Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-18
President Defends AID
rich-Payne Bill in Two
Winona Addresses.
IN INSURGENT LAND
"f What Country Wants Is
Free Trade Put Democratic
Party in Power"

WlnOld, Miiil., oept. 10 'iSo'
Gus defense of the Aldrich-Payne tariff
bin was made by President Taft in adj
dresses before two audiences in tins
city last night. Following are the sal
lent points OF his utterances
The promise of the republican plat
form was not 10 revise everything
downward. and in the speeches made
in the campaign did not promise that
everything should so downward. What
| promised was that there should be
many decreases and that the change
in conditions would make the revision
necessarily downward-and that. con-
tend. has been the result under the
Payne bill.
Downward on Necessities.
There was substantial downward
revision on necessities. for
the proportion is S5O00,0oO, 900. repre-
senting the consumption of articles TO
which decreases were applied. TO less
Than $500 100000 of articles of necessi-
ty to which increases applied.
| did not agree. nor did the republi-
can party agree. that we would reduce
rates TO such point as to reduce prices
by foreign competition. The
proposition was to reduce rates so as
to maintain a difference between the
cost of production here and abroad. in
suring a reasonable profit. and the
proposition 10 reduce rates was to
avoid the opportunity for monopolies
and the suppression of competition.
Admits Eoophoies of Attack.
1t is entirely possible to collect evi-
dence to attack almost any of the
schedules. but one story is good until
another is told
Was il the duty of the member of
congress who believed that the bill did
not accomplish everything it ought to
have accomplished 10 vote against it?
| am here to Justify those who answer
the question in the negative.
am glad to see that those who voted
against the bill still insist they are
republicans and that they intend to
keep up the fight for still lower tariff
rates within the party
If what the country wants is free
trade it ought to put the democratic
party in power if it is thought the
democratic party can be trusted to
carry out any affirmative policies.
For Free Lumber. Personally.
Personally, I was in favor of free
lumber, because | did not think that
if the tariff was taken off there would
be much suffering among the lumber
interests. In the controversy, the
house and senate took middle course
and who can say they We're not iusti
fled?
With respect to the wool schedule.
agree that it is too high and think il
ought to have been reduced: that il
probably represents more than the
cost of production abroad and the cost
of production here
Reviews Fort Smelling Troops.
Minneapolis, Mimi. Sept 1S.-Presi
dent Taft arrived here at 7:55 a. m
and was escorted to the Minneapolis
club for breakfast. big crowd CAV,
The nations chief a noisy reception
as he stepped from his car. Later the
party was driven about the city park.
and boulevards to Minnehaha falls
state soldiers home and Fort Smelling
crowds along the route giving warn
welcome. At Fort Smelling the presi
dent reviewed the troops and was ten
dered reception by the officers. Will,
salute from the guns of the for
were sounded. At noon the presiden
tial party boarded automobiles for
run TO ST. Paul via the Mississippi
river boulevard. At st. Paul auditor
um at 1 p m. luncheon was tendere
him.
Ovation at st. Paul.
st Paul, Mimi. Sept. 1S.-This cit
is brilliantly decorated with flags Il