Evening star., 1909-03-14
PARKER ON THE TARIFF
Addresses Princeton Students
and Faculty.
REPLIES TO J. T. MCCLEARY
Presents Democratic View on Re-
vision.
DISCUSSES COMING SESSION
McCosh Hall Packed With Auditors.
Undergraduates Enthusiastic
Over the Debate.
DISCUSSES COMING SESSION

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PRINCETON. n. j.. March 13.-Before
a large audience. composed chiefly of the
undergraduates and faculty of Princeton
University. former Judge Alton B. Par
ker of New York delivered speech on
the tariff here tonight. The lecture was
given in McCosh Hall. and the audi
torium was packed. Judge Parker chose
as his subject THE Tariff and It's Func-
tions in the United States" His arsu-
ments were timely, because a week ago
tonight James T. McCleary OF Mime
sofa presented the republican view of the
question. These two lectures were really
a debate on tariff and aroused a great
deal of enthusiasm among the under
! graduates. Judge Parker made an ex-
! cellent impression.
After the lecture the speaker of the
evening was entertained at the Nassau
| Club in Princeton. Mayor Mcclellan. SO
of New York. United States Senator
Briggs. Mayor Katzenbach of Trenton
and other prominent men were present.
Judge Parker's Address.
Governmental subjects--in which cate
sory the tariff belongs-are often wont
to be discussed either along lines of ex-
pediency or TO suit the special audience,
rather than with respect to the inherent
qualities of the subjects said Judge
Parker, in beginning his address.
ITO this audience truth is of more i'm
pOrtance than temporary advantage In
debate and weight will be given to con-
sideratiOns of the moral aspect, whether
the question be of relations of individual
to state or of persons among themselves.
Therefore, here the tariff can be dis
cusSed under assumption that any i'm
pairment of public or private morality
involved is matter of moment
Judge Parker then entered upon an
exhaustive discussion of the history of
American tariffs, beginning with that of
1889. At first, he said, it was never suG-
gested that tariff for the purpose of
protection could be justified. but now. he
said, the average duty Is higher by !
per cent than the average highest duty
during the civil war.
The Coming Revision.
Regarding the coming session Of Con-
gress Judge Parker said
In few days Congress is to meet In
special session to revise the tariff. for
both the great political parties are COM
mitted to the absolute necessity OF a re-
vision. The recent adoption by the re-
publican party of this view We may ac-
cept as conclusive of the necessity. Yet
In weighing the value of that party S
commitment to the proposition we should
not forget that while it's latest platform
promises a revision of the tariff it does
not in terms promise any reduction OF
duties And we must admit that a re.
| vision of the tariff can be as well up as
| down. So also must we admit that all
| the revisions so far made by the republi-
4 orty- COnStr1l-
| ing the language in the light OF the
| party's action heretofore. We find some
explanation for the confidence. of the pro
| tected interests.
But the President does not SO construe
this promise to the people. AS he cannot
dissemble himself he Is not willing to
| have his party dissemble. Hence he In
| sis.s that good faith requires a reduction
of duties i'm many II not in all cases.
"WiIl his view prevail or Will that OF
| the protected interests? Let us hope that
of the President, though anxiety as to the
issue is fully justified.
THE testimony Of Carnegie. routing. as
it did. at least temporarily. the stand
patters on the committee, opened the eyes
| OF many. Yet 1t must be remembered
that truth does not always win victories.
Forming Line of Battle.
The protected interests are now form
| ing their lines for the battle. In the
| New York Times or FeDrudry .S Mr-
James Van Cleave, president of the Ma
| tional Associa ton of Manufacturers, said
| of President Taft:
| He insists that the coming revision
| of the tariff should be honest and intelli-
gent AS this will come in the extra
session which he will call, it will be the
| first measure of his administration. And
| he joins the great body of the business
men of the country in favoring the Gre
| alton of a permanent, expert. non-parti-
| tons on which Congress can base tariff
| legislation.
THE country wants legislation which
will protect labor equally with capital.
Each has needs which should be pro-
| NOTED. Each has rights that the other
must respect. But special favors must
not be granted to either. Mr.. Taft's s
broadness, poise and judicial training will
aid Congress in marking out the legisla-
tion in this ande the other fields which
the country demands.
This is interesting and instructive
Once again the mighty hosts of labor are
put forward by the capitalist Van Cleave
to assure TO certain capital an unjust
return Again we see that one of the
lines of battle follows the precedent of
| 1882 and 1888. The protected interests
whom President Van Cleave inaccurately
describes as the great body of the bust
| ness men of the country favor investiga-
not to be made by committee of Con-
gress, but by commission of experts.
| This course If adopted, will postpone
| actjou for perbaDS a wear opd .J,,a tbo