The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-05-28

tion. They live In the past age.
They do not keep step with the ad-
vance OF public opinion They still
think IL their solemn and sacred
duty TO keep alive that old co-psrt-
nership between the republican bosses
and the eastern manufacturers which
has made every republican tariff In
the past. The leaders OF the present
believe In repeating the practice of
the past, which was to permit asso-
Citations OF manufacturers In the
eastern part of the country to write
the taritf. And the manufacturers,
accustomed TO that sort OF thing aud
in the PAST paying smartly In the
way OF campaign contributions for
the privilege. have not neglected
theil opportunities aud would not
neglect them now. Naturally they
write higher duties instead OF lower.
The consumer Is not taken into ac-
count. The demands OF business to
have duties adjusted to world condi-
tions to the end that the United
States may have a fair chance In the
race for foreign commerce are not
taken into account.
"AlreadY the warming has been
sounded, and by no less a parsonage
than Senator Aldrich, the high
priest Of high tariffism In the upper
branch. chairman OF the finance com
mittee and bulwark between the In.
terests' and any possible harm that
may come to them through tariff re.
vision. Mr.. Aldrich, perceiving that
revision ia possibility-that the re,
publicans may have to promise Ii In
order to carry the election and after
the election may have to do little
something toward making their word
halfway Rood-has pointed out that
the revenues are decreasing and the
appropriations increasing. and II this
goes on much longer the government
will have to raise more income BY
putting up the tariff on imports.
This Is an old excuse. 1t has beer
worked many times. And evidently
the leaders Of the party In power are
making ready to work 1t again.
Their attitude Is like this: None
but stupid fools would demand any
revision OF our sacred tariff. But Il
there are lot Of such fools and II
we must do something to appeast
you, all right, Well give you revision
upward. How will you like that:
And perhaps after you have been Civ
en- dose OF higher duties you will
learn to keep your proper place and
let us and the eastern manufacturer
run the tariff to suit ourselves.
This question Of tariff reform Is
one OF the two great issues before
the American people upon which
President Roosevelt has shown nc
capacity or courage for leadership.
The other is financial reform. lie Ii
In favor of both. But he has never
made fight for either. When be
came into the White House one OF
the first plans he formed was tc
force reform OF the tariff, but as soon
as he ran against the formidable en-.
trenchments OF the stand-patters he
abandoned all serious efforts TO Sc
cure action and has never rene wed
them. He has been busy In other
directions and IL is not probable the
people will blame him for not max.
Ing fight which would involve him
In such bitter warfare with the con.
gressional leaders that propably
nothing else could have beer
achieved. The fact that as brave q
tighter as President Roosevelt, thor
onghly believing In tariff reform,
knowing the iniquity Of parts OF the
present system. realizing how great
an obstacle 1T Is to the progress Of
American commerce, how unjust II
Is In spots to the millions OF consum,
ers, has nevertheless not dared Il
break lances with the defenders Of
IL, shows how hard the people will
have to CRY for this reform and how
hard they will have 10 vote for II be
fore they get 1t.
1.-THE danger to the republican
party is that many OF the people viii
come to the conclusion that the onl.
way In which genuine tariff reform
can be achieved is by putting anoth
er party 10 power. To this pligh
the reactionary and insolent leader
ship in congress has brought the re
publican party"
Walter wellman.
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