The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-09-24
TAFT HAS THE NERVE
TO DEFEND ALDRICH
ROBBER TARIFF BILL
sMARTINe UNDER STING OF CRIT
IcIsm HE GROWS Vo-
cIFERouS.
DECLARES IT THE BES EVER
Comes to The Assistance Of Tawney,
Who is Undergoing Heavy
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Treatment
Necessary.


Payne tariff bill here Friday night 1t
was the speech for which the country
has been waiting ever since ne affixed
his signature to the bill.
The President talked frankly and
fearlessly to his audience RE point
ed out the things in the law that he
does not like, and arrayed against
them its good points. on the whole,
/ he conceived it to be the best tariff
law the republican party has ever
passed, and therefore the best ever
enacted in this country, and as he
views the law, it is on the whole
revision downward in accordance
with his own and the party pledges.
He acknowledged that the wool sched-
ule is too high and ought to have
been reduced.
Yet the fact was, deplorable as it
seemed to him, that the interests of
the wool producers of the west and
| the wooden manufacturers of the east
were so strongly insisted on in con-
gress that 10 have insisted on reduc-
ton in the wool schedule would have
defeated the entire bill.
For President Taft to have vetoed
the bill would. in his opinion, not only
have demoralized the party, but de-
stroyed all chance for the accomplish
ment of other reforms to which he
and the republican party had been
| pledged. The President spoke with
great earnestness when he came to
this part of his speech. 1t was APP
parent that he felt the sting of the
criticisms over his signing OF the
BILL
"All | have to say" he declared, lis
that l believe that the interest of the
party required me to sacrifice the &C
complishment of certain things in this
| revision OF the tariff for the revision
had hoped for in order to maintain
party pledges which | believe to be
much more important than the reduc-
ton of rates in one or two schedules
of the tariff
when | could say" the President
added that his is the best tariff
bill that the republican party has ever
passed, and therefore the best that
has been passed at all, | do not feel
that | could have reached any other
conclusion than that of signing the
bill"
The large audience which the Presi-
dent was facing in the Winona Opera
House was principally made up OF
tariff revisionists. as most everybody
out in this part of the woods seems to
be, but they greeted Mr. Taft's state
ment with show of enthusiasm.
The President in his speech also set
at rest all talk of further revision of
the tariff at this session of congress
and any attempt in his opinion would
be very distressing to business. In
fact, the President makes it plain that
there will be no further recess agita-
ton him during his present term OF
office.
Il should think" he said, that 1t
would certainly take the rest of this
administration to accumulate the data
upon which new and proper revision
of the tariff might be made"
This data Is to be accumulated by
the recently appointed tariff commits
sion. AS the President conceives the
scope of that commission, 1t may prop
|erly take up an investigation with the
cost of manufacture OF each article,
both here and abroad. Mr.. Taft does
mot intend to- submit the findings OF
the commission to congress unless di-
rected to do so, but to use them as
the basis of executive recommends
tons.
Mr.. Taft's purpose in delivering his
tariff speech here was to help Repre-
sentative James Tawney, chairman OF
the appropriation committee Of the
house, who is being bombarded be-
cause of his support of the tariff bill.
Strong opposition has developed
against Tawney. and he and his
friend decided that heroic treatment
was necessary to secure his return.
All the other republican congressman
OF Minnesota voted against the bill
Mr.. Tawney and his friends were
out at the meeting, but the enthusiasm
was very mild. Mr.. Taft was cheered
when he arose to speak, and there
was few ripples OF applause at inter-
walls during the address, but no great
outbreaks.
President Taft arrived here at 7
O'Clock this evening. after having
spoken at Madison and Lacrosse.