Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-17
II Raw Materials Don't Need High
Rate, They Won't Get 1t.
HE BELIEVES IN PROTECTION
Tariff Should Be Revised Within
Limit of Protection Lines.
FEAR FOR POLITICAL SCALPS
ConEressmen Tell Him that They
VIII he Defeated ~ Articles
Produced i'm Their Districts
Go on Free List.

WASHINGTON July 16-An doubt as TO
where President Taft stands with regard
to the downward revision OF the tariff was
swept away today, when a statement was
given out at the White House setting forth
in detail what the president had to say to
twenty-three republican members of con
gress who called to protest against putting
raw materials on the free list.
The president in this statement declared
that the republican party is committed to
a downward revision; that he has never
had any other idea Of the Chicago plat
form, and that he personally has promised
downward revision to the people.
This statement is interpreted in some
quarters here tonight as direct notfica-
tion to the conferees on the tariff bill that
If the measure they finally agree upon
does not constitute a material reduction in
specific duties, the president will exercise
his power Of veto.
Dictated in the third person the statement
concludes with this final word OF the presl-
dents attitude outlined to his callers:
He felt strongly the call of the country
for a downward revision within the limits
of the protective principle and he hoped
to be able to respond to that call he
heard 1t as well in the interests of the
party as of the country"
Statement of Mr. Taft.
The statement begins with a recital OF
what happened at the conference, and is
as folows
| Mr.. Young Of Michigan opposed free
ore; Mr.. Mondell of Wyoming opposed free
coal or reciprocity with Canada and free
hides: each on the ground that the policy
would injure the interests in his state and
a discussion was participated in by other
| 800, hat Nha
trine Of free raw materials was not a
republican doctrine.
"The president replied that he was not
committed to the principle of free raw
material but that he was committed to
the principle OF a downward revision OF
the tariff, which he had promised, and
that he was obliged to look at the matter,
not from the standpoint of any particular
district but from the standpoint OF the
whole country, and also from the stand
point of responsibility for the entire re-
publican party.
HE said the question in each case was
question of fact to be determined by
evidence as to whether the present duty
was needed for protection, whether the
rate was excessive. that downward
revision or putting the article on the free
list would not injure the industry.
Quotes Party Platform.
HE repeated the platform of the re-
publican party and said that he had under
stood II meant a downward revision in
many instances though perhaps in somo
few cases an increase might be needed;
that he reached this conclusion of the plat
form on what he understood to be the
principle of protection and its justification.
namely, that after an industry was pro-
tected by a duty equal to the difference
between the cost and production abroad
and the cost of production in this country,
including a fair profit to the manufacturer,
the effectiveness Of American labor and
the ingenuity Of American inventors, under
the impulse Of competition behind the
tariff wall would reduce the cost of pro-
duction and that, with the reduction and
the cost of production, the tariff rate
would become unnecessarily high and ought
to be reduced.
Taft Demands Reduction.
This was the normal operation OF the
) tariff as claimed by the defenders of the
protective system-not in every case, but as
a general rule-that, of course a revision
OF the tariff could not be perfect, and must
have defects and Inconsistencies. but In
upon to act in connection with legislation.
it would be thrown in the direction OF per-
forming the promises of the party as no
! understood them; and that II iron ore and
oil and coal and hides did not need pro-
tectlon and the conditions were such as to
enable the ore producers and the oil pro-
ducers and the coal producers and the pro-
ducers of hides to compete successfully,
without reduction OF wages, with the pro-
ducers from abroad then they did not
need duty and their articles should go on
the free list. II was a question OF fact
which he hoped to make up his mind with
respect to, on such evidence as was avail
able to him, in order 10 carry out what he
p understood to be the promises Of the party
TO the whole people.
'He said he felt that his position as the
head of the republican party and as presi-
dent. gave him a somewhat broader point
OF view than that OF a single member OF
congress in respect to articles produced in
his district lie felt strongly the call OF
the country for a downward revision within
a the limitations Of the protective principle
: and he hoped to be able to respond 70 that
call as ne heard IT, as well in the interests
: of the party as Of the country"
= Free List Menace 10 Jobs.
The White House was stormed by a dele
4 cation Of twenty-three republican congress-
. men who spent an hour and half with the
!, president telling him that their political
- lives depended upon the protection OF raw
e material. It has become pretty generally
known about the capitol that the president
favors the free entry Of hides. oil and
r coal and material reductions on lumber,
r etc Many OF the congressman who COM
I posed the delegation represent southern
]
e had been elected on the theary that they
p would protect raw materials I'm which their
c people were interested ana that II the
70 party failed TO do this their districts
70 would return 70 the democratic column.
J. MI Taft listened patiently 70 eli that wAs