The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-08-12
Taft and the People.

TAFT and the People.
! Campaign efforts to persuade tn
people that William H. Taft woul'
not be sincere in revising the tarif
mot only proved futile at the poll
but his course as President durint
tine recent extra session OF Congress
and the fact that's he achieved
Igreat amount OF downward revision
also impress the country with tbs
fact that it made no mistake, whet
,'Ilt, said TAFT is the man for Presi'
dent" VI
The test was crucial and he came
ont OF It sound. He proved himself
firm and temperate and endowed
with common sense. as more than
one newspaper says of him. Tried
/. and not found wanting such a Pres
dent insnres good, safe, progressive
government, and with such an opti-
I mistic outlook II is conceded even this
4 soon after the passage OF the meas
ure, for which he called congress In
session pursuant to his promise to
the people, there is every reason 10
believe that his first administration
will mark the most prosperous era
in the nations history.
In the great tariff fight President
Taft proved himself faithful to his
pledges and the platform of the
party. He kept his campaign prom
Use and he saw to it that Congress
did not disregard the policy to which
the party had been committed by
Its national convention. He map
ped out no general policy for con-
gress except that which he helped
materially to map out in framing
the platform adopted at the national
convention, but he did see to it that
that policy in framing the Payne tar
III was applied practically in so far
as the great struggle would permit
and without prolonging the fight to
the great injury of the country at a
time. when industrial, commercial
and crop activities were ready to
seize the country. The season of
enormous energy was at hand and
rather than spend more weeks max
ling the tariff more perfect 1t was
opportune to put into operation the
great amount Of legislation accom-
plished. its
President Taft with his ear to the
ground and having a complete COM
prehension Of the demands of the
country and its insistence that the
tariff should be made a fixed prin-
eiple in government and not po-
iitical measure to be banded around
at will set out from the time he
saw his nomination at hand to adj
Just the question to the advantage
of the masses without injustice to
any class. "A fair, honest measure
for the betterment of all classes was
his hope, and the Payne tariff in tha
main, although not perfect as he
says, is a pretty good realization OF
that hope. He has proved that he
is the peoples President not only In
name but in fact and IN act.
Honest In act. he is taken by all
to he honest in belief and the people
accept the following estimate by him
OF tn tariff bill as passed:
This is not a perfect tariff bill
nor complete compliance with the
promises made strictly Interpreted,
hut a fulfillment to be free from
criticism in respect to the subject
matter involving many schedules
and thousands OF articles could not
be expected. 1t sufllces to say, ex-
cept With regard to silks and as to
some high classes OF cottons also
which may be treated as luxuries
and the proper subjects of revenue
there have been very few increases
in rates.
There have been a great humble,
OF real decrease in rates and the,
constitute sufficient amount to jus.
tify the statement that this bill is !,
substantial downward revision. By
the reduction of excessive rates.
This is not free trade bill. Ii
Is not intended to be.
The Republican party did moi
promise to make a free trade bill
1t promised to make the rates pro
gressive' hut to reduce them wher
they exceeded the difference between
the cost of production abroad ant
here, making allowances for the
greater normal profit of active in
vestments here. / believe while thi.
excess is not reduced in a number q
cases, 1t is in the great majority o
rates such as are necessary to pro
tect American industries, hut low
enough. in case of abnormal increas,