Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-12-03
TARIFF REVISION.

We shall now see what kind Of tariff
revision we are to have when the re-
vision is entrusted to the friends OF
tariff" The republican platform pledges
the party "unequivocally" to a revision
to be made Immediately" after inaugu-
ration. The word "unequlvocally" is OF
course an admission that former promls-
es have not been kept, and the word
Immediately is a confession that the
patience OF the public has been strained
to the point Of breaking. But the word
"revision" may mean anything or moth
ing according to the opinion Of those
who interpret it. The tariff may be
revised up or down or sideways, and it
will be revised. Revision has height
and depth; length and breadth; latitude
and longitude-it has everything except
certainty. Revision may be anything
from the change OF q comma to the re-
peal of the entire tariff law. Mr.. Taft
was very careful not to commit himself
by any definite statement on the subject.
but said that some Of the schedules
ought to be raised and others lowered,
but this is not a very explicit statement.
At another time he said that the revi-
sion would be a genuine one, but this,
too. admits of Interpretation. Again he
said that the revision would probably be
downward, but "%probably" is not a very
strong word.
The house of representatives initiates
revenue measures, and the house of
representatives is likely to be presided
over by that %pre-eminent standpatter
the Hon. Joe Cannon. The senate must
concur in the tariff measure, and that
will be presided over by that scarcely
less eminent standpatter. James School
craft Sherman. What kind of a tariff
revision measure will it be when it
emerges from the hands of these 'gods of
the things as they ought not to be-"
The interests are already making their
wants known: We are already beginning
to hear the tales of woe brought forth by
those who are standing on the brink of
destruction and see catastrophe and
universal destruction in any modification
of the tariff, The papers that print the
news that is paid for at so much a line,
to enovate the WORKOUT arguments in
favor OF high tariff, will have plenty to
do for the next few months piling blue
prediction upon predictions blue. and
gloomy prophecy upon prophecies of
gloon. The confding readers of the
subsidized papers will be nervous wrecks
by the time the bill is passed. They
will feel that the country has barely
escaped an industrial CONFUSION, and
that the refusal of the republican leaders
TO permit a reduction Of the tariff is all
that has saved the country from the
dominion b~ow-wows, ard then the in
dustrie5 that have shut down and thrown
their men out OF employment in order to
coerce congress will open up and the
news columns will tell US of a restored
prosperlty-all due, as they will reite-
rate, to the confidence that the public
has in republican sagacity. This will be
the course if history repeats itself: and
then the grinding will begin again-the
exploiting will be renewed. and the
masses will continue their tribute to the
beleticlaries of republican privilege and
tavorltlsm. How long, O Lord. how
long will it take the voters to under
stand the influences that dominate the
republican party, and through that party
the government? How long must the
average man be made the toy and play
thing of the favor seeking corporations
that furnish the campaign funds for the
republican party and then recoup them
selves through the leaders that have
dictated: How long can the voters be
driven, and the readers be misleds