The Washington herald., 1909-07-17
TAFT is FIRM.
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
mission Of certain classes OF raw ma
terial he did so because he believed the
Republican party was pledged 70 the
principle q q downward tariff revision
and what he was advocating was in
line with that pledge.
Official Statement.
The Presidents remarks, as set forth
IN the 0fciaI statement from the White
House. were IN response 10 a speech by
Representative Young. Of Michigan. IN
% the admission OF iron ore
free o. duty. and a speech by Representa-
tive Mondeu. Of Wyoming. wE0 opposed
the free admission OF coal or reciprocity
with Canada IN regard 20 coal. and also
opposed free hides. each on the ground
that the policy would injure the interests
OF Mr.. MondeIIs state.
The White House statement says thar.
following these remarks. a discussion was
participated "a by other Representative,
who urged that the doctrine Of free raw
materials was not q Republican doctrine.
and the statement then continues
The President replied that he was
not committed % the principle OF free
raw material but that he was com
mitted 70 the principle of a downward
revision OF the tariff. which be had
promised, and that he was obliged 20
look az the matter not from the
standpoint OF any particular district.
but from she standpoint OF the whole
country. and also from the standpoint
OF responsibility Tor the entire Repub-
ucan party.
He said the question in each case
was not a question OF fact, 10 be de-
termined by evidence. as 20 whether
the present duty was needed for pro-
lection or whether the rate was eXces-
sive, 50 that a DOWNWARD revision or
putting the article on the free list
would not injure the Industry.
Downward Revision.
He repeated the platform OF the Re
publican party, and said he had al
ways understood that Il meant a down
ward revision in many Instances.
though perhaps in some few instances
an increase might be needed; that he
reached this construction OF the plat
form on what he understood 20 be the
principle Of protection and its 5ustifca-
y
was protected by q duty equal 20 the
difference between the cost OF produc-
ton abroad and he cost OF prOduc-
ton in this country. including e fair
profit 20 the manufactures. the energy
and enterprise CT American business
men and capitalists, the effectiveness
of American labor, and the ingenuity
Of American inventors, under The I'M
pulse OF competition behind the tart1
wall would reduce the cost OF pro
duction. and that with the reduction in
the cost OF production, the tariT rate
would become unnecessarily high and
ought % be reduced
This was the normal operation OF
the tariff. as claimed by the defenders
OF the protective system-nOt in every
case but as a general rule-that. OF
course, a revision OF the tariff could
not be perfect. must have defects and
Inconsistencies: but IN so far as his
influence went when called upOn 10
act IN connection with legislation, IL
would be thrown IN the direction OF
performing the promises OF The party
as he understood them. and that x
iron ore and oil and coal and hides
did not need protection. and that the
conditions were such as 70 enable the
ore producers and the oil producers
and the coal producers and the pro-
ducers Of hides 10 compete success
fully. without reduction Of wages,
with the producers from abroad. then
they did not need q duty and their
articles should 20 on the free list
Feels COuntry's Can.
It was a question OF fact which he
hoped 20 make up HIS mind with re-
spect TO on such evidence as was
available 70 him in order 10 carry out
what he understood 70 be the promises
Of the party 20 the whole people.
He said ne felt that his position as
the titular head OF the Republican
party and as President, with the whole
people as his constituency. gave HIM a
somewhat broader point oT view than
that OF a single member OF Congress
in respect TO articles produced IN his
district.
He felt strongly the call or the coun-
try Tor downward revision within the
limitations OF the protective principle
and ne hoped 10 be able 20 respond 10
that cali as he heard g. as wen in
the interest CT the party as Of the
country.
Those who Called
The Republican Congressman who called
on the President to enlist his interest IN
protecting the products OF their States
in the pending tariff bin were Representa-
tives Nondeu. Of Wyoming CowIes and
Grant. OF North Carolina; Edwards and
Langley. Of Kentucky; Sturgiss. Hubbard,
Gaines, and woodward. Of West Virginia;
Hamilton and Young. OF Michigan. Tener
Bates, and Barchfeld, OF Pennsylvania,
Slemp. Of Virginia; Hayes. OF California
Keifer. Joyce. Kennedy, and Johnston. q
Ohio: Austin, OF Tennessee, and South
wick. OF New York
Representative Richardson. Of Alabama
was there TO speak for the Southern
Democratic protecuOnists. The p-incipa
speech was made BY Representative
Young. who pleaded against placing GER
tain raw materials on the free list
Representative Langley spoke from ths
political standpoint. declaring that South
ern Republican COngressmen had beer
elected on protection platforms. and
was necessary for them 10 fulfu theh
pledges to their constituents.
AfterWard members O. fha deIegatiOl