Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-10-20
GOV. HARMON URGES
A new TARIFF
On Demand For This Dem
OCrdCy viii Win.

Washington, Oct. 19.--Much interest
is felt in political circles here in the
recent utterance of Governor Harmon
of Ohio, insisting that the shortcom-
ings of the present tariff law gave the
Democratic party an opportunity to
obtain real tariff revision which they
should not neglect. In part he said
If there ever was time for the
Democratic party to justify its exist
ence, such a time is now.
This is the situation; Citizens gem
orally all over the land have to use
care and economy to live on their in
comes. They find the task made mar
der by high prices, and ascribe them
chiefly to excessive tariff taxes. They
wish these taxes reduced so that
prices will be made lower. The rulers
OF the party which controls all
branches of the government have con
fessed the justice of the demand, and
made show of compliance. The
president declares that the Payne-AI-
drich bill is the best his party ever
passed. Faint praise, that, but such
as it is, there is no ground for il ex-
cept that for the first time in the his
tory of that party it has made slight
reductions of some duties, though
they are offset by increase OF others.
Since the new law took effect no
pricees have been lowered, and many
have been raised, So the country is
not satisfied.
How are the people to get what
they want? The president told them
at Winona, He said, in effect, sTS.S,'s
they do not like the bill the Aldrich
combination put through and he APP
proved but want one that will serve
public instead of private interests,
they ought to vote the Democratic
ticket. And he is right about it, That
is what the people need, and that is
the only way to get it.
The whole theory and practice )
with respect to taxing imports must
be set right This has become so clear
that those who began by asking re-
auctions of duties now demand reform
of the tariff system. The people have
come to see and understand.
They think it is time to close up
the public nursery, now that the in
dustries it has fed so long are grown.
many OF them overgrown, and have
married and been given in marriage,
too.
They wish to be set free so they
can make, and carry out if need be,
on their own behalf, the threat Mr..
Taft made as secretary of war when
the American manufacturers propos-
ed to charge the same exorbitant
prices they charge citizens for imple-
ments and materials required for the
Panama canal, viz; TO buy in other
markets unless prices are reduced.
They remember that President Nc
Kinley said at Buffalo, eight years
ago, that we have outgrown and must
abandon the policy Of shutting our
selves off from the markets of the
world
They see that unless the present
tariff system is to become permanent
the quicker they set about reforming
lit the better for all concerned. This
is to be undertaken in just and kind
ly spirit, but further resistance is
likely to arouse resentment. With
firm but careful steps the end in
view can be safely reached.
These are the ideas which events
have again brought sharply to public
attention. The Democratic party
stands ready to put them into practice.
not in spirit OF unkindness to any
lawful enterprise or industry, to CAPT
tai, or to labor, but with due care and
regard to conditions. 1t wishes to lead
the country to more natural and
wholesome growth, so that every citi-
zen, whatever his calling or pursuit,
shall secure and enjoy the share Of
the general prosperity to which his
talents and industry entitle him.