Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-12-04
Many Advocates OF Tariff
Changes Believe Battle Al
ready Has Been Won
DON'T EXPECT A REVOLUTION
Substantial Reductions Demanded and
Bound to Be Made-Tafts surren.
der Of Fight Against Cannon Not
Be Considered Defsat-cannon's
Sincerity in Question.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Washington, Dec. 4.-To Andrew
Carnegie's sensational declaration that
the protection Of iron and steel is no
longer needed, is ascribed much credit
for remarkable change In the revision
situation.
Many OF the revision advocates al
ready confidently believe the battle is
won. They do not expect revolution, or
want it; but they do believe more
strongly every day, that substantial re-
duction of important schedules will be
secured. Three things have happened
which are regarded as responsible:
1. President Elect Taft's vigorous
declaration for genuine revision, his
manifestation of willingness to fight
Speaker Cannon If necessary, and his
intimation that he would veto tariff.
bill which did not satisfy him.
2. Mr.. Carnegie's pronouncement
about the tariff ON steel.
3. The sudden development of a
great volume Of public opinion in sup
port Of Mr.. Taft's position.
Surrender Not a Defeat.
Mr.. Taft has permitted it to be
known that he will not further oppose
Speaker Cannon's reelection. This
will be widely accounted a defeat for
Mr.. Taft, but in truth 1t means that a
compromise has been reached by which
the president-elect gains great deal.
1t was not the opposition to Cannon,
so much as the threat of yetoing a
bogus tariff bill, that brought the re-
suits. The Cannon organization could
in all probability have reelected the
speaker against any opposition. 1t
could Just as probably have followed
that victory by passing a tariff bill to
suit itself. But what was the use,
when passage of such a measure would
have brought down a veto, over which
the measure could not possibly have
been passed? 1t was suddenly seen
that in the end the president would
hold the last trump card. That he
should be willing to play 1t, was a
great surprise and a sad shock to the
standpatters. But when they were as
sured that he meant to do just that,
LASy WIZ AVoaS ,AoA SGiAlA't SAAA LIN
compromise is the result.
Steel Makes Poor Showing.
It is no secret that the big interests
which were expected to take great,
active interest in maintaining present
schedules, have disappointed the high
tariff faction of ways and means. The
iron and steel people, instead of rush.
ing into the breach and proving that
they must retain their Chinese wall
else they be ruined, have made rather
a sorry showing. The United States
Steel corporation seems to have left
all the effort to the independents,
while Mr.. Carnegie has knocked vigor-
ously against the modest efforts Of the
little fellows.
There have been good many de-
mands for retention of present sched-
ules, or even for advances; but these
have not come from great, powerful,
weighty interests save in a compare
lively small number of instances. Con-
sequently the announced purpose Of the
committee to give free iron, steel, lum-
Der, hides, shoes and coal.
1t is explained that free iron and
steel means pig iron and steel billets.
1t doesn't mean free steel rails, for in
stance; but it does logically involve a
great reduction in the tariff. on rails
and other steel products.
Matter Of Free Hides.
Tariff making is a sort Of architect
ural construction; one part supports
another, and in turn depends on an
other. The duty on hides makes neces-
sary the duty on leather, and that
makes necessary the duty on shoes and
other leather products. The manufac-
turers in many cases have said, "Give
us free raw materials, and we will be
able to give up the protection on our
products" So it comes about that if the