The Washington herald., 1909-05-22
Party Differences On the Tariff.

Senator's Bailey and Hale endeavored
the other day 10 minimize the differences
Of opinion within their respective parties
concerning the fundamental principles
upon which tariff duties should be levied
The Senator from Maine was somewhat
more convincing in this undertaking. We
think. than the Senator from Texas. Ad-
hitting that there were disagreements
on the Republican side over rates Of duty,
Mr. Hale predicted. with good deal OF
confidence. that the forthcoming tariff bin
would be a strongly protective measure,
and that il would have the practically
unanimous support Of Republican Sena-
tors. In other words. there is probably
not a single Republican Senator who is
Tot 2 thoroughgoing prOtectionist. who
does not believe in giving 20 every Amer
lean industry the aid Of the tariff in com
peting with foreign production On the
fundamental principle OF protection. there
are no differences Of opinion whatever
among Republican Senator's Whenever
they face the enemies OF the protective
principle. they do so with united front
Is there an equivalent situation on the
Democratic side? Is there any principle
according 10 which the Democrats are
consistently supporting OF opposing the
various paragraphs Of the pending biH2
8Ir- Bailey thinks there IS He has laid
down a principle OF action TO which, we
believe. he has steadily adhered It IS
that IN order TO meet the revenue neces-
sites Of the government a duty should be
laid on every article Of import that viii
yield 4 revenue. excepting only such arti-
eles as are absolute necessities Of life
This is q broad general principle. wide
enough 20 take IN either a protective or
a revenue duty, or both Mr.. Bailey ex-
cludes from If. however. the old Demo
cratic doctrine Of free raw materials,
which he rejects as spurious. L may be
that Democrats can get together under
this omnibus principle Of tariff revision.
but only on condition that they may read
into IL the protective idea whenever #
suits their purpose It is inclusive enough
for that, certainly; and doubtless II was
Mr.. Bailey's intention TO make it alien
braeing- But in doing so he merely at
tempts 10 conceal. not 70 compose. the
tariff differences in his own party.
The dogma Of protection no longer
acutely diTerentiates The parties; but
while the Republicans are united upon it.
the Democrats are rent asunder. Mr..
Bailey seeks 70 minimize the division BY
reducing the whole. tariff question 10 one
OF mere percentages, leaving no vital ele-
ment or discussion In fact, he seriously
argues that TO Democrat can be accused
Of violating Democratic doctrine as long
as he votes for rate OF duty not IN ex-
cess Of % OF . per cent But within the
. per cent limit may be admitted the
whole case for protection. Not by such
distinctions without essential differences
can the Democratic party win victories
on the tariff issue. The vital element in
the tariff question is that OF special privi-
lege, Of government aid 10 particular
classes Of the community. If the Demo
Gratis surrender this vital element. as they
are doing every day by their pleas for
protection on this. that, and the other
manufactured product, they give up their
reason for being as an opposition party,
SO far as the tariff IS concerned. The Re
publican quarrel, let il be noted. Is over
mere rates OF duty; the Democratic diff
Guilty IS that the party is split on The
bottom principle Of levying duties.