Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-09-03

might have taken this step toward tar
if revision had it been deeply in ear
nest. But no: the bill was not even re-
ported from the committee Whenever
attention was called to an indefensibie
schedule tie answer was that they
could not afford to open the subject for
debate just before a campaign. but
there is no force In this objection, be-
cause the house rules are so framed
that the majority can cut off debate,
prevent amendment and silence oppo-
sition
The administration has claimed cred
it for the fine against the Standard Oil
company in the case which was lately
reversed. but no effort has been made
to relieve the people from the fine
which is imposed upon them every day
by the Standard Oil company through
the operation of the tariff law which
gives that company more than 100 per
cent protection against its chief rival,
Russia What faith can real tariff re-
former. whether he be d Republican or
a Democrat. repose i'll the Republican
leaders when they deliberately put off
all reduction until after election and
then call for contributions, with the
understanding that the public shall not
know the names of the contributors
until after the polls are closed?
The Republican platform says that
the tariff is intended for the American
manufacturers, farmers and producers,
and especially for the wage ealners.
If the farmer and the wage Garner are
really the chief benefciaries of the pro-
tectiye system, will the Republican can
didate explain why the farmer and the
wage Garner have contributed so little
to the Republican campaign fund? Is
he willing TO publish a list of contribu-
tors on the 18th day Of next October
and allow the relative advantage of
protection to the manufacturer, the
farmer aud the wage Garner to be
measured by the contributions received
from each class? ~4A..sx-
Excuse For Raising Tariff.
But let us suppose for the sake of
argument that the Republican party
sincerely repelRfs Of its delay in begin
ming tariff reform. repudiates its obi
cations to the contributing manufac-
turerss and honestly begins revision.
Whit; rule is to govern the revision
The Republican platform says:
In all tariff legislation the true prin-
ciple of protection is best maintained
by the imposition of such duties as
will equal the difference between the
cost of production at home and abroad,
together with q reasonable profit to
American industries
Mr. Taft indorses this rule and says
that lin a number of schedules the
tariff now exceeds this difference and
that the excess offers a temptation to
those who would monopoize the pro-
ductien and sale of such articles in this
country. He adds. however, that
there are some few articles on which
the tariff is not sufficiently high to
give them the measure of protection
they should receive"
Will he explain upon what rule the
present tariff was framed? When have
the Republicans claimed more protec-
ton than enough to cover the differ
ence in the cost of production here and
abroad? The reasonable profit to
American industries is an addition to
the rule and is likely to be used as an
excuse for raising the tariff And, by
the way, to what other business does
the government guarantee a reason
able profit" to the farmer or the mer-
chant or the laborer? To none of
these
If in revising the tariff the Repub-
lican party is to work upon exactly the
same plan Tor plan contemplating a
higher rate. what hope have we that
the new tariff will be lower than the
present one: Are the present leaders
more honest than the ones who framed
the existing tariff? Are they not. in
fact. the same men who are RESPONSE
BILE for tariff extortion during the last
decade? If this newborn zeal for re-
vision were hundred times greater
than his notification speech indicates,
what chance would the Republican can
didate have of securing any real tariff
reform at the hands of such Republic
ans as now represent that party in the
senate and house. the very men who
represented it in the recent national
convention? Speaker Cannon, who has
suppressed tariff legislation in the pres
ent congress. was dominating factor
in the convention and if the Republic
ans retain control of the house will be
the speaker of the next congress- Does
his prominence afford tariff reformers
any assurance of reduction of the
tariff In the interest Of the consumers?
In case of a Republican victory Con
gresham sherman Will become the
presiding officer of the senate He has
been the confidential companion of
Speaker Cannon and III the convention
it was Speaker Cannon who vouched for
him RIf ne a matter of fact Mr. Shar