Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-06
TARIFF DECEPTION.
The Ambiguity Of the Ohio and Other
Platforms.

AS the platform adopted by the
late republican convention of Ohio
was approved by President Roose-
welt and Secretary Taft, the tariff
plank of that platform, therefore,
may be regarded as the prototype of
the tariff plank of the coming ma
tional convention, if the same re-
publican faction control it as con-
trolled the Ohio convention.
AS many people, and even some
democrats, believe that what Mr.
Roosevelt declares, must be gospel
truth, and that similar avowals from
Secretary Taft are of the me too"
variety, it becomes of Importance to
investigate just what was promised
on the tariff issue in that Ohio plat
form which said:
"A revision of the tariff by a spe-
cial session of the next congress, in
surfing the maintenance of the true
principle of protection by imposing
such customs duties as will equal
the difference between the cost of
production at home and abroad, to-
gether with a reasonable profit, to
the end that, without excessive du-
ties, American manufacturers, farm
ers, producers and wage earners may
have adequate protection.
The only promise in that plank
that can be understood is that the
next congress shall be called in
special session for tariff revision.
What kind of revision, whether to
revise the tariff higher or revise
it lower, is not stated. 1t promises
the trusts they will still be pro-
tected by duties that will equal the
difference between "the cost of pro-
duction" at home and abroad, and
on top of that protection "a reason
able profit"
Fancy, the republican standpatter
of the next congress, If they have
a majority, considering 1.-The cost of
production" How will they find
out and from whom will they in
quire what is the difference of the
cost of production OF trust products
here and of similar products
abroad? Judging from the past the
trusts alone will furnish them such
inside information. The managers
of those corporations that control
the steel. the cotton, the wooden,
the pottery, the glass and the other
products of the trusts protected by
tariff will thus again fix the tariff
schedules. Under such a revision of
the tariff there would be the same
disgraceful spectacle as occurred at
the Arlington hotel in Washington
in 1897 when the republican MEM
bers of the ways and means commit
tee were receiving the trust manag-
ers and attorneys with their pre-
pared schedules that were adopted
by the committee. in many cases al
most without change from the way
the monopolis:s demanded.
There is good evidence that the
republican leaders, whatever their
promises may be, intend to revise
the tariff higher by adding sched-
ules of maximum rates come 90 or
80 per cent more than the present
high rates. which are to be called
the minimum tariff rates. The lead
ing members OF the present ways
and means committee of the house
OF representatives have so stated and
no republican leader has gainsaid
them.
The republican plan Of confusing
and deceIving the voters Of the coun-
try by an ambiguous tariff plank is
an old trick: &c has been worked In
Iowa TO defeat the Iowa idea" il
was used in Massachusetts, 10 blind
the EYES OF republican ARTISANS.
Hon William L. Douglas. Who was
elected governor OF Massachusetts, on
the tariff issue. described It when he
said:
THE republican party Of Massa-
ehusetts has retreated under the
shelter OF an ambiguous phrase from
the high ground which Il occupied
last year. Either the leaders of the
party we're insineere last year. or
they are insineere this year. What
does present action" meant Does
Il mean free hides. free eaat. free
iron. free wood pulp. free Iumber7
Does e mean reciprocity sith Cana
dag Does q mean anything that the
people Of Massachusetts,. irrespective
% party afilistions. are - generally
demanding2 Those leaders Who talk
90 vaguely OF present astioh' are in
reality opposing tariff reform. Their
action consists in adopting am
biguous phrases 70 deceive the peo-
pie: in standing pat on The D8ngEey
schedule. and in ringing tac alarm
bells OF the trusts"
The ambiguity OF the Ohio plat
form plainly shows that u Ia the
intention 10 again deceive TIE peo-