The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-18
MORALS INVOLVED
 IN TARIFF REFORM

(Continued from Second Page.) ever questioned them, that the defeat in eah case has been due to the actly- ity of the protected interests but the excuse has always been made before
 the country that these interests still needed protection That excuse no longer exists,
 It therefore follows that failure at this time to revise the tariff will not be only an act of bad faith to the country, a failure to carry out the | promises of the Chicago platform and a failure to uphold the candidate who ran and won on that platform, but 1t would be an incxcusable yielding to special interests.
 The problem is at bottom not econ omic but moral. Whatever is the economic truth in regard to the the- ory of protective tariff, that theory It. self morally requires of it's adherents an intimate withdrawal of protection. President Roosevelt has stood for tha square deal The special feature of his administration nas been the effort | to punish the large, as we'll as the small rascal so that we may live up to our democratic theory of "equaIlty before the law" The continuance Of the tariff would now be, In view of all the history behind us the triumph of privilege and special favor and the defeat of equality and justice. The question before us is really this Are the protected interests in this country | to be allowed to dictate national legis- ! latIon?" If so, democracy will have | been defeated by plutocracy, The most serious question before this country | to-day is contained in the conflict be- | tween democracy and plutocracN. Shall our government represent the voters in proportion 10 their votes, or shall 1t represent the moneyed Inter- ests in proportion to their capital?
 To my mind this question is much more serious one than the mere ques- ! ton Of economic gain or loss 1t is a question of the balance of power. II
 Is a question Of right and wrong. lt Is a question of the stability of our 1 American institutions
 It is true that motives of gain will
 weigh, and should weigh: For in-
 stance, the conservation of our for
 ests, of waich so much Is said to- I. day, requires the reduction of the
 tariff on lumber. The present protec- tive tariff on lumber tends to denude our forests. At the present rate of
 consumption. they will be destroyed
 within generation While we are
 considering plans for their conserva-
 ton. we must not overlook the very
 simple and effective expedlence of al
 lowing Canadian and other lumber to
 come in free. It would help solve
 our tariff problem and avoid the em-
 barrassment of members of congress
 in their relations to their constituents
 with their varied interests. If tho
 whole tariff question could be taken
 ont Of politics by being placed in the
 hands of a permanent tariff commis-
 sion like the interstate commerce
 commission or the New York public
 service commission The tariff com
 missions of the past have been usually
 created for the purpose of shelving
 the tariff question, but a commission appointed in good faith and given
 large and permanent powers could and probably would, effect gradua and just reduction in our tariff duties made with due regard to all vesteJ
 rights and wrongs to the interests o' the consumer az well as the producer
 and 10 the needs of the treasury foi
 revenue The commission should hay, power to announce in advance reduc, tions in the tariff when two or three years notice is deemed necessary
 Among those present were Arnor A. Alllng. James HIllhouse Col Ruth erford Trowbridge. Lewis H. English Levi T. Snow. John w. filling, F. P Arvine Innis C. osborn, George H Lewis. w. H. Douglass Rev. Watson L. Phillips. George Maycock, Charles
 Mathewman, Seymour C. lyoomls, VII
 son II Lee, George c. Armstead James English Frank $. Bishop George II Ford, II, C Warren, Ar thur c. Graves. Samuel R Avis, Tal colt II. Russell Frank $. Rutterwort ] Frederick w. Orr. Max Adler Clar ence Bronson, Charles W Pickett Walter Camp, William s. parlee Henry R. Sargent William s. Wells James Kingsley Blake. John $, Tow Ter. Hugh ] Reynolds, and ] RiC' Winchcll