The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-17

cation speech that the introduction into
 power of party with this avowed pur
 pose cannot but halt the gradual re-
 covery from our recent financial de- pression and produce business disaster, ! compared with which our recent panic 1 and depression will seem very small, | indeed,'
 | Surely MT Taft cannot contemplate l any material reduction of the tariff If
 he really believes that a gradual re- 1 turn to a revenue basis would involve us in any business disaster, compared | with which our recent panic and de- 1 pression will seem small indeed l MT. Taft began his candidacy a year ago as a champion of tariff reform, I but each month has witnessed lessen- , ing of his zeal until now his tempera-
 ture, measured by the tariff reform | thermometer, is close to zero. His platform begins with what at first ] glance might seem pledge that some | thing would be done. It says the re- | publican party declares unequiVocally | for revision of the tariff by special | session of Congress immediately fol- 1 lowing the inauguration of the next | President The word reduction does not appear in the platform. It is re- vision, not reduction, and MT. Taft has already interpreted the word re- vision to mean the raising of some O. the schedules and the lowering of oth- CTS, but with no indication as to whether the average will be above or below the present.
 Avoids Any Promise.
 'eNot only does the platform avoid any promise of reduction, but it proposes for the guidance of the legislators the same rule upon which the present tariff was framed except that the new rule an- nounces the guaranty of a reasonable profit to American industries The gov ernment does not presume 70 guarantee a profit to farmers, to laborers, to mer- chants or to professional men. Only to the manufacturers is a profit to be guar anteed, and as the benefciaries of pro- tection are allowed to determine what is reasonable" profit, we may expect the tariff rates to be increased rather than to be lowered in case of republican success.
 What is there in the democratic plat form that can be construed as threat to any legitimate business? Will it pro- duce a panic to put on the free list ar ticles that come in competition with ar ticles controlled by the trusts? Dem ocratic success will not bring a panic to any except those who have their hands in other peoples pockets, and these ought to be frightened.
 Bryan Wants Guaranty.
 twill it disturb business to materially reduce the tariff on the necessities of life, especially on those articles that are sold abroad cheaper than at home? If we can compete in foreign markets do we need high tariff to enable us to com pete in the home markets?
 Since MT. Taft has gone into the business of predicting panics if he is not elected, 1t is only fair to ask what guar anty he can give If he is elected. No one can doubt that he honestly believes that the country will go to ruin if he is defeated, and that it will prosper if he is elected but what guaranty have we that his opinion is well founded?
 Suppose he is elected and financial distress follows. It will be small relief to the people to know that he really thought he could make times good. We had panic last fall when MT Roosevelt was President although the people were promised immunity from panics in case of republican success What reason has MT. Taft to believe that his anti-panlc specific will be more of U success than the present Presidents?'
 The Days Journey.
 Starting from Weehawken, N J.. at S:45 o'clock this morning, MT. Bryan's journey through the Empire state was triumphant one Everywhere along the Central railroads immense crowds turned clapping and the waving of flags and ban ners.
 At each place speech was insisted on,