New-York tribune., 1909-06-12
yO CAUSE FOR DISTRESS.

The Pittsburg Post complains that The
Tribune is exhibiting undue satisfaction at the
elimination Of the tariff sectional issue 1t
SAYS that we have been too enthusiastic in vel
coming the many current evidences that the
South is beginning TO deal with economic ques-
tions like the tariff their own merits. instead
of merely asking what Democratic platforms
have said i'll the past and blindly accepting
those platforms as the embodiment Of ultimate
wisdom Because we have held that the South
desire 10 promote its material interests by inn
posing protective duties on imports competing
with its own products a sign of healthy
political progress The Pittsburg Post charges
us with insincerity, and intimateS that we are
rejoicing over "the wreck of Democracy IN the
South merely because we feel that advantage
will accrue therefrom TO the Republican party.
Says our Pittsburg contemporary. most unad-
visedly:
II makes all the difference in the world which
one of the Republican Cumminses or Dollivers
or Beveridges gets off the reservation and speaks
ND against the iniquities of excessive protecton
That makes the Republican organs Wrllle.
So far as The Tribune and the great majority
Of other Republican newspapers of recognized
standing are concerned, there could be no more
erroneous assumption than that of The Post.
We have never "writhed' at the speeches or
votes of the so-called progressive Republican
Senators. We have thought that they were try
ING 10 apply the rule laid down by the last Re
nublican national platform. that the protection
given to the domestic producer should cover the
differential in cost Of production here and
abroad and allow besides a reasonable margin
of profit They are not satisfied that the rates
carried in the Finance Committees bill do not
err on the side Of excessive protection and 90
NOT thereby to some extent defeat the real pur-
nose of q protective tariff They recognize the
fact that with the constant development Of
American industry the need Of protection must
gradual Ily slacken and the differentia in cost Of
production here and abroad must gradually
shrink Such a shrinkage has occurred in the
iron and steel industry. and il viii occur later
in many other industries.
We consider it highly desirable that there
should be full discussion of the rates in the
Aldrich bill and an accounting for the advances
made over the rates in the House bill The
House of Representatives. ii must be remem-
bered is also Republican. and IT'S members are
in closer touch with popular judgment and less
affected by local interests than are the members
of the Senate. as a body. We have also Re
pubIicap administration which thinks that the
House bill as a whole is better fulflment OF
party promises and a sounder measure generally
than the Senate bill. The data on which 10 base
scientific tariff rates are incomplete, and there
is room for honest differences of opinion. The
Tribune is not "writhing' over the differences
among Republicans which have come TO light In
the Senate debates We believe the con
trarv. that they will have helpful influence in
facilitating the passage of a tariff law not only
in accord with sound protectiOniSt policy. but
also in conformity with the expectations Of a
great ma jority of the Republican voters.