Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-09-04
eyo Coming Town Next msdaave Circus You Know

the blessings Of high tariff are BE-
ling enumerated are In the backgrouts
when the collections are being made!
Is it not significant that the manu-
facturers, who furnish the funds
are so little advertised as benefic'
iaries? Is It not significant also that
the wage earners, instead. Of the
manufacturers, are always described
as "the most direct beneficiaries Of
the protective system"
But let us suppose for the sake Of
argument, that the Republican party
sincerely repents Of its delay in be.
ginning tariff reform. repudiates It's
obligations to the contributing man.
uacturers and honestly begins a
revision" What rule is to govern
the revision? The Republican plat.
form says:
"In all tariff legislation, the true
principle Of protection is maintain
ed by the imposition of such duties
as will equal the difference between
the cost Of production at home and
abroad, together with a reasonable
profit to American industries
Mr.. Taft endorses this rule and
saws that "in a number Of schedules
the tariff now exceeds this difference
and that the excess offers a temp
tation to those who would monopo'
| lie the production 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! wnen
have the Republicans claimed more
protection than enough to cover the
difference 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 wna'
other business does the government
guarantee a reasonable profitT TO
the farmer, or the merchant or the
llaborer? To none of these. If in re-
vising the tariff the Republican par
ty is to work upon exactly the same
plan Tor a plan contemplating a
higher rate) what hope have we that
the new tariff will be lower than
Il
the present one? Are the present
leadres more honest than the ones
who framed the existing tariff? Are
they not, In fact, the same men
who are responsible for tariff ex
tortion during the last decade? If
this newborn zeal for revision were
an hundred times greater than his
modification speech indicates, what
chance would the Republican candi'
date have of securing any real tar
if reform at the hands Of such
Republicans as now represent that
party in the Senate and House, the
very men who represented It in re
cent national convention? Speaker
Cannon, who has suppressed tariff LEI
islation in the present congress, was
a dominating factor in the conven
tion and, II the Republicans retain
control Of the House, will be the
Speaker Of the next congress. Does
his prominence afford tariff reform
ers any assurance Of reduction ol
the tariff in the interest of the con
sumers? In case of a Republican vic
tory, Congressman Sherman will be
come the presiding officer Of the
Senate. He has been the coniiden
tial companion of Speaker Cannon
and In the convention 1t was Speak
er Cannon who vouched for him
But as a matter of fact, Mr.. Sher
mans standpatism needed no en-
dorsement; his record Is a guarant,
that no beneficiary Of special priv
leges will be disturbed. 1t was Con
gresham Sherman who In a speecl
In the House on the 18th Of las
April, boastfully declared, I'VE rec
ognize the fact that we have a RI
! publican majority In the Senate. tha
we have q Republican majority Il
: this House, that Is ready to resort L
every legal, every proper constitution
al right to enact such legislation a
It deems for the best interest 10
, the greatest number Of our people an,
which is willing and ready to accep
full responsibility for all those meas
: ures which are introduced here an
D which are not enacted into law"
, The Republican platform suggest
1 that there should be maximum ta1
D iff and a minimum, the maximum :
! be used in retaliation and the mil