New-York tribune., 1909-07-18
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION

President Taft's statement OF his position
with reference to free raw materials and down
/ ward tariff revision will, we think. be enthu-
siastically approved by the Republican party ana
by the country. 1t is sane, logical and broad-
minded embodying conclusions reached by the
great body of the people, who want TO see the
tariff revised for the benefit of the nation as
whole, not for the promotion Of the selfish IN
terests Of certain sections or certain classes OF
producers.
The Representatives who called on the Presi-
dent to protest to him against what they con-
gidered sacrifice OF local advantage to the gen.
eral welfare took the narrow view which has so
often controlled in the making Of tariffs II
member OF Congress can get for his state or his
district what some Of his influential constituents
demand in the way of protection he is disposed
TO consider his obligations as statesman dis
charged. Securing what he wants. he is willing
to give his associates what they want, and
tariff Law is framed which represents not the
just and intelligent application Of a theory Of
taxation but distribution Of privileges in
which no influential local interest is neglected.
Protection Is awarded not because il is needed.
or IN the degree in which L is needed but as
placating assurance to all claimants that no
one is TO be deprived Of what he regards as
his legitimate allotment OF governmental favor.
That Is 8 method IN following which all sense
of proportion and equity IS quickly lost. Duties
gre laid not for economical but for political
and personal reasons. Schedules are balanced
against one another so as TO allay antagonisms
and gain votes. The Representative or Senator
working for local ends comes in time to think
that there IS no broader aspect than the
quid pro quo one TO tariff legislation. Other
wise il is not easy TO account for the ingenu-
BUSINESS Of the delegation which visited the
White House on Friday. and by insisting on the
importance OF the localized point OF view drew
from Mr.. Taft the crushing reminder that his
position as President and as the titular head Of
the Republican party, with the whole country
for his constituency, gave him q somewhat
broader outlook than that Of single member
Of Congress- concerned primarily with articles
produced in his own district
The President rightfully ignores conflicting
local demands He Is anxious to see tariff
law passed helpful N Its effects on the nation
as a whole, moderatng and equalizing the bur
dens OF tariff taxation and opening the way for
the Introduction Of sounder methods in tariff
legislation. He is unwilling TO surrender the
larger good in order to appease sectional and
personal demands which run counter to q ra-
tional tariff policy. He rightly considers that
q substantial fulhlment OF the Republican
party's promise TO give q downward revision
and 10 strengthen the protective principle by
making it do the work which 1t was intended
10 do is Of more importance than scattering
protection broadcast without stopping TO demon
strate that it viii be beneficial or is really
needed The President IS entirely right IN hold
ing that the Republican party is not committed
either to the principle OF taxing all raw ma
terials or to the principle Of admitting all raw
materials free. 1t is not question of principle
but one Of fact which must be met In deciding
whether raw materials should he free or taxed
The Tribune said on May IS. discussing the vote
in the Senate restoring the duty on iron ore:
The Republican party is not committed un-
conditionaly 70 the policy of free raw materials
tirely a matter OF expediency If they can be
admitted without harm to domestic industry
and are needed to supply the wants Of domestic
manufacturers. sound protection policy justif1es
their admission.
The House bin admitted hides. iron ore coal
and other raw materials free. That action was
based on the conclusion that American industry
would. on the whole be benefited and not in
jured by such free entry. President Taft agrees
with the House and with The Tribune that
benefit, not harm, will come from removing the
duty on iron ore, coal and hides. Such action
is in line with sound Republican policy, which
must lock to modification of the system Of
protection as industry develops here and Amer
lean manufacture equips itself more and more
not only TO supply consumption at home but to
enter the worlds markets. AS protection does
its work protective rates must fall and the true
friends Of the protective system must be pre-
pared TO adapt its conditions as they change.
and not maintain blindly. as the trainers Of the
Senate bill have done. that in spite Of the enor-
nous Industrial advances made since the Ding
ley law was passed, in 1897 domestic producers
still need practically all the high protection
given them in the Din~ley schedules
President Taft's tariff programme is one Of
progress and enlightenment He wants m keen
faith with the voters who accepted the Repub-
can party's promise of substantial downward
revision He wants to see tariffs framed with
Intelligence and with regard primarily to ma
tional interests. He wants to respond to 1.-THE
undoubted call Of the country" In his leader
ship he IS candid, courageous and farsighted,
and those who seek to withstand his demand
for lowered tariff rates will find that he has the
voters almost solidly behind him