The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-22

ests."
Secretary Taft refers to this subject
pretty in his notification ~speech-only
orietiy-but as / shall quote such pas
sages from his speech as are pertinent TO
this discussion. 1t Is not necessary to read
his remarks in full.
1t will be noticed that the Republican
party has abandoned the earlier argu-
ments advanced in support of a high
tariff. We hear no more of the infant
industries" that must be tenderly cared
fore until they can stand upon their
Feet" there is no suggestion that the
foreigner pay the tariff" and nothing
about the home market" These eaten
phrases have had their day-they are
worn out and east aside. n Republican
leaders are no longer arrogant and inso-
lent: they cannot longer defy tariff re-
form. Their plan now is TO seem to yield
without really yielding.
i submit that the Democratic platform
accurately described the Republican posi-
ton when II refers to the belated prom"
ise' made by the Republican leaders as
"a tardy recognition of the righteousness
OF the Democratic position on this ques-
ton" The Democratic party in its plat
forms and through its representatives In
congress has for years pointed out that
the taNff schedules are excessively high
and ought to be reduced, but the Re
publicans have, until recently. refused TO
admit that there was any necessity Tor
reduction. They now confess. through their
platform, and through their presidential
candidate. that the need for revision Is
so great as to justify the party. IN de-
claring "unequivocally for a revision Of
the tariff" and the need is so urgent that
the work is TO be undertaken at -
cial session of congress Immediately lOl-
lowing the Inauguration of the next pres
ident." The use of the word "unequivo-
cally" indicates that those who wrote
the platform recognize that they are un-
der suspicion. They want to distinguish
this promise from the unkept promises OF
the past by adding as emphatic an ad-
jective as could be found IN the diction-
airy. If former Republican promises had
been conscientiously fulfilled, IL might not
have been necessary to thus strengthen
the promise made this year. The use
of the words Immediately after the in
auguration'' is evidence that the Repub-
lican leaders are conscious that the pa
thence of the public has been strained TO
the point Of breaking. and it is almost
pathetic to note the solicitude which they
now feel about doing a thing which. but
for wilful neglect, might have been done
at any time during the last ten years.
Republicans Cannot Be Trusted
Are we not justified in saying hat 1.-The
people cannot safely entrust the eXecu-
tion of this important work to a party
which is so deeply obligated to the high
~ protected interests as is the Repub-
lican party?" The fat frying process
has become familiar to the Amerlc IN DeO-'
pie. Pressure has been brought to bear
npon the protected interests every four
years-and to a less extent in the con-
RreSSlOnai campaigns DetWeen preSlQen-
tial e~lectiOns-to compel contributions to
the campaign fund in return for former
faVOrS and in anticipation of favors yet
TO come. II Is difficult TO Overestimate
the corrupting Influences introduced into
the political life of the nation by this
partnership between the government and
the favored industries. The literature cir
culated in support of a protective tariff
has studiously cultivated the idea that
suffrage should be employed to secure
p~ecuniary returns, and the appeal made
by the Republican leaders has come to
be more and more a selfish one. Every
man engaged in a protected industry has
been approached with the proposition that
II is dollars in his pocket to maintain the
system. while those VINO could not pos
slbly trace any tangible benefits 20 them
selves have been beguiled with the as
surance tina it was all a matter of pub
lie spirit and that they ought to support
the system out of patriotic love OF coun-
try. If attention was called to the fact
that the farmer was taxed for the benefit
of the manufacturer. the triple answer
was that il would come back to him in
directly; that IL did not amount to much
for each farmer anyhow: and that a mar
was small minded who would begrudge so
insignificant q contribution TO the ma
TONS prosperity. The plan has been 10
keep the taxpayers quiet by keeping them
In the dark as to the operation of the
law, and then to concentrate the votes and
influence OF the taXeaters In favor of a
continuation of high tariff legislation. IF
a tariff OF 80 per cent was Imposed upon
a given article or merchandise, 1t was
assumed tina those engaged IL the pro-
duction of the article would contribute
literally To keep up the tariff II was
also assumed that the employees would
vote with their employers to keep from
having their wages reduced. and 1t was
expected that the business men of the
town would also vote for the tariff be-
cause of the business brought to the COM
munity by the protected industry. Those
who are acquainted with the tariff fight
know TO what an extent the ~pecuniary
argument has been used. The recent Re-
publican platform is n bugle call TO every
beneficiary of special privilege. to enlist
again under the Republican banner. n
when the election is oyer and the Repub-
lican committee publishes the list of con-
tributors-too late TO make the informa-
tIon valuable-it will be found that the
Republican party has again so obligated
itself to the protected interests as TO be
unable TO make a revision In the inter
ests of the consumers.
House Against Revision.
With a president who, toward the close
OF his term. admitted the necessity for
tariff revision, with a two-thirds major
ity in the senate and nearly sixty major
ity In the house. the Republican party has
refused 10 permit any revision whatever.
Mr.. Williams. the leader of the minority
in the house. introduced a bill providing
for a reduction of the tariff to 100 per
cent wherever it is now more than 100
per cent. 1t would look as II the Repub-
lican party might have taken this step
toward tariff revision. had II been deeply
in earnest; but no, the bill was not even
reported from the committee. Whenever
attention was called to an indefensible
schedule, the answer was that they could
not afford TO open the subject for debate
lust before a campaign. but there is no
force In this objection because the house
rules are so framed that the majority can
cut off debate. prevent amendment and
silence opposition.
The administration has claimed credit
for the fine against the Standard Oil COM
pany In the case which was lately re-
versed. but no effort has been made to
relieve the people from the fine which
Is imposed upon them every day by the
STANDARD Oil company through the oper-
alton of the tariff law which gives that
company more than 100 per cent protec-
ton against its chief rival. Russia. What
faith can a real tariff reformer, whether
he be a Republican or a Democrat. repose
In the Republican leaders. when they de-
iiberately put off all reduction until after
election. and then call for contributions,
with the understanding that the public
shall not know the names of the contrl-
butors until after the polls are closed?
The Republican platform says that the
tariff is intended for the American manu-
facturers. farmers and producers, and es-
---s.rxr for tho uroQa a1rnQrS II fha