The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
The Tariff in the Campaign.

That the abiding tariff question would
play leading role in the campaign has
long been evident. Mr. Bryan has made
It the almost exclusive topic Of his first
formal address to the voters, and, singu-
Iarly enough, while ne is appealing 10
the Republicans OF the solid West TO join
the Democrats in reforming the tariff.
Mr. Taft is asking the solid South To-
uphold the protective policy Thus the
issue is pretty sQuarely Joined between
a programme of tariff reform leading
gradually. 10 use Mr.. Bryan-s phrase.
TO revenue tariff devoid OF purposive
protectionIsm. and a readjustment OF
tariff schedules To correct inequalities. as
the Republicans say, and TO protect and
stimulate American industries at every
point
When. two years ago. and again a
year ago. Mr. Taft declared himself in
favor Of tariff revision, there was some
hope that he would come before the
country as a moderate tariff reformer-
That hope has been rud-ly dissipated By
the course of events An Of Mr- Taft's
recent utterances show him a convinced
protectionlst. as willing to revise the
tariff upward as to trim it down, and IN
willing at any time 20 surrender or miu-
gate any part Of the protective theory
To the South. still a largely agricultural
community. exporting an enormous vol
uule Of products to the Old World. 'he
declares its Industrial prosPerit, wholly
dependent on the maintenance Of a 'rea-
souable~ protective tariff Such al ab-
surd and antiquated economic notion
ought to be received with a loud gufraw
from one end Of Dixie 20 the other. but
we are not so sure that Il viii be Mr
Taft is quite right in the assumption
that there is considerable protective tariff
sentiment IN the South-uot enough 20
change the complexion OF single cleo
toraI vote. but sufficiently influential. as
tie past proves. to modify the complexion
Of a Democratic tariff measure Not as
a tariG reformer. but as a protecuOuist-
therefore, does Mr.. Taft WOO the indus
trial South. the new South. whose rapidly
developing manufactures claim a share in
( the benefits. II any there be. In the pro
tectlve system.
/ In the Hlddle West Mr.. Bryan revives.
( temporarily. but with sincere conviction,
the issue that was potent throughout
that region in the early 'sTs. Protection
! IS not a sacred thing in the agricultural
West. where the spirit Of reform has been
and now is rife. But Mr. Bryan is to-day
/ addressing farmers who have enjoyed a
I long era OF prosperity-bumper crops and
I good prices-not. as in his earliest cam
/ paiguiug. discouraged and impover.
j ished community suffering from a seTie,
Of lean years. and ready 10 attribu-.
financial troubles. in turn. TO the rail
/ roads. the gold standard. or the protec
D.. tive tariff The so-caIled battle ground
Of the campaign IS the home Of granger
Z ism. Of PopuIism. OF myriad forms o.
radicaIism. vet 1t has been held by n,
! Republican party for a dozen years bl
I immense majorities. VIII Mr.. Bryan
have any better success appealing 20 tn,
Middle West as tariff reformer thar
Mr.. Taft TO the South as a protectionist
We know what HIr. Taft may expect O
the South, no one is Vet sure Of the at
tltude Of the West toward Mr. Bryan
/ save that it appears more favorable thar
in former campaigns
I one thing IS certain That the voter. n
matter in what section Of the cogutr
he may live. who believes national pros
+, perity bound up with the protective tariff
should support Taft, and that the vote
i who believes in tariff reform leading Z
j the ultimate extinction OF the evils O
prOteCtiouism should support the Demo
t cratic nominee. The brand Of tariff re
] vision forthcoming from Republica
{ administration and Congress is bound {
{ be. judging from the past. Of the stricu
protectIouist variety
Shakespeare often slipped Up on hi
English saws a literary critic. or fe