The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-02-04
ruEsDAY. FEpRuARY 4. 1eos
Cole ON the Tariff.

Former State Senator George C.
Cole, of Weston. in the course of an
interesting letter written in the far
away northern city of Dawson. Yukon
Territory. where he is serving as
United States consul, has the follow
ing to say about the tariff:
THE tariff question has been and
will be in the coming campaign, the
paramount issue between the two
great political parties. The policy of
the Democratic party is to reduce the
tariff by revising the schedule down
ward, while the Republican party's
policy has been to revise 1t upward
for the purpose of protecting Ameri-
can industries and. labor, and by this
policy this country has prospered as
no other nation has ever done. 1t is
now the largest producing, largest
consuming and largest exporting
country in the world, and yet, it only
exports per cent. of its production
and consumes the remainder. It's
wealth is greater than that of any
two of the richest countries of the
world, and even surpasses that of the
British Empire.
But see certain class of Re
publicans who want a downward re-
vision, not now but some time in the
future, although they fail to name
the class OF articles on which the
tariff should be reduced or to give a
reason why 1t should be done. The
Republican party is like Missourians
on questions of this kind; SHOW
me-" If Republican is not able
to name the articles on which he
wants the tariff reduced and to give
good and sufficient reason for SO
doing, he is worse than the Demo-
crat, because the Democrat has the
courage of his conviction to give a
reason for the faith that is within
him, namely: Tariff is a robbery.
But il there are evils actually
existing in the tariff schedule let the
Republican party have the courage
of its conviction, like Governor Daw-
son with tax reform, and see to it
that these evils are removed now, not
at some future time.
Il have observed, however, that
when We have downward revision
OF the tariff the business of the coun-
try becomes paralyzed, the values Of
property shrink one-half to one
fourth less, and there is general de-
preston and suffering throughout
the country. On the other hand
when the revision goes upward, val
ues go up. wages go up, labor is full
" employed, farm and factory are
running at full capacity and prosper
ity and happiness reign throughout
the length and breadth of the land.
Let US know that we are right
before We disturb the present rou-
tine of business, which has become
well settled and fixed.
"The question of tariff commits
sion, which is attracting some atten-
tion at this time, seems quite foolish
and to create such a commission
would be an insult to the intelli-
gence of the American people as web
as the founders OF the constitution:
for section z, article l, of the con-
stitution provides that "All bills for
raising revenue shall originate in
the house of representatives. but the
senate may propose or concur with
amendments as on other bills" This
provision shows that the raising Of
revenue is placed directly with the
people, or as near to them as 1t is
possible to do, by putting it in the
hands OF their direct representatives,
and any tariff schedule otherwise