our unemployed may become en-
ployed. ard in order that we may again
have the prosperity which blessed Us for
ten years. The identity OF the interests
of the capitalist, the farmer. the bust
ness man. and the wage-earner IN the
security and profit OF investments cannot
be TOO greatly emphasized. I submit 10
those most interested TO wage-eaTners.
TO farmers. and 10 business men. whether
the introduction into power OF the Demo
cratic party, with Mr.. Bryan at its head.
and with the business destruction that Il
openly advocates as a remedy for pres
ent evils. will bring about the needed
confidence for the restoration Of pros
perity.
Republican Doctrine Of Protection.
The Republican doctrine OF protection.
as definitely announced BY the Republican
convention Of this year and by previous
Is that a tariff shall be I'm
posed on all imported products, whether
Of the factory. farm or mine, sufficiently
great 20 equal the difference between the
cost Of production abroad and az home.
and that this difference should. Of course.
include the difference between the higher
wages paid IN this country and the wages
paid abroad. and embrace a reasonable
profit 10 the American producer A sys-
tenn OF protection thus adopted and put
IN force has led 20 the establishment Of a
rate Of wages here that has greatly en-
hanced the standard Of living OF the Ia
boring man Il IS the policy OF the Re
publican party permanently TO continue
that standard Of living In 1897 the Ding
ley tariff bill was passed. under which
we have had. as already said. a period Of
enormous prosperity.
Necessity for Revision Of Tariff.
The consequent material development
has greatly changed the conditions IN
der which many articles described by
the schedules Of the tarif are now pro-
duced. The tariff in a number OF the
schedules exceeds the difference between
the cost of production OF such articles
abroad and at home. including a reason
able profit 70 the American producer.
The excess over that difference serves
no usefEi purpose. but offers a tempta-
ton 10 those who would mon0pollze the
production and the sale Of such articles
IN this country, TO profit by the excessive
rate On the other hand. there are some
few other schedules in which the tarifT
IS not sufficiently high 20 give the meas
Ure OF protection which they should re-
ceive upon Republican principles. and as
70 those the tariff should De raised. A
revision Of the tarsT undertaken upon
this principle. which IS at the basis Of
our present business system. begun
promptly upon the incoming OF the new
and considered at a spe-
cial session with the preliminary investi-
cations already begun by the appr0pri-
axe committees OF the House and Sen
ate. VIII make the disturbance Of bust
ness incident 20 such q change as lIttle
as possible
Bad Effects Of Democratic Tariff Plan
The Democratic party IN its platform
has not had the courage OF its previous
convictions on the subject of the ta-iT,
denounced by it IN 1854 as a system Of the
robbery OF the many for the benefit OF
the few. but Il does declare its intention
10 change the tariff with view 10 reach
ing a revenue basis and thus 70 depart
9 -f.- F- a-.---
ductioa into power Of a party with this
avowed purpose cannot but halt the grad
val recovery from our recent f1ancia
depression and produce business disaster
compared with which our recent panic
ard depression VIII seem small indeed
The Farmer and the Republican Party
As the Republican platform SAYS. the
welfare OF the Tamer is vital to that Of
the whole country. one Of the strongest
hopes Of returning prosperity Is based on
the business which his crops are 20 az
ford. He is vitality interested in the re
straining Of excessive and UndCly dis
eliminating railroad rates. in the en-
forcement OF the pure food laws. in the
promotion Of scientific agriculture, and
in increasing the comforts OF country life.
as by the extension of free rural deliv-
4
tration. which have most industriously
promoted all these objects. cannot fail
70 commend themselves 10 his approval;
and it Is difficult 20 see how with his in
JeIIiEent appreciation Of the threat 10
business prosperity involved n Demo
cratic success at the polls he can do
otherwise than give his fulI and hearty
support to the continuation Of the poll
Cses Of the present administration under
Republican auspices
What the Republican Party Has Done
for Labor
We come now To the question OF labor.
one important phase OF the policies OF
the present administration has been an
anxiety TO secure for the wage-earner an
equality of opportunity and such positive
statutory protection as shall place him
on level in dealing with his employer.
The Republican party has passed an en-
ployers' liability act for interstate rail-
roads. and has established an eight
hour law for government employees and
on government construction The essence /
of the reform effected by the former is
the abolition Of the fellow-servant rule.
and the introduction Of the comparative
negligence theory in which an emplOye
injured in the service Of his employer I
does not lose all his right 10 recover be
cause of slight negligence on his part I
Then there is the act providing for com
pensation for injury to government en-
piOyes. together with the various statutes
requiring safety appliances upon inter
state commerce railroads for the prOteC-
ton of their employees. and limiting the
hours Of their employment. These are ali