The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-05-13
LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
Revising the Tariff Downward.

To the Editor: You state in the
editorial columns of your newspaper
that the republican party promised to
the people in the last campaign a re-
vision of the tariff downward l am
not able to so understand either the
platform or the speeches of accept
ance by the candidates for president
and vice president.
The platform declared 'unequivo-
cably for the revision of the tariff
by a special session of congress-" but
states: In all tariff legislation the
true principle of protection is best
maintained by the imposition of such
duties as will equal the difference be-
tween the cost of production at home
and abroad. together with a reason
able profit to American industries"
And then further declares: 1.-THE aim
and purpose of the republican policy
being not only to preserve, without
excessive duties, that security against
foreign competition to which Ameri-
can manufacturers, farmers and pro-
ducers are entitled, but also to main
tain the high standard of living of
the wage earners, who are the most
direct beneficiaries of the protective
system
Nowhere do | read of a revision
downward. and this could occur only
if a revision of the schedules in line
with the objects of the above emu
merated in addition to a sufficient
revenue, should result in a general
lowering of duties. 1t seems simply
/ to have been the idea that revision
was necessary because changing con-
ditiOns since the Dingley tariff was
enacted had resulted in duties too
! high in some schedules and too low
I in others That this is so was plain
! ly stated by Mr.. Taft in his speech
of acceptance, and he further stated
that those rates that are too high
should be lowered, while such as are
too low should be raised. Nowhere
did he speak of a revision downward
simply
A revision may result that way, but
then as a result of revision along the
lines indicated, but not as a result
| of declaration with that end in
view
/ Mr.. Sherman also, in his speech OF
acceptance, while insisting on carry
ling out the pledge of revision, dis
tinctly stated: THAT pledge will be
fulfilled in an adjustment based in
every particular upon the broad prin-
ciples of protection for all American
! interests And he reiterated that:
'In this adjustment the principle of
protection must and will govern"
/ I, and millions with me, supported
! the republican candidates because we
| believed in revision of the tariff, not
because it would necessarily lower 1t.
| but because inequalities would be re-
moved and the great principle OF pro-
lection more perfectly applied.
| Democracy, on the other hand, de-
clared in favor of revision of the
| tariff by the reduction of import du-
ties" and in order ''to restore the
tariff to revenue basis"
If now, the democratic idea is to
be carried out, and the resulting de-
fciency in revenue is to be remedied
by taxation of coffee, tea and other
articles which we do not and cannot
produce, or by enacting clauses tax
ling incomes or inheritances, or both,
then democracy carried the election
lin 1908 and their principles govern,
land republican voters were cheated.
1--we believe in revision in line with
protection whether it lowers the tar
i'll or not.
! SUBSCRIBER.