The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-03-20
REVISION TO COME
TARIFF CHANGES SURE, BUT WILL
NOT AFFECT BUSINESS.
Legislation Is to Be Shaped by Men
Who Appreciate Value of Policy
of Protection in Judi
cious Form.

President Taft is beginning his ex-
perience with misquotation, and he
may expect good deal of it. Every
thing he says now is of interest, and
some OF it is certain to find it's way
around in a twisted form.
The other day at Indianapolis Mr.
Van Cieave speaking to the tariff con-
vention then in session, advocated the
appointment of a tariff commission
with large powers to investigate tariff
duties and make such changes from
time to time as it thought best for
the country. His proposition was
that congress could not be relied upon
TO deal with the subject intelligently;
that it lacked both information and
practical ability And he emphasized
his remarks by declaring that the pres
ident was in sympathy with the views
he was presenting.
Without intending it, probably, Mr.
Van Cleave conveyed a wrong impress
sion. President Taft was not in SYM
pathy with the speakers attack on
congress, or with the proposition that
the tariff be handed over to a COM
mission of so-called experts for re-
vision. He had gone no further than
to express the opinion that congress
should have the fullest light on the
subject, and that liberal provision
should be made for assisting congress
in the collection of statistics He well
understood that congress had no DOW
er to surrender it's control over the
tariff, and would not do so if it could.
Now report is abroad that Presi-
dent Taft attributes whatever business
depression there may be to the Ding
ley schedules and to the agitation for
their revision. He is made thus a
free trader and a standpatter rolled
into one. Down with the Dingley law,
and yet what frightful penalty we
are paying in preparing to get rid
of it.
Republican criticism of the Dingley
law relates only to it's extraordinary
success. 1t more than fulfilled the
calculations and expectations of it's
friends, and soon produced a situation
calling for revision. This was true,
as Mr.. Mckinley pointed out at Buff
falo, eight years ago. And every year
since has increased the necessity
of revision.
AS for the effect on business of the
agitation for revision, the matter has
been greatly exaggerated. Business
has not felt the shiver this time that
| it did for a year preceding the tariff
revision of 1894. Then the coming
| legislation was to be shaped by men
who professed hatred of protection
| and a purpose to put an end to it.
| The Democratic stumpers in the cam
| paign of 1892 had danced linguistic jigs
| all over protection. To-day revision is
| in the hands of the champions of pro-
| lection. That policy is to be kept in
mind in whatever is done. Wherever
! protection is necessary and working
good in the public welfare, it is to be
retained; but wherever unnecessary
| as the result of long enjoyment and
| the growth of business, it is to be mod
| flied or ended, as the public welfare
demands.
| 1t is too late for anybody to play
| tricks with this question. President
Taft's position is well known, and the
| duty of congress was so emphatlcally
laid down at the polls last November
that disregard of the instructions
| then issued would cost the Republic
ans the next house of representatives