Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-12-17
PLAN TARIFF RAISE
DESIGNS OF "sTANDPATTERs"
CAN BE PERCEIVED.
Repetition Of Action Of 1896 Is Their
Idea - President Taft Must Be
the Main Reliance of the
People Now.

Washington dispatches say that Mr.
Albert Clarke, secretary Of the Home
Market club, which the country should
take notice has established headquar-
tiers in Washington in order to look
after things during the tariff hearings
before the way and means commit
tee, says that the friends of protec-
ton are to be congratulated on the
results of the election, announces the
Indianapolis News. We should say
that that was a statement the signif-
canoe of which would better appear
later. He goes on to say, however,
that the obvious meaning of the cleo
ton is that "the tariff is to be revised
on protection principles and brought
up to date" Equally the obvious
meaning of the election, from the
Home Market clubs view, is that the
emphasis should be put on the up"
Business, Mr.. Clarke continues, has
revived in consequence of the election,
and that there need be no fear as to
how the tariff revision will affect in
dustry. 1t is full early to get to close
quarters on the subject, though the
admirable Charles Francis Adams
manifestly thinks that there is no time
like the present for doing anything.
But there is simply this to be said:
The standpatters will take the cleo
ton as giving them carte blanche for
such a saturnalia on the tariff as the
Republicans INDUCED in after defeat
ing Bryan in 1896, when they passed
the precious Dingley bill to take the
place of the Wilson-Gorman law.
The people generally have forgotten
that the Dingley bill not only adj
vanced rates above the Mckinley bill,
but that it advanced some rates out
rageously under the hypocritical pre-
tense that they were to be lowered in
making reciprocity treaties. Mr.. Nc
Kinley himself was deceived by the
standpatters in this. What followed
wal the ignominious death of all reci-
procity treaties and the maintenance
of these superexalted rates. Now we
are to have a revision which makes
Mr.. Clarke Of the Home Market club
rub his hands with satisfaction. Your
plain, ordinary citizen may well sit
up and take notice!
What we mean to say here as to the
time being full early for discussion is
this: The ways and means commit
tee, which is prejudiced and packed in
advance on the subject, is laying the
foundation for another tariff raised
and increased wherever any interest
wants it SO, and if 1t be not possible
to put it through at this session, to
have it ready Is the basis for nego-
tiation when President Taft comes in.
Then will come the time, if ever, that
the country will get a hearing. Mr..
Taft will stand against the combined
tariff beneficiaries or he will not. The
people, the consumers, will either get
some relief or they will not. Lincoln
once spoke of "our tariff housekeep-
ing" 1t is that. We shall have it
with us until a time in the future that
need not be reckoned with now.
The question at this time is whether
the people are to have a proper meas
uhe Of relief, and President Taft will
be in for a large measure of answer
to that question. For the present the
st~andpatters are having it all their
W way and are making the premises
to suit themselves. But they reckon
i'll if they leave the people out. The
question was not settled, as some Of
them devoutly believe, by the election.
That simply opened it for a begin
ming.