The daily sentinel., 1908-08-22

ocratic position on this question; but.
the people cannot safely entrust the
execution of this important work to
party which is SO deeply obligated
to the highly protected interests as is
the Republican party. We call at
tention TO the significant fact that
the promised relief was postponed
until after the coming election-an
election to succeed in which, the Re-
publican party must have the same
support from the beneficiaries of the
! high protective tariff as it has always
/ heretofore received from them; and
of the further fact that during years
/ of uninterrupted power no action
/ whatever has been taken by the Re
publican congress to correct the ad-
mittedly existing tariff iniquities.
We favor immediate revision of
the tariff by the reduction of import
duties. Articles entering into COM
\ petition with trust-controlled pro-
ducts should be placed upon the free
! list; material reductions should be
made in the tariff upon the necessi-
ties of life, especially upon articles
competing with such American man
ufacturers as are sold abroad more
cheaply than at home; and gradual
reductions should be made in such
other schedules as may be necessary
to restore the tariff to revenue
basis.
=" Existing duties have given the
manufacturers of paper shelter be-
hind which they have organized com
binations to raise the price of pulp
and paper, thus imposing a tax upon
the spread of knowledge
" We demand the immediate re-
peal of the tariff on wood pulp. print
paper. lumber. timber and logs, and
that these articles be placed upon the
free list
=" The Republican party declares
unequivocally for revision of the
tariff by special session OF congress
Immediately following the Inaugural
ton of the next president and com
mends the steps already taken to this
end in the work assigned to the ap-
propriate committees in congress.
which are now investigating the op-
Grafton and effect of existing sched-
ules. In all tariff legislation the
true principle of protection is best
maintained by the imposition of such
duties as will equal the difference
between the cost of production at
home and abroad, together with
reasonable profit to American indus
tries.
- We favor the establishment of
maximum and minimum rates to be
administered by the president under
! limitations fixed in the law. the max
| imum to be available to meet dis
ordinations by foreign countries
against American goods entering
their markets and 1ne minimum to
represent the normal measure of pro-
lection at home; the aim and pur-
pose of the Republican policy being
not only to preserve, without eXces-
sive duties, that security against for
eign competition to which American
manufacturers. farmers and produc-
ers are entitled. but also to maintain
the high standard of living of the
wage earners of this country, who
are Tie most direct beneficiaries of
the protective system
q" Between the United States and
the Philippines, we believe in free
interchange of products, with such
limitations as to sugar and tobacco
as will afford adequate protection to
domestic interests
NSecretary Taft refers to this sub
ject briefly in his notification speech
only briefly-but as ] 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 Repub-
lican party has abandoned the earlier
arguments advanced in support of a
high tariff. We hear no more of the
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 phrases
have had their day-they are worn
out and cast aside. The Republican
leaders are no longer arrogant and
insolent; they cannot longer defy
tariff reform. Their plan now is to
seem to yield without really yielding
Il submit that the Democratic
platform accurately described the
Republican position when il refers to
the belated promise made by the
Republican leaders as a tardy recog-
milton of the righteousness of the
Democratic position on this ques-
ton. The Democratic party in its
platforms and through its represen-
tatives in congress has for. years
pointed out that the tariff schedules
are excessively high and ought to be
reduced. but the Republicans have.
until recently. refused to admit that
there was any necessity for reduction.
They now confess, through their plat
form and through their presidential
candidate. that the need for revision
is so great as to justify the party in
declaring 'unequivocally for revis-
ion of the tariff and the need is so
urgent that the work is to be under
taken at "a special session of con-
gress Immediately following the in
auguration of the next president
The use of the word 'unequivocally'
indicates that those who wrote the
platform recognize that they are un-
der suspicion. They want to dis
tinguish this promise from the un-
kept promises of the past by adding
as emphatic an adjective as could be