The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-10-15
Mr.. TAFT AND REVISION
OF TIE TARIFF
Declares American Wagc.Earners
should Not be Compelled to Conn
pete with Free Trade Labor.

In the course of his speech in Sioux
City September 80 Mr.. Taft defined
his attitude on the question: OF tar1n
revision with characteristic frank
ness. He said:
ttBIy own impression, without be-
ing familiar with the schedules as an
expert, is that In most cases the opera
ton of the protective tariff has been
normal, the cost Of production has
been reduced, and therefore the re-
vision with respect to those schedules
should be downward. There are q
few, pottery Is one, in which no such
change has taken place. Indeed the
change in that cnse has been the other
way and in that respect probably the
tariff ought to be raised"
In that utterance Mr.. Taft explains
the difference between the tarfh pol
fcies of the opposing parties SO clear
" that no intelligent voter can mis-
understand 1t. Mr.. Taft and the Re-
publican party recognize that the
tariff should be revised, and are
pledged to call an extra session of
Congress to undertake the work i'm
medfately after the Inauguration of
the next President. They insist, how
ever, that the revision shall be made
along lines that will maintain the
protective principle instead of de-
stroying it; that the schedules shall
be SO adjusted as to guard American
labor against the unrestricted com
petition of the free trade labor of
Europe. and that there shall be no
legislation calculated to force lower
ing of the American standard Of liv-
ing. In a word, Mr.. Taft favors tnrih
revision In the interest of tariff pro-
MI. Bryan, on the other hand. is
pledged to tariff revision In the in
terest of free trade. He has openly
declared for tariff for revenue only,
and that means the absolute descruc-
ton of the protective principle. He
holds that the American wage-earner
Is entitled to no protection from the
competition OF the cheap labor of free
trade countries, but that wages and
the manner of living in the United
States should be equalized with those
of European workmen.
Mr.. Bryan's position is entirely con-
sistent with his record. 1t Is In per-
feet accord with his attitude in Con-
gress in 1894 when he helped to pre-
pare the Wilson-G German tariff act,
which a Democratic President de-
nounced as "a creature of perhdy and
dishonor." That measure struck ruin
to American industry and labor. 1t
closed hundreds of mills and fac
tories. forced tens of Thousands OF
wage-earne rs Into fdleness, caused a
ruinous decline in the prices OF all
staple commodities and created de-
felt in the Treasury which compelled
money to meet it's running expenses.
Mr.. Bryan's tariff policy, as embodied
in that wicked measure, brought upon
American industry and American
workingmen the most dreadful hard
ships they have ever suffered in time
of peace. Under it's baleful opera
tion hope gave way to despair. want
took the place of plenty and prosper
ity was succeeded by bankruptcy.
The history of the three years covered
by the Wilson Gorman-Bryan act IS
written in the single word: Ruin.
The tariff issue is Immediately in
volved in the present campaign and It
may be accurately stated as follows:
Taft, Republication and tariff re-
vision based on profession, versus
based on free trade. Mr.. Taft and
Mr.. Bryan have both declared them
selves beyond all doubt or question,
and neither seeks to conceal his at
titude. The case is fully before the
people and they will vote upon IL
with their eyes wide open. Shall it
be protection or free trade?