, 1908-10-19
MR.. TAFT AND TARIFF REVISION

In the course of his speech in Sioux
City, September 20 Mr.. Taft defined
his attitude on the question of tariff
revision with characteristic frankness.
He said:
MY own impression. without being
familiar with the schedules as an ex-
pert, Is that In most cases the opera
ton of the protective tariff has been
normal, the cost of production has
been reduced, and therefore the re-
Vision with respect to those schedules
should be downward. There are a
few. pottery is one, in which no such
apre has taken place. Indeed, the
change in that case has been the 9th
er way. and in that respect probably
the tariff ought to be raised"
In that utterance MI. Taft explain
the difference between the tariff pol;
cies of the opposing parties SO clearly
that no intelligent voter can misunder-
stand it. Mr.. Taft and the republican
party recognize that the tariff should
be revised. and are pledged TO call an
extra session Of congress to undertake
the work Immediately after the inaug.
ration of the next president. They in
list, however, that the revision shall
De made along lines that will maintain
the protective lrinc.p'e instead Of de-
stroying 1t; that the schedules shall
be SO adjusted as to guard American
labor against the unrestricted compe
tition of the free trade labor Of Eu-
rope, and that there shall be no legis-
alton calculated to force q lowering
of the American standard Of living. III
a word, Mr.. Taft favors tariff revision
In thelnterest of tariff protection.
Mr.. Bryan, on the other hand. Ia
pledged to tariff revision In the inter.
est OF free trade. He has openly de
clarei for a tariff for revenue only. and
that means the absolute destruction OF
the protective principle. He holds that
the American wage-earner is entitled
to no protection from the competition
Of the cheap labor Of free trade coun.
tries, but that wages and the manner
Of living in the United States should
be equalized with those of European
workmen.
Mr.. Bryan's position is entirely con-
sistent with his record. 1t Is in per
feet accord with his attitude in con.
gress in 1894 when he helped to pre-
pare the WilsonG holman tarif act,
which a democratic president denounc.
ed as "a creature Of perfdy and dishon'
orr That measure struck ruin to
American industry and labor. 1t clos
ed hundreds Of mills and factories,
forced tens of thousands of wage-earn-
ers into idleness, caused a ruinous de-
cline In the prices of all staple com
modities and created a deficit in the
treasury which compelled the govern
ment TO sell bonds for money to meet
it's running expenses. Mr.. Bryan's
tariff policy, as embodied in that wick.
ed measure, brought upon American
industry mi American workingmen
the most dreadful hardships they have
ever suffered in time of peace. Under
its baleful operation hope gave way to
despair, want took the pace Of plenty
and prosperity was succeeded by bank
ruptcy, The history OF the three years
covered by the Wilson-Gorman-Bryan
act is written in the single word: Ruin.
The tar'n issue is Immediately in
volved in the present campaign and 1t
may be accurately stated as follows.
Taft, republicanism and tariff revision
based on protection, versa Bryan,
democracy and tariff revision based
en- free trade. Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bryan
have both declared themselves beyond
all dpubt or question, and neither
seeks to conceal his attitude. The
case Is full before the people and
they will vote upon it with their eyes
pen. Shall it be protection or free
rade?