The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-20
TO REPUBLICANISM
MAY CONVERT SOUTH
Southern Democrats Are Will
ing to Accept Taft's Atti-
tude as One Without Selfish
Motive.
BY Sheldon S. Cline.

members of congress are discussing
with great deal of interest the atti-
| tude which it is expected Mr.. Taft
| will assume toward the appointment of
| federal officials in Southern states.
They agree that the new president
could not make better start than by
abolishing the referee system, and it
| seems to be the general opinion that
| this will be done as rapidly as condi-
tions can be reorganized.
Mr.. Hitchcock, as postmaster gen.
eral and political adviser of the new
| administration will keep in close
| touch with southern sentiment and
southern political conditions.
Mr.. Taft has made no secret
of his determination to make the re-
more than a party of Office holders,
and in this, declare southern congress
men. he will have the sympathy of the
southern people without regard to po-
litical affiliation.
He Will Convert.
That Mr.. Taft will be able to convert
| any considerable part of the south to
republicanism during the next four
years is not believed by the represent
atives in Washington of the cotton
states, but it is admitted there are q
number of congressional districts now
represented by democrats which it
might be possible to swing over.
Southerners. almost without exception
acquit Mr.. Taft of any selfish end in
| ~
1t is impossible to see where he could
have personal gain, and 1t is plain that
he might easily suffer political loss
Granted that Mr.. Taft is ambitious
this early for reelection in 1912, he
certainly does not expect to get any
| necessary electoral votes from the
southern states. II he can not hold a
sufficient number Of electoral votes
from the states he carried last year he
would have small chance of making up
the deficit from south of the Mason
Dixon line. But by attempting to over
throw the present repub lican organiza-
ton in the southern states he might
very easily lose a considerable num-
Der of delegate votes il the next ma
tional convention.
SouAherners Satisfied.
Having reasoned the thing out on
this line, southerners in Washington
are willing to accept the pronounced
Taft policy toward the south as a dis
interested one. Naturally there are
differences Of opinion as to how far
Mr.. Taft will succeed in his purpose.
From behind the closed doors Of the
house ways and means committee,
where the forthcoming tariff bill is I'M
der consideration. comes a runaor that
the necessity of imposing stamp tax
is being discussed. That prospective
treasury deficit Of nearly hundred
and fifty millions is giving the tariff
makers more concern just now than
any mere question Of schedules. From
the way things are shaping themselves
the necessity Of increasing the reven-
uss i going to play large part when
tariff Liquidation is taken up at the ex-
ira session than either the matter of
protecting American industries or low
erfag prices to the consumer. This
is likely to be more of a revenue
raising tariff than was ever before
enacted by the republican party in
time q peace.
i Bond Issue Warning.
/ Already the warning has been sound
ed that the issuing of bonds will be
necessary unless there is an early i'm
provement' in the revenue situation.
There doesn't seem to be any very
great popular demand in the country
for the cutting down of federal expend-
itares. AS one house sage put it the
other day: The country seems to de-
mand larger expenditures and lower
taxes, and Solomon never had enough
wisdom to make these two things trav-
Ell together"
Republican leaders in congress
would be glad if there was some way
to tell whether stamp tax or a tax on
tea and coffee would be more unpopu-
lar. The alternative seems to be in
come and inheritance taxes, with
doubtful constitutionality.
Taxes of three cents pound on cot
fee and ten cents pound on tea are
L figured to produce about S31 100000 4
/ year in additional revenue. The last
time there was stamp tax was dur