The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-19
mlLL HE SIGN IT2

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It is apparent that the tariff bill as
framed by the finance committee Of the
senate viii ultimately prevail, and that
the pledge Of the Republican party as
made in the Chicago platform will be
deliberately violated so far as congress
is concerned. Aldrich, Lodge Hale and
the other leaders say they made no
pledges individually. and refuse to be
bound by the party promise ON the eve
OF a presidential election. The plank in
the Republican platform regarding re-
vision of the tariff reads as follows:
The true principle of protection is
best maintained by the imposing of
such duties as viii equal the difference
between the cost Of production at home
and abroad, together with a reasonable
profit to American industries"
That was the declaration Of a great
party upon the most important issue Of
the campaign, and was interpreted by
those who took the stump in behalf of
Mr.. Taft to mean tariff revision down
ward The Republican candidate him
self went upon record a number of times
in giving his views as to what the plank
meant and as to what the party would
do if returned to power. AT st. Paul,
on Sept. 26, 1908, he said:
Now we are going to revise the tariff,
too. but it is going to be a thorough re-
vision. an honest one, a revision in aC-
cOrdanCe with the protective system.
which requires that every industry in the
en- D. nnH- 10
if measured by the difference in the cost
Of production in this country and abroad
Mr.. Taft will have to decide in his
own mind in the course Of a very few
weeks whether there has been a thor
ough OF an honest revision of the tariff.
On the same date Mr.. Taft paid his re-
spects TO his great rival as follows: But
Mr.. Bryan says we can't get over the
influence of the protected interests.
Hasn't the Republican party risen
above corporate influence before?"
He then announced that he was there
20 plight the faith of his party that the
revision would be honest and exact &C
cording to the measure stated in the
platform. One month before the cleo
ton Mr.. Taft was in Topeka, Kan, an
other state whose citizens have become
weary Of tariff tribute, and at that time
and place made the following direct and
specific promise:
If am elected. as I expect. I shall ex-
ercise all the legitimate influence that
the president or head OF the Republican
party can 10 see 10 it that the plighted
faith Of the party on this subject, in let
ter and IN spirit Is observed.
That ought 10 make certain the veto
Of the bill being patched up for pre-
sentation 10 Mr.. Taft for his signature.
But there is a still stronger declaration
on the subject. After the election was
over and a majority of the voters Of
the United States had accepted the
promises of the Republican party at
their face value, electing Mr.. Taft to the
presidential chair, doubts began to arise
in the minds of many as TO whether,
after ali. this honest" revision Of the
tariff would be brought about. In
speech IN New York on Dec. IS. 1908,
MI Taft having these doubts in mind,
said:
If we only keep the word of promise
TO the ear and break 1t to the hope. we
shall be MADE accountable TO the Amer
lean people and suffer such consequences
as failure to keep faith has always been
visited with. Better TO have no revision
al all unless We are going honestly and
thoroughly to revise the tariff on the
basis promised by our party.
Now the test is at hand. The word
Of promise" is to be kept to the ear and
broken 10 the hope. All chances of
honest revision have gone glimmering.
The schedules in most instances are be-
ing raised instead of lowered. The cor
porations are in the saddle and riding
down all opposition. VIII Mr.. Taft sign
the Payne-Aldrich bill? Has he the
courage of his convictions2