The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-10-29

Since the passage of the bill the
Philippine Islands have been acquired.
There are many who believe that as
long as the islands belong to the
United States our markets should be
open to them. l have not time now
to enter into discussion of that ques-
ton. I will do SO fully during the
campaign. Mr.. Taft has been one OF
those who entertained that view. Presi-
dent Roosevelt recommended bill for
that purpose. 1t came before the ways
and means committee of the Fifty
eighth Congress. That committee re-
ported bill providing for reduction
in the tariff on Philippine sugar to
25% of the rate paid under the Ding
ley bill until April IL, 1909, after which
time it should be admitted free. All
but one of the Republican members
of the committee joined in the report.
The Democratic minority, led by Hon.
John Sharp Williams, offered a minor
ity report In favor of immediate and
unlimited free trade on sugar and all
other products of the Philippine ISL
ands. The Democratic position was
we'll stated by Hon. Champ Clark, a
member of the ways and means COM
mittee, joining in the minority re-
port. He said: I'm the beginning of
these remarks wish to state what the
Democratic position is. The gen.
tleman from Mississippi (Mr. Will
liams), the Democratic leader and the
ranking Democratic member of the
ways and means committee, intro
duced substitute (for the Republican
bill reported) providing for immediate
free trade with the Philippine Islands.
do not think I am violating any of
the secrets of the committee when I
say that that substitute was voted
down. Then we voted against report
ing this bill because they would not
vote for our substitute.
Then we filed minority report, a
very short one, of which will read
every word and which seems to cover
the entire subject" He read the re-
port. 1t was for immediate free trade
with the Philippines. and If they could
not get that. then for the bill reported
by the Republican majority. 1t was
signed by the Democratic minority or
the committee. The bill reported by
the Republican majority came before
the House and was passed by a vote of
259 yeas to II nays. Among those vot-
ing against the bill were SO Repusi.
cans and 10 Democrats. The three
Colorado Republican representatives
voted and spoke against the bill. 1t
went to the Senate and by a combina-
ton Of senators of both parties the
bill was held in committee, Senators
Teller and Patterson both opposing the
measure and rendering valuable aid in
preventing it being reported.
tine Democratic party then and now
as an organization. in accordance with
its time-honored principles, favored
and favors absolute free trade with the
Philippine Islands. and the Republi-
can party a reduction of the rate on
Philippine sugar or limitation of the
amount to be admitted free from
those islands. There were and are
notable exceptions among the members
Of both parties to this program. l as
sert. however. that the Democratic
party now, Notwithstanding few not
able exceptions, favors the repeal of
all protective laws and stands for free
trade on sugar. not alone with the
Philippine Islands, but with all the
world. In Its national platform of this
year 1t declares. I'VE favor immediate
revision OF the tariff by the reduction
OF import duties. Articles entering
into competition with trust-controlled
products should be placed upon the
free list and gradual reductions
should be made 4. to restore the
tariff to a revenue basis. Manufac-
tured sugar is In the main a trust
controlled product. The Democratic
party would put 1t on the free list,
not from the Philippines alone, but
from all the world, and annihilate the
American sugar industry. The Repub-
lican party would prevent the trust
control of the sugar industry by en-
couraging and developing our domes-
tic bee. sugar industry as competi-
tor of the trust
Deny Protection is Democratic Plat.
form.
"All tariff laws to be reduced to a
revenue basis, and protection denied
to any industry. is the meaning of the