The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-31
THE TARIFF MEASURE IN ITS
LAST STAGE.

Senators Bailey and some of his
Democratic associates have threatened
a fiibuster against the tariff bill. Their
excuse for it is the indecent action of
the eonferees in putting duty on cot
ton bagging. This was one of the most
indefensible things done. considering
both the thing and the method. When
cotton bagging came up in the Senate
there was demand that it be placed on
the free list, and Senator Aldrieh ae
eepted the free-list proposal. Apparent
", the Finance Committee was willing
10 admit that the duty was indefensi-
bic. In fact, it was stricken out mere
~ to save time and prevent a discus
sion which would develop how excuse
less and unjust was that duty, with
the perfect understanding that it would
be restored in conference, as it has been.
The parallel between binding Irvine,
used by the Republican farmers of the
Northwest, and cotton bsgging is per
feet. To make one free and the other
dutiable Is eXcuseless discrimination.
Small wonder the Democrats are mad
enough TO be willing to consider talk
ing for a few months.
But, Of course, the Democrats are not
going to enter upon a conversational
Marathon merely for the sake of cot
ton bagging. They have not been blind
to the possibility Of political advantage
from possessing themselves of whatever
issue vet remains in hostility to the bill
They believe it Is still thoroughly I'M
popular with the country, and they see
that Republican insurgency has to a
considerable extent lost its source. The
Presidents authority as head of the
party has made it difficult for Repub-
licans to continue opposition, and many
OF those who have been counted last
ditch opponents are now listed to sup
port the conference report.
The Democrats have been denounced
and derided for failing to make effective
opposition. Now, if they can take hold
and make the last and most determined
fight, and make il on party lines, they
viii have opportunity to draw the line
of demarcstion sharply between the two
parties. Whatever of political advan-
tage there is for the Democrats in the
tariff. lies in this course.
1t need not be considered remarkable,
then. If the Democrats undertake a
fight against the conference report. But
it viii be remarkable if they accomplish
more than a showing of hostility, and
force the Republicans unitedly to sup
port the bill which so many Of them do
not like
The final effect of such a fight must
be set down as very uncertain. A fill
buster which crumbles 70 pieces in a
few days viii further discredit Demo
cratic pretensions to effectiveness and
tenacity A flibuster which keeps the
country in uncertainty and suspense,
with all the menace to business and
prosperity therein involved, would win
an increment of partisan weakness
rather than strength. The only out
come which could be set down as adj
vsntageous to the Democrats would be
the final defeat of the legislation as a
whole.
It is more than doubtful whether any
campaign could be organized which
would produce such an effect. I'm
all human probability the end of
a flibuster would be the passage
of the bill. The situation is one
which demands the most serious
consideration by the minority before
they commit themselves TO the methods
of a flibuster.