Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-23
TALKS OF
The TARIFF
NOTED DEMOCRAT GIVES HIS
VIEWS
-
BRILLIANT CHICAGO ATTORNEY
VISITS Los ANGELES
Finds Members of Party Much Alive
Here and Is Pleased with Pros
poets of Approaching
Election

Robert Cantwell, Chicago's brilliant
criminal lawyer, with record of never
having lost a case, with his wife ana
son are visiting at the Lankershim.
Mr. Cantwell is a prominent Demo-
crat, and for eight consecutive years
has held the coveted position OF granu
marshal of the Cook County Democrat :
ic organization, which is composed oI
atout 1900 of the most prominent
Democrats of that county. 1t has
record equaled by no other organization
OF its kind in the country
MIR. Cantwell has a wonderful per-
sonality, which to a large extent ac-
counts for his popularity. and ike
Webster, he strikes one much as
steam engine in trousers
Physically, mentally and morally.
Bob Cantwell is big man. He is
familiar with every subject of the day.
No matter who you are, Bob Can't
wei, laughs with you, not at you. Both
he and his wife have made many last
ing friends in Los Angeles. the real
kind.
In talking to reporter Mr.. Can't
well said:
Il thought the Democrats were dead
in Los Angeles until ] picked up
Herald for the first time. now l know
that they are much alive
Gives His Ideas
"Will you give your ideas in regard
to the tariff question at the coming
election?" he was asked.
1T will be remembered Mr.. Can't
well replied. that soon after the cleo
tion of Cleveland in 1892, when the
shadows were already beginning to fall
upon finances and business, as a conse-
quence of Republican legislation In
81 eat degree, the tariff organs and ora
tors began to attribute this condition to
the distrust inspired in the hearts OF
the people by their own acts.
". ext the propagated and obtained
credence for the wildly absurd fable
that a moderate tariff caused the panic
Of 1898 Having carried the election of
1896 through the substantial aid of
sound money Democrats, the Repuo-
licans in 1897 hastened to pass in an
extra session of congress the present
Dingley tariff act. after the finances
were restored by Cleveland's admins
tration and when trade and industry In
all their departments had already re-
sumed activity.
The haste of the protectionists to
pass the Dingley bill. with it's barbar-
Gus increase of duty rates, appeared to
betray their fears that If they longer
delayed, public confidence in the Demo :
c.'atic tariff would be SO well established
tt at it's repeal would be attended with
serious IeSullS " tuS purity.
Tariff Thanked
Then began the continuous refrain
that not the abundant harvests and the
strenuous activities of the people, but
the Dingley tariff caused the country's S
great prosperity. Republican platforms,
national and state, year after year took
up the wondrous tale. Presidents mes
sages and speeches solemnly deprecated
any attempts to disturb this beatiflc
condition by hostile legislation.
"The tariff was held up to popular
administration as not only the father of
national prosperity, but its continuator
and multiplier.
Never had the idol such a run until
it suddenly fell from it's pedestal amid
the amazement of it's high priests. One
after another the theories of protection
were blown to the four winds as work.
ingmen by thousands were thrown out
OF employment. with closing of fac
tories and daily announcements of rail-
roads and business corporations pass
ing into the hands of receivers.
"As the illusory dream Of tariff made
prosperity vanished that which alone
stood visible above the wreck was the
swarm of tariff engineered trusts prey
ing upon the people.
Distrust Follows Confidence
Now. when the standpatters and
tariff takers are found out. the former
confidence in them and their stysem is
followed by general distrust. So great
is the reaction that one political con-
yention after another and one candidate
after another. east and west, have some
promise more or less definite to make
iu behaf of tariff revision.
"Of course there is good deal of de-
ception in all this for the purpose of es-
Gaping popular judgment in the coming
election. But the country is not to be
put off with empty promises on the part
OF politicians who have SO long de-
ceived it.
"What the people demand is such a
substantial revision of the tariff as will
relieve them from the spoliations Of the
trusts; and of this there is small hope
from the party of the standpatters, nc
matter how vociferous their promises OF
reform. The prospect of such revision
is in the hereditary enemy of the tariff
the national Democratic party"