Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-23
CONGRESS and the Tariff.

The republicans should allow their
opponents to monopolize the racket about
the tariff. At this time 1t is legitimate
game for them. Naturally they are
anxious to throw things into confusion,
in the hope of reaping future benefit.
1t seems altogether likely that the fight
for the SiXtysecond House will turn on
the tariff, with the coming revision as
the basis of action The republicans
must stand on the record in respect to
the good faith and thoroughness of their
revision. and the democrats, no matter
what that record may be, will challenge
IT. They cannot afford to be satisfied
with it. and will not be. What they de-
sire is tariff for revenue only. What
the republicans are instructed to give
the country is new law, eliminating or
reducing duties which time and manufac-
turing development have wholly or in part
rendered unnecessary and consequently
hurdensome and injurious, but still rec
ognizing the principles of protection. The
two parties are heading in different di-
rections.
A pleasant little exchange the other
day between MIR. Payne and Mr. Clark
at one of the. tariff hearings illustrated
the situation. The Missourian, who will
be the minority leader in the next House,
had made a pointed observation, when
MIR. Payne, who will be the majority
leader and will report the new tariff
bill. replied. You haven't seen our bill
yet. 1t hasn't been drawn But it was
plain that it was not necessary for Mr..
Clark to wait. knowing what the basis
of the bill would be. he was already pre-
o,>cH IN OF ir Nd uyha
bill is reported and the ball opens. Mr..
Clark, and all his friends in Congress
and out, will make the welkin ring.
Meanwhile. hearings should go on. and
all information from all sources bearing
on the whole question should be collected
The present law met the emergencies of
very trying period, and was a large
factor in the reelection Of Mr.. Mckinley.
Business was brisk that year and the
country ratified good conditions. If this
coming revision is made with sincerity in
the public interest and works we'll 1t will
probably insure another republican House,
and that will carry the prty into the next
presidential contest in excellent shape.
And, while we are in motion, let's keep
our history on straight. Mr.. Cleveland
has much to answer for in the wrecking
of his party, but he did not as President
defeat MIR. Mills for Speaker of the Fifty
second Congress. That contest took place
In December, 1891, and Mr.. Cleveland did
not return to the White House until
| March, 1893. By that time Mr.. Mills had
been transferred to the Senate. In the
Mills-Crisp fight, New York's influence,
so far as the state administration was
concerned, went to Judge Crisp, William
Sheehan coming to Washington to super
| intend the job.
| Mr.. Cleveland's blunder in the tariff
| matter was in yielding to the New York
bankers and subordinating the tariff to
| the money question. His successful ap-
peal to the republicans. led by John Sher-
man. to repeal the purchasing clause Of
| the Sherman act disrupted his own party,
and left him no instrument to work with
| when the tariff came up for revision. And
yet 1t was upon the tariff question that he
and his party had been restored to power.