Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-12-03
HOLDING REPUBLICANS
TO PROMISE.

Ma0ufacturers, mas INC notion lnat po-
litical party promises are made 10 be
kept He gives cat a statement ridi-
culing the present tariff hearings be-
fore che ways and means committee
because the time is all too short to
properly consider 1000 articles, and
severely raps Chairman Serene Payne
who is directing the work of the COM
mittee.
It will be recalled that a majority
of the, association which Mr.. Van
Cleaye represents faTors tariff reduc-
tion. and he reminds the republicans
that he and others voted for TAFT
and for republican congressman in
fun faith that the party would re
deem its platform pledges in re
spect to the tariff.
1t is surprising circumstance that
SO many manufacturers demand tar
III revision-reyisi3n downward. not
upward, Heretofore manufacturers
as a rule have been the first to cry
out against tariff reform. Even those
using or manufacturing commodities
not directly involved have been timid
about consenting to any sort of "tariff
tinkering" for fear of its effects upon
trade conditions in general Now they
are so confident OF the stability OF
American trade and are so well in
formed about the iniqufties of the tar
III that they have the courage to speak
out for honest revision. And come of
those who actually profit by the tariff
are broad-minded enough to see that
they are enjoying an overdue adyan-
tage which they cannot justify by any
need of development. and they, too,
are consenting to readjustment
along more conservative lines.
With these powerful forces comes
Mr.. Carnegie declaring that the steel
industry. the greatest beneficiary of
the tariff, no longer needs protection.
The most effective factor in the sit
uation, however, is the disposition of
men like Mr.. Van Cleave to hold the
incoming administration to its pledges
and TO insist that the tariff be revised
The republican politicians are like ali
other politicians in that they are ar
rant towards when they face public
opinion If they discover that the peo-
pie are in earnest and understand the
facts there will be tariff revision be-
fore another congressional election.
Revision is not likely to come with
real effect at the short session of con-
gress for which Mr.. Payne's commit
tee is now preparing. The congress
will meet this week and viii expire
March 4. Committee hearings could
not intelligently develop the facts if
they continued until adjournment. No
bill is likely at this session, which
will be all too short for the hearings
much less for debate on the floor.
But it is plain to be seen that potent
| influences are at work for genuine
tariff reform. President-elect Taft
seems to be entirely sincere in his
profession of purpose, Mr.. Cannon has
been whipped into line and Mr.. Payne
will be unable to mold out much long
er or to deceive the people with a
bogus reform. The next congress may
really enact more or less actual and
! helpful revision.
Thus another democratic policy is
in fair prospect Of accomplishment
through the fundamentally of re-
publican president and congress. Gen.
lemen who are bewailing the failure
of the democratic party would do
well to consider wlat it is causing to
4
be done. There is use for party, Vi
taIity in a party and a future for a
party that can thus even indirectly
serve the public welfare. To be sure,
1t is disappointment TO party ambi-
tion and personal aspiration to be de
MED the oficial fruits of victory. IT
would be infinitely Iaore satisfactory
and comforting to administer the pol
icies as well as to develop them, but
there is some satisfaction in the
knowledge Of service.
incidentally the Lesson teaches dem
ocrats that the country wifi approve
their conservative reforms, but viii
mot have their adventures. For twelve
years now the party has been 50 dar
ling that 1t has frightened the country,
aad as consequence the country has
denied 1t power. Discretion is as i'm
por.ant factor in political tactics as