Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-08-04
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4, 1909.
The New Tarin Law.

When the making OF the tariff law
of 1909 shall have become matter of
history, it will be found that :ever
before has such task presented it
self to a political party for adjust
ment, and it will be shown that only
a party having in view the best inter-
ests of the whole country, without
regard to section or class, could have
finally agreed upon any bill whatever.
1t is most thorough vindication of
republicanism as embodied in the ex-
ample of President Taft, and of our
senators and representatives in Con-
gress.
It has shown us, as We could not
have known it in any other way, the
personal character of Mr.. Taft and
his methods Of carrying out what he
believed to be wise and honest results.
No big stick was flourished; no threats
were used; there was no coercion
simply calm and deliberate persua-
sion.
At all times in our history the MEM
bers of all political parties have been
more or less divided over the sched-
ules and rates of tariff law. We
are geographically 90 vast country,
and our interests are 80 widely diver
sified, that it would seem almost i'm
possible to harmonic and agree on
rates applicable to all sections and all
interests, and never was this so appar-
emit as at the present.
Naturally as production and con-
sumption increase and methods be-
come more varied; as machinery be-
comes more effective, and as both
capital and labor increase in such
enormous volumes as has been the
case during the last decade, the vari-
Gus needs and wants of different Sec
lions must be very far apart. 1t is
almost to be wondered at that any
tariff bill could be agreed upon by
these various interests, and by men
having such divergent views, and it
is to the honor and glory of the re-
publican party as whole that it could
give the country law agreed upon
by it's majority and signed by it's
President.
1t remains, Of course, to he seen
whether the operation of the law will
be successful; whether we shall pros
per as we have under preceding tar
ifs. 1t remains to be seen whether
sufficient revenue will come, both
from the duties on imports, and the
internal revenue. 1t remains to be
seen whether importations will in
crease to such an extent as to dis
place domestic productions, and it re-
mains to be seen whether we become
a country giving full employment to
wage earners at the highest wages
on the face OF the earth, or whether
wages must be reduced and the pur-
chasing power of the people curtailed.
One thing, however, should result
from the operation of the new law,
and that is if not lower prices, GER
tainly no increase. There is not an
item in the bill which will warrant an
increase in price by the manufacturer
or merchant, and if this is attempted
it will be an imposition which should
be resented by the people, and not
charged to the operation of the law.
This has been Mr.. Taft's design, and
this has been the thought in the minds
of those who have agreed with him
in the reductions carried by the bill,
and should this result obtain without
reduction of wages, or without de-
crease in the volume of employment,
then surely the work of the extra ses-
sion of 1909 will be of inestimable
value to the country and rebound to
the credit of the party which prom
ised it and carried out its pledges.
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