The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-06-12
TARIFF TINkERlNG AND THE
PRESIDENCY IN 49,

TARIFF TlNkERlNG AND THE
PRESIDENCY IN 1912
ITO be or not to be" his own suu-
cessor in the presidential chair-that
is the question which William H. Taft
is seriously considering in connection
with the Payne Aldrich tariff bill.
Whether to attach his official sigma
ture to a tariff bill which is less sat
isfactory to the great majority of the
American people than is the Dingley
bill. or to exercise the power he pos
sesses to veto the measure and in
form congress that it must revise the
schedules in accordance with the
pledge of the Republican National plat
fornl-that is matter of vital con-
Germ to the man of adipose tissue
from Ohio who was elected chief ex-
ecutive of this great nation to carry
out the policies of President Roose-
welt and protect ss,ooo,ooo Of people
from being the victims of small
oligarchy who have accumulated their
millions by a system of legalized rob-
berry euphemistically called "the pro-
tective tariff"
An extra session of congress was
called by President Taft, and in the
briefest message on record he told
that body what it was called for. but
a few eastern members thereof con-
troll both chambers and defy the will
of the people by raising the tariff in
stead Of reducing it. Such a brazen
thing has never been done in the
United States congress before, and it
is doubtful if any legislative body in
the world would have the audacity TO
do such thing. The American peo-
pie are patient and long, suffering, but
when they are aroused to righteous in
dignation mo pent-up Utica" can re-
strain them from taking vengeance
upon pledge breakers and hurting them
from power. For years and years the
people have been promised relief from
tariff burdens by the Republican party,
and at last special session of congress
is being held to carry out the pledge
made "unequivocally" last summer, but
the way relief is afforded is by add
ing to the load they already carry!
William H. Taft is in position to
compel congress to carry out the
pledge for tariff revision downward
and not upward. Will he exercise his
prerogative? The Payne-Aldrich CO.
horts cannot pass a higher tariff bill
over his veto. There is enough of
regular Democrats and insurgent Re.
publicans in congress to balk them in
their rapacity. It all depends on Taft,
rest the responsibility. If he fails to
manifest sufficient courage in this
test case, the people will repudiate
him II he again appears as candi-
date for the presidency. Once is
enough.
If a Republican has not the courage
of his convictions, a. Democrat can be
found to save the people from the de-
predations of the privileged classes
Several prominent Democrats in the
middle west can defeat Taft for re-
election if he fails to get the tariff bill
satisfactorily adjusted. Judge Har-
mon, present governor of Ohio, is the
equal of Taft as a jurist and his supe-
rior as an American statesman; for
Taft's political training in the colonies
does not amount to much in n free
republic where the people are sover.
eigns. In our opinion, formed after
mature reflection, Governor Harmon
is the strongest candidate the Democ-
racy can nominate for the presidency
in 1912. He can beat Taft or Teddy
tn a FRAGILE.