New-York tribune., 1908-07-29

the Standard of living of the Iaboring man. 1t
is the policy OF the Republican party perma-
nentIv to continue that standard of living. In
1897 the DingIey tariff bill was passed. under
which we have had as already said. period OF
enormous prosperity.
Necessity for Revision of Tariff.
The consequent material development has
greatly changed the conditions under which
tariff are now produced The tariff in a num-
Der of schedules exceeds the difference between
the cost of production OF such articles abroad
and at home. including reasonable profit to the
American producer. The excess over that diff
ference serves no useful purpose. but offers a
temptation to those who would monopol1ze 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 tariff IS sufficiently high TO give
the measure of protection which they should re-
ceive upon Republican principles, and as TO those
the tariff should be raised. revision Of the tariff
undertaken upon this principle which is at the
basis OF our present business system. begun
promptly upon the incoming Of the new admin
istration, and considered at a special session
with the preliminary investigations already be-
gun by the appropriate committees, Of the House
and Senate win make the disturbance Of bust
ness incident to such change as little as pos
sible
Democratic Tariff Plan and It's Bad Effect
Business Conditions.
The Democratic party in its platform has not
had the courage OF its previous convictions on
the subject of the tariff, denounced by it in
the benefit of the few, but ii does declare its
intention to change the tariff with view TO
reaching a revenue basis and thus to depart
from the protective system. The introduction
into power of a party with this avowed purpose
cannot but halt the gradual recovery from our
recent financial depression and produce business
disaster compared with which our recent panic
and depression will seem small indeed
The Farmer and the Republican Party
AS the Republican platform says. the welfare
of the farmer is vital to that of the whole
country. One of the strongest hopes of return
ing prosperity is based on the business which
his crops to afford He is vitality interested
in the restraining of excessive and unduly dis
eliminating railroad rates, in the enforcement
of the pure food laws, in the promotion of scien-
tifc agriculture and in increasing the comforts
of country life. by the extension of free rural
delivery. The policies of the present adminis-
tration, which have most industriously promoted
all these objects, cannot fail TO commend them
how with his intelligent appreciation of the
threat To business prosperity involved in Demo-
cratic success at the polls he can do otherwise
than give his full and hearty support TO the
continuation of the policies of the present ad-
ministration under Republican auspices
Labor and What the Republican Party Has
Done for 1t.
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
abe wage Garner equality of opportunity and
such positive statutory protection as shall place
him level in dealing with his employer.
Ine RepuDnCan party mas passed an employers
liability act for interstate railroads, and has
established eight-hour law for government
employees and 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
by which an employe injured in the service of
his employer does not lose all his right TO
cover because of slight negligence on his part
Then there is the act providing for compensa
ton for injury TO government employees together
with the various statutes requiring safety appH-
anceS upon interstate commerce railroads for
the protection of their employees. and limiting
the hours Of their employment These are all
instances of the desire of the Republican party
To do justice to the wage Garner Doubtless
more comprehensive measure for compensation
of government employees will be adopted in the
future: the principle in such cases has been
recognized. and in the necessarily somewhat
slow course Of legislation will be more fully en-
bodied in definite statutes.
interest of Employer and Employs Differ Only
in Respect to Terms of Employment
The interests of the employer and the
ploye never differ except when IL comes TO
division of the joint profit of labor and capital
into dividends aud WageA. TblA mus. be q coma