The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-06
WHIT wILL THrr po,

WHAT WILL THEY pot
 A question that Is of interest since the result of the late election has been made known is connected with the tar iff as 1t now exists. As Is well known certain leaders of the Republican Par ty have declared themselves in favor of thoroguh revision of the tariH after the election" Well. it ia now after the election. and 1t is presumed that they will go to work to mako good their promises. but how7
 We freely admit that the Republican leaders are experts at getting around or over obstacles. but in this case there are two sides so diametricaliy opposed that it is difficult to see how they can be made to harmonize. Tn the first place. there is strong element of the party, especially in New England and along the Northern border of the Mid dle and Western States. that want ma terial reductions in the tariff. on cer- tain articles, in some cases going so far as to advocate the free importa. tion of a few products of British North America. because they need the raw material. and could get it cheaper from the other side of the line if it were not for the tariff duties, than 1t can be procured on this side
 Admitting that this demand for cheaper raw material is founded en- tirely on self interest, 1t Is none the less strong in It's determination. Those who are engaged in the manufacture of certain goods. the raw material for which Is scarce and constantly becom- ing scarcer, look with longing eyes to- wards other countries where such ma terials are plentiful and cheap. but which are practically prohibited by the protective tarir. These are the men. largely Republicans, who will not be satisfied until the tariff is revised to suit their demands
 That is one side of the question, but on the other it Is to be found most of the great trusts and manufacturing corporations which control their own material and are making enormous for compete with them. and because for eign products are virtually barred by our tariff system. All these interests are powerful. rapaeious and unscrupu- lously selfish as wolves and unfeellng as hyenas. More important than all they have in the main been the Re- publican Party's strongest asset in the way of providing the sinews of war.
 Even if the pertinacious stand pat their position and yield some portion of their own convictions. will they be willing to antagoniEe and perhaps make enemies of the protected interests to which they owe so much for past favors and of which they ex- pect so much, in the future? It hard ly seems reasonable that they will run such risk, yet that is just what they must do if they fulhn their promises to the American people. A lodging. split-ths-difrerence policy will not sat- isfy either side, and will leave the par ty in a worse state than it now is. They must either leave the tarir as 1t is and risk offending a strong senti- ment of their party, or they must &C., tuaHy revise and reduce it and thus alienate the trusts to whom they owe SO much.
 Mir. Taft, 1t wiu be recalled. is un- der promise to call an extra session of Congress immediately after he as- sumes his office for the express pur- pose of revising the tarih, and there will be a most excellent opportunity for him and for his friends to show whether they will deal honestly with the people or whether they will try to dodge the issue. It will also be a golden opportunity for the Democrats. as far as lies in their power. to force their enemies to show their hands on what promises to be among the most important issues that will come be- fore the people in the next campaign. The Democrats will do well to make it the paramount issue from the very start. and make their fight on it. If the Republicans fall to and take the wind out of our sails by revising the tariff as it should be done. the eoun- try will be benehted. but If they dodge the question the Democracy will reap the benefit. However it may terni. nate 1t is a delicate matter for the opposition to deal with.
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