New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-20
mr.. BRYAN AND THE TARIFF.

The capacity of William ]. Bryan to dis
rupt his party appears to suffer no diminut1on
time goes on and the years add 10 his ex-
perence if not to his wisdom. just now Mr..
Bryan is engaged In a campaign Of education.
His purpose is TO redeem those Democrats who
10y their votes on the Payne tariff bill displayed
such dislOyalty 20 the national platform written
at Lincoln and adopted at Denver. and TO COM
nit in advance every Democratic nominee for
Congress to the policy of free raw materials
The prospect of Mr. Bryan's success is perhaps
best described in the words Of that stanch
Democratic journal of Texas. .The Houston
Post which says:
Mr. Bryan has commenced a campaign for
free materials a Democratic policy, and
if he conducts II with his accustomed energy
he is likely to succeed in bringing about a con-
dition in the Democratic party that may pos
sibly render II unnecessary to make nOmina-
tions in 1912.
Now Senator Bailey, who openly declared in
the tariff debate that the pledge in the party
platform Of free lumber and other commodities
had no binding weight with him, has made a
sharp reply 20 the Peerless Leader. one which
seems more than likely only TO spur the Nebras
kan on To further and more vigorous effort
That Mr. Bryan's course will ''precipitate
faction in the party instead of composing
such differences as exist is the further pre-
warranted II is just possible that Mr.. Bryan
may not be averse to such an outcome. As a
leader of factions he is a pronounced success
whereas as leader of the entire party he has
invariably proven failure.
1t is however. possibly not wholly Just 10
Mr.. Bryan to lay at his door the diSsension
which exists in his party regarding the tariff
The Republican party is doubtless largely re-
sponsible for the difficulties which confront it's
friends the enemy whenever they undertake To
deal with the tariff. The Republican party
has under the leadership of Mr.. Taft, taken its
stand for reasonable tariff revision which, in
truth. is probably as far the large majority
of Democrats have for many years been will
ing 10 go. Mr.. Cleveland, who was not pecul
iarly susceptible TO the changes in his party. so
far appreciated this fact that he ultimately
modified his demand for tariff for revenue
only by adding with incidental protection"
The great prosperity which the country has
enjoyed under the protective system including
the amazing industrial development OF the
South, has robbed the Democracy Of most OF
it's hard and fast advocates of a tariff for
revenue only. great number of Democrats
are far better satisfied with the Republican
policy OF a tariff reduced TO the actual needs
Of protection than with any extreme opposite
Of that policy which the Democratic leaders
can devise. Messrs. Bryan and Bailey and
Daniel and others who aspire TO be Demo
cratic leaders are left to construct party
issue ont OF policy which the great majority
OF their followers have either openly or secretly
rppudiated. II is not unnatural therefore that
their efforts should lead 10 factionalism rather
than TO the harmonizing of existing differ
ences