New-York tribune., 1909-07-17
PRESIDENT FIRM FOR
DOWNWARD REVISION
PARTY PLEDGES MUST BE
KEPT, HE DECLARES.
Plain Words to Congressmen Whd
Called to Protest against His
Course Free Rae Materials.
LFrem The 1rttun. Bureau. l

perfectly clear to-day his determination 20 OBJ
tain tariff revision downward and his convfc-
tion that to fulfil the pledges Of the Republican
platform the pending measure must provide for
free iron ore, free coal. free hides free Pc
troleum and Cne-EaIf the DingIey rate on Iunl-
ber- He announced publicly his belief thar his
position as the titular head OF the Republican
party and as President, with the whole people
as his constituency, gave him a somewhat
broader point OF view than that Of a single
member Of Congress in respect to articles pro-
duCed I'm his district" He said he felt strongly
the call OF the country for a downward revision
within the limitations of the protective princi-
pie, and he hoped 10 be able TO respond 10 that
call as he heard it, as well in the interests OF
party Of the country
The situation which gave the President an
opportunity 20 declare his views officially re-
suited from the call of twenty-five members OF
the House, headed by Representative Young Of
Michigan. who came 20 protest against the in
fuence which the President is exerting on the
conferrees TO have the materials named
transferred TO the free list and the rate on Iurn-
Der fixed BY the House retained
THE PRESIDENTS STATEMENT.
The President made known his views TO his
callers in no uncertain terms speaking with an
earnestness and directness even greater than
are conveyed by the official version OF the in
HOTSd-
The statement follows.
Mr. Young of MICHIGAN oDnosed f-.a o-.. "
MondeH opposed free coal or recfDrOcfty u-Irh
canada and free hides; each on the ground tbsS
% or. pohGy would injure the interests in his state
L. II d uIscuSSioh was participated in by other
Representatives, who urged that the doctrine OF
Iree raw materials was not a Republican doc
The President replied that he was not COM
nltted 10 the principle Of free raw materials bus
that he was committed TO the principle OF down
he arif u-HfC h hal
lsed. and that he obliged to look az the mat
yer not from the point Of view Of any particular
district but from the point Of view Of the whoIs
country and also from the point Of view Of re-
sponstbility for the entire Republican party Hs
SAID the question in each case was question OF
Iact 70 be determined by evidence. as TO whether
the present duty was needed for protection or
whether The rate was excessive. so that down
ward revision or putting the article on the fres
list would not inture the industry.
REPEATS PARTY PLEDGE.
He repeated the platform Of the Republican
party. and said that he had always understood
that It meant downward revision in many in
stances, though perhaps IN some few instances
an increase might be needed that he reached
this construction Of the platform on what hs
its justification, namely, that after industry
was protected by duty equal to the difference
between the cost of production abroad and the
cost Of production in this country. including a
fair profit to the manufacture the energy and
enterprise of American business men and Capi-
talists. the effectiveness Of American labor ard
the ingenuity OF American inventors. under the
impulse of competition behind the tariff wall.
would reduce the cost Of production and that
with the reduction Of the cost Of production the
tariff rate would become unnecessarily high and
ought to be reduced
This was the normal operation OF the tariff as
claimed by the defenders Of the protective sys-
ten-nOt in every case but : a general rule
be perfect must have defects and inconsistent
CieS, but in so far his influence went when
called upon 10 act in connection with legislation
II would be thrown in the direction OF perform
ing he o. As understood
them: and that if iron ore and coal and hides
did NOT ned r,rotection and the conditions were
such to enable the producers and the OIL
producers and the coal producers and the pro-
duCers of hides 20 compete successfully, without
reduction of wages with the producers from
abroad. then they did not need duty and their
articles should go on the free list
1t was a question of fact which he hoped 70
make up his mind with respect to- on such eVl-
Ience as was available 20 him. in order to carry
out what he understood 70 be the promises OF
the party To the whole people He said he felt
that his position as the titular head Of the Re-
publican party and as President. with the whole
nennIa a- his constituency gave him a some
what broader point Of view than that OF a single
ia9 a., - III distric+ Ne fsIr strongly the call
Of the country for downward revision within
The limitations of the protective principle, and
he hoped 70 be- able ~ respond 70 that call as ne
heard it. well in the interests OF the party a.
of the country
Twelve states were represented by the pro-
testants. who came prepared To cllide the Presi-
dent for what they considered his un-Repub-
Ucau course. but left the White House without
fuIfIIing their mission, and almost without ex-
pressing their protests Some members Of the
delegation were breathing anathemas-bUt not
aUdfblv-and others were amused at the facility
with which the President handled the situation,
OF course. the Presidents callers did not ap-
preciate at the time that they had merely given
him an opportunity enlist the support Of the
country in opposition to their contentious
PROTESTS MADE BY CONGRESsMEN.
Michigan was represented by Mr. Young one
OF the older members Of the House. who made
the arrangements for the conference. He came
TO protest especially against free iron ore
PENNSYLVANIA was represented by Messrs. Barch-
field. Tener and Bates. Free iron ore, free coal
and free petroleum are repugnant To the Penn
syIvaniaus. West Virginia was represented by
Messrs. Gaines. SturEiss Hubbard and Wood
yard. who. like all politicians from their state.
dread even the thought Of free coal. free PetrO-
!eum and free lumber. New York had a single
representative in the person of Mr. Southwick.
and New Jersey was represented by Mr.. Kin
kaid. Ex-SPeakcr Keifer and Representatives
Johnson and Kennedy spoke for Ohio. and Rep
resentatives CowIes, Grant and Thomas advO-
Gated a duty on coal and a high rate on lumber
in behalf Of North Carolina. Mr.. Slemp spoke
for Virginia Mr.. HAYES for California and Mr..
Austin for Tennessee They protested against
free coal. iron ore and lumber Mr. Mondeu
came prepared 20 make dsnt goa JH~. -lst4,-C
possible duty on coal and hides. Kentucky was
represented by Messrs. Edwards and Langley.
Mr.. Langley made the plea that Republicans
from the Southern states could not expect 70 be
reelected if they q uot obtain the rates of
duty demanded by their constituents. and both
Keutuckians begged for the continuance OF the