The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-09-23

1ican national platforms. the trainers
OF that document, or, at least, some
OF them (probably not ally were sur
prised to md presented for incorpor-
alton, and with Mr.. Taft's approval,
q still further pledge of protection
beyond any which had ever been
made before. It provided that the
wall OF defence against foreign COM
petition should be raised still higher
by guaranteeing to American capital
80 reasonable proft''. This new fea-
ture Of Republican protection doct-
rine naturally excited surprise. What
is a reasonable profit? How is this
new pledge Of protection to be con-
struedl
It was apparent to the trainers of
the platform, at least to some Of
them, that this elastic, ambiguous
phrase was calculated to make
trouble. 1t was referred back to
Washington, from whence came the
answer, distinct and unequivocal, that
that was Mr.. Taft's conception of
what the platform should contain and
that he insisted upon it's incorpora-
ton in the tariff plank. 1t vas thus
at his dictation that it was placed
there.
That the Incorporation of this pc
culiar phrase was m1schievous and
dangerous, as had been anticipated
by members of the resolutions COM
mittee, become apparent soon after
the campaign opened. 1t was taken
advantage of by the opposition, as
was expected, and that phrase more
than anything else compelled the
abandonment of the golf links and
1.-THE mounting of the platform by the
Republican candidate to assure the
public that the platform and its can
didate stood for downward revision.
1t is difficult to understand how
Nj. Taft, If he had been a genuine
downward revisionist, could have
been responsible for the incorpora-
tion of this troublesome new feature
iof the protection document. A s.rea-
sonable profit" guaranteed under the
protective system ought to be enough
and unless It Is removed from the
declarations of the party on that
subject. probably will be enough TO
destroy the system. How are reason
liable profits, to be measured? Who
shall be the Judge and how are they
Ito be estimated? Why is not the
lguarantee of a reasonable profit an
Insurance against bad business meth
lods? How much better is this guar
antee. for example. than the guaran-
tee Of bank deposits by the state,
lagainst which Mr.. Taft argued so well
and effectively? IN fine, how are we
ito escape the conclusion that Mr..
TAFT Is not only now, but. always has
been, morein sympathy with the high
tarif men. with the favored interests,
than with the rising sentiment of the
country to the effect that protected
Industry largely fused inc trusts and
monopoly, has abused beyond suffer
ance the advantages accorded on the
original theory that protection was
for the common beneat.
3NMs
II. Mt. Taft seeks to promote party
soliditary he is making q botch of
the Job by trying to defend the Al
drich tarin before the people Of the
west as q good measure and as all
they had q right to expect. It is a
Libel on their intelligence to tell them
that the bill is a compliance in a sat
isfactory degree with what they had
been led to expect as the result Of q
Hong wait for tariff reduction and re-
lief from trust ~extortion favored by
1.-The tarif. We have e the temper
iof Minnesota Republicans tried ct
this point before. An able and exper-
lienced member Of congress from the
Second district Of this state got out
of line with his people on the taritf
and undertook to tell them, much
las Mr.. Taft has done, that they ought
Ito let him form their opinions for
them ON this subject, and that mem
Der Is out OF Office and has been for
four years.
N4 fa9f Ac 42a5s
The new progressive republicans,
the old progressive republicans and
the republican primary league are
scheduled to assemble in this city
during the week Of the corn palace to