The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-10
A PERrLExrNe srTuArIoN.

| lenBlny artlcle rom that excellent Democratic contemporary. The Pitts burg. Ps., Post:
 ute that s proper and just st revision Of the tarin can De expected from the learn that the American Protective can Congress in .readjusting certain schedules7" And what are these sch hed- ules? Everybody knows that they will De the very ones in which the tariff barons are most interested.
 The Republicans made an egregious political blunder when they committed themselves to q revision of the tarir q realizing sense that their failure to meet the one paramount Issue in this country has not strengthened their ss Ses R Nsg ". E9ssnd daily.
 The people cannot be blamed for hav- ing become sick and tired of being systematically robbed Wonder is that they have not revolted ere this. The rank and file of the country know more today about the tariff and its pernicious effects than they ever did before. They refuse to have this great issue sidetracked. They have seen the country become anaemic by its insid- ious work, and they now realize that, life into the arteries of business, they can only be provided by a close ap- plication of Democratic principles.
 The tariff is the issue in this cam paign. Billion dollar Congresses will not prove au aid tv the Republican party in these times of financial dS- pression and business inactivity. Yot- CTS are giving thought to the tarin issue; and the more they study 1t the harder 1t will be for the Republican party to succeed.
 as sure as the rising of the sun to- morrow, one-nlan power in Congress must go. The Cannons the Dalzells, the Shermans, the Serene Paynss are tisanism in the House Of Representa- | tives are numbered. Their places will 1 be taken by men pledged to work for | their constituents rather shanNor tar- l in-fed barons.
 The Post is undoubtedly correct when 1t says that the Republicans made a mistake by promising to revise the tariff after the election. They mis- calculated the sentiment in their own party. It was their belief that the many Republicans who are earnest and sincere in their demands for revision of the tariff would be satisfied to wait till the assembling of Congress in December. putting faith in the pledges of their leaders that the matter would then be taken up in earnest and real reform be carried out. The election would then be over, and whether the result is for or against them they can revise the tariff in some degree. at least. If Taft is elected they can take it as an evidence that their prom ises of reform have been accepted and that 1t will bs safe Go carry 1t out; and if Bryan Is elected the Republi- cans. having full control of the gov. ernment may push revision through to prevent Democrats getting credit for 1t when they come into power.
 The Republicans made the mistake of supposing that their half-hearted promise of revision "aftsr the election" would be sufficient and that they would thus escape the necessity of discuss ing the matter during the campaign. Now they are learning better. The Democrats are going to make tariff revision an issue. and the stand-patters must either defend the present iniqui- tous system or come out squarely In faver of the thorough revision that is being so loudly demanded. Which 1 will they do? To take either course is to create dissatisfaction and dis content. Already, as it is authorize lively announced. the stand-pat ele- ment is firing into Taft. because 1t is said that he favors a general and thor ough revision. If that is true. and | he thus announces. is 1t not more than probable that many of the extreme pro- l teetionists will sulk, even if they do not vote for Bryan. as some observant Democrats claim is bound to happen.
 But what can the biz candidate do to square himself with both sides? Apparently he is between the devil and the deep blue sea- As The Post says. there is a strong and influential sentiment in New England and the Northwest which win be satisfied with no halfway measures. They want both revision and reduction on many for eiRn products. Granted that they are governed by selfish considerations. they are none the less earnest and will not be put of. They may make Republican success more than doubt full if they persist in their demands. l Then on the other hand there are the l great interests" which have grown | rich through protection. and have no l intention of giving up that which cen- tinues to add to their gains. They | are powerful in influence, in money. 1 in numbers and in almost every other 1 way. and if they are not placated and 1 satisfied there's trouble ahead for the I party It is delicate situation for l the G. O. F.. beyond a doubt. and ie | the leaders steer the boat safely through 1t they may congratulate themselves on having accomplished A wonderful feat
 There is but one thing to do for those fair-minded Republicans who are honest in their demands for a tariff