Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-08-19
THE IMPORTANT PART OF 1T
The Elk Point COURIER says

Since his return home, Senator Craw-
ford, in an interview at Huron, said
that Senator Daniels OF Virginia, the
democr attic leader, made strong plea
ii the senate for q heavy duty or tan
ming bark, because Virginia and the
Carolinas make this product In large
quantities. This is in direct opposition
to the democratic platform and the
democratic policy. The COURIER has
ALWAYS contended that the tariff ques-
ton, as handled practically, is neither
a political nor a moral question. The
fact was never more clearly illustrated
than in the making of the present
tariff law. Pres. Taft's entering
wedge to wards permanent tariff COM
mission is more significant and more
important than even the passing OF a
new tariff law.
1--WE cannot agree with the COURIER
that the tariff question is not moral in
its nature. If there was nothing i'm
moral in the practice of the French
barons in laying tribute upon the
peasants, by arbitrary decree transfer
ring monies from the private purse to
the aristocratic treasury; then there
IL nothing immoral in the practice OF
bartering political supportfo for license
to the manufacturer to collect from
those who must buy from him more
than could have been obtained If such
barter had not been made. If legaliz-
ed stealing is perfectly moral, then all
of thu toriff sohod,,los ora tt ia mat
precisely because great moral ques-
tion is involved that all those who are
receiving unreasonable pr )tectiOn
have objected so vigorously to any
kind of tariff commission. And, for
the same reason, it is true that the nu-
cleus Of tariff commission provided
for in the Payne bill Is of more import
ance than all the rest of the measure.
Since the COURIER has reached this
conclusion 1t should consider it import
ant to tell its readers what attitudes
were taken toward the tariff commits
sion by South Dakota's four represent.
atives at Neutrality-suspicious. Falls
Press. Sunday, August Is.
The above Is one of our editorial notes
of last week and the comment of the
Sioux Falls Press on the same. We
have reproduced both in full in order
to show how completely thu Press mis-.
ses the point Of our contention. VIVA,
we said aud what we illustrated above
was. that the tariff question, .'as hand
led practically" lie neither q politica
nor moral question. We agree wit.
the Press that ideally the tariff ques
tion should be treated as moral ques
ton and to some extent as q polirica
question. But practically, when Con
gress gets down to business on thu
subject, It's always treated accordin,
to local demands and interests. Evel
our South Dakota representatives il
both houses, while in the main inter
ested In downward revision, when /
came to tin, mica, hides, barley or an
other product In which they were in
terested locally, did not seem to hav
their feelings hurt very badly by
good high tariff.
We are happy 70 comply with tn
hint the Press gives US above and ia
form our readers that the South Dxko
ia senators and represeo tatives wer
right on the tariff commission amend
ment. Indeed we are pleased 10 ascel
tain. that. when one talas the. Mains /
notice just what the COURIER did 90,
the Press i In substantial Agreeme,