Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-08-19
THE IMPORTANT PART OF IT
The Elk Point COURIER says

Since his return home, Senator Craw.
ford, in an interview at Huron, said
that Senator Daniels OF Virginia, the
democr attic leader, made strong plea
ia the senate for q heavy duty on tan
ming bark, because Virginia and the
Carolinas make this product in large
quantities. This is in direct opposition
to the democratic platform and the
democratic policy. The COURIER has
always contended that the tariff ques-
tion, as handled practically, is neither
a political nor a moral question. The
fact was never more clearly illustrated
than in the making of the present
tariff law. Pres. Taft's entering
wedge to wards permanent tariff COM
mission is more significant and more
important than even the passing OF
new tariff law.
1--WE cannot agree with the COURIER
that the tariff question Is not moral in
its nature. If there was nothing i'm
moral in the practice of the French
barons in laying tribute Apon the
peasants, by arbitrary decree transfer
ring monies from the private purse to
the aristocratic treasury; then there
is nothing immoral In the practice OF
bar tering political support for license
to the manufacturer to collect from
those who must buy from him more
! than could have been obtained ii such
barter had not been made. II legaliz-
ed stealing is perfectly moral, then all
n Of tho tariff eohndvrlos Ia iuot
precisely because great moral ques-
! tion is involved that all those who are
receiving unreasonable pr ,tection
have objected so vigorously to any
kind of tariff commission. And, for
the same reason, it is true that the nu-
cleus OF tariff commission provided
for in the Payne bill is of MOI 9 import
ance than all the rest Of the measure.
Since the COURIER has reached this
conclusion 1t should consider it import
ant to tell its readers what attitudes
were taken toward the tariff commits
sion by South Dakota's four represent
atives at Washington.-Sioux Falls
Press. Sunday. August Is.
The above is one Of our editorial notes
of last week and the comment of the
Sioux Falls Press on the same. We
have reproduced both in full in order
to show how completely the Press mis-.
ses the point OF our contention. Wha,
we said and what we illustrated above
was, that the tariff question, .'as hand
led practically" is neither q pOlitica
nor moral question. We agree wit.
the Press that ideally the tariff ques
tion should be treated as q moral ques
tion and to some extent as a polirica
question. But practically, when Con
gress gets down to business on the
subject, tits always treated according
to local demands and interests. EveI
our South Dakota represen tatives ii
both houses, while in the main inter
ested In downward revision, when /
came to tin, mica, hides, barley or an,
other product In which they were In
terested locally, did not seem to hav
their feelings hurt very badly by
good high tariff.
We are happy 20 comply with th
hint the Press gives US above and in
form our readers that the South Dxko
ia senators and representatives wer
right on tho tariff commission amend
ment. Indeed We are pleased 70 ascel
tain, that, when one takes the Dains /
notice just what the COURIER did %,
the Presa is In substantial agreemeu