Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-09-04

soon at nome; the aim and purpose
Of the Republican policy being not
only to preserve, without excessive
duties, that security against foreign
competition to which American man.
ufacturers, trainers and producers are
high standard of living Of the wage
earners Of this country, who are the
most direct beneficiaries of the pro.
tective system.
Between the United States and
tn philippines, we believe in a free
interchange of products, wit h such
limitations as to sugar and Tobacco as
will afford adequate protection to do
mestic interests"
Secretary Taft refers to this sub.
ject briefly in his notification speech
only briefly-but as l shall quote
such passages from his speech as are
pertinent to this discussion, it is
not necessary to read his remarks in
full.
1t will be noticed that the Republi-
can party has abandoned the earli-
er arguments advanced in support
of a high tariff. We hear no more
of the Infant Industries" that
must be tenderly cared for until
they can stand upon their feet" there
Is no suggestion that the foreigner
pay the tariff and nothing about the
home market" These catch phras-
es have had their day they are
worn out and cast aside. The Re-
publican leaders are no longer ar
rogant and insolent; they cannot
longer defy tariff reform. Their plan
now is to seem to yield without real
ly yielding.
| submit that the Democratic plat
form accurately described the Re-
publican position when it refers to
"thes belaied. promise" made by the
Republican leaders as "a tardy rec
ognition of the righteousness Of
the Democratic position on this ques-
tion." The Democratic party in its
platforms and through its represen-
tatives in Congress has for years point
ed out that the tariff schedules are
excessively high and ought to be re-
duced, but the Republicans have, un-
til recently, refused t admit that
there was any necessity for reduc'
tion. They now confess, through
their platform and through their press
for revision is so great as to justi.
fy the party in declaring "unequiv.
Ocally for a revision of the tariff
and the need is so urgent that the
work is to be undertaken at "a spec
ial session of congress Immediately
following the Inauguration of the
next president. The use of the word
"unequivocally" indicates that those
who wrote the platform recognize
that they are under suspicion. They
want to distinguish this promise
from the unkept promises of the
past by adding as emphatic an ad'
jective as could be found in the
!, dictionary. If former republican prom
ises had ben conscientiously fulfill
ed, it might not have been necessary
] to thus strengthen the promise
made this year. The use Of the words
Immediately after the inauguration
. is evidence that the Republican lead
. ers are conscious that the patience
. of the public has been strained
to the point Of breaking, and 1t is
almost pathetic to note the sollc
itude which they now feel about do
ing a thing which, but for wilfu
: neglect, might have ben done at any
time during the last ten years.
Are enot justified in saying thai
"the people cannot safely entrus'
the execution Of this important wors
to a party which is so deeply obli
gated to the highly protected inter
5 ests as Is the Republican Party!'
+ The "fat frying process has become
: familiar to the American people. Pres
D sure has been brought to bear upol
o the protected interests every foul
l. years-and to a less extent In th'
congressional campaigns between
+ presidential elections-to compel con
Q tributions to the campaign fund u
l. return for former fayors and in an
+ ticipation Of favors yet to come. l
; is difficult to overestimate the OF
Q rupting influences introduced into tn
l. political life Of the nation BY thi
partnership between the governmen
II and the favored industries. The lii
e erature circulated in support Of
II protective tariff has studiously Gu
e tivated the idea that suffrage shoul
3 be employed to secure pecuniary n
IS turns, and the appeal made BY tn
lri Republican leaders has come to b
3 more and more a selfish one. Ever
/, "a u !. nrofnctad fnduetr