The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-08-20

thiitA puehtt0n agree Is PLAINLY ap-
parent from the action taken By the
Democratic .hate convention in Penn
sylvania and 1.-The county convention
here both the same day
Tho Democrats Of Pennsylvania IN
their state platform declare for a
revision Of the tariff for the pro
lection OF American labor when COM
petlng with foreign manufacturers. .
The same day they adopted tina,
platform, recognizing the Republican
principle OF protection to labor
through the tariff schedules. the
Democratic party in Harrison county
adopted a platform declaring for tar
iff for revenue only
Which would the Democratic party
undertake carry into operation. X
III were elected-thc Pennsylvania
plank favorlng protection to labor
or the West Virginia plank, saying
tariff should be for revenue only?
Who knows?
The wide difference between tho
two planks on the tariff question
furnishes a basis for some osseryal
lions on the Observation-Disclosures and
the uncertainty of the Democratic att
titude on questions Of national I'M
terest, together with those OF local
interest. Attention is moro rarticu-
larry called to the positions taken oil
the national question of the tariff.
After years of denunciation Penn
sylvania Democracy now follows III
the footsteps of sam Randall and
fully agree with his Endorsement II the
Republican idea of protective tar-
iff as a method Of looking after the
Interests of labor. On the othar'
hand the Democracy of West virginin
as cxpounded and promulgated in
the Harrison county platform written
by the same hand that framed ma
Jor and important portion of the state
Platform not only dcnounces the pro-
tectivc idea hut goes so far as to
wants to totally annihilatc any fea-
'tufe of tariff which would afford or
attempt TO afford protection to
American labor. Indeed. 1t wants
free trade. with the for revenue
clause appended only as blind.
These are differences and discrep-
ancies in the Democratic beliefs that
brook evil and disaster to the ccua-
try in the event of Democratic VIC
tory. They show that Democratic
triumph at the polls>would foist up
on the country hodge-podgc of diff
fcrcnccs so badly confused and mix
ed that calamity and business stfig-
nation must naturally and surely Will
result.
So widely divided on the subject of
the tariff. there could be no possible
unity of action and no measure yass a..
ed of enough potency to meet the
appreciation of the nation or to i'm
spire its confidence. With such vari-
ations between Democratic platforms
now, there Is no assurance in this
campaign that the party could get
together on the subject, nor can the
character of the legislation be por-
trayed IN advance to any degree of
certainty, except that the varying at
titudes positively and emphatically
convey the knowledge that any LEXIS
lation on the tariff question the Dem
ocratie-ffssaa + twouitt -rract under the
circumstances. would be inadequate,
Illogical, Injurious and impotcnt.
The Republican party recognizes
the protective plan and the benefits
1t gives to American labor. 1t found
ed that principle, it developed it. ii
understands it. and 1T is the party to
adjust it as the changes in the times
demand. The nation will feel as
sured of beneficial legislation on the
tariff, if1t is left to the Republican
party to revise, and with that knowl-
edge the nation will Certainly dele
gate the Republican party to look af-
ter the tariff question.