The Detroit times., 1909-07-17
TAFT DEMANDS
PLEDGES Be KEPT
Tells Republicans That Party Must
Work for Downward Revision OF
Tariff Hates.

| WASHINGTON, July lin
statement issued al the White House
yesterday afternoon giving his version
OF the interview with the % congress
man who called upon him TO protest
against free raw material In the tarin
bill. President Taft again reiterated
his stand for downward revision ana
said the responsibility rests upon the
entire Republican party.
After saying that Rep. Young. OF
Michigan. opposed free ore. and Mon
dell. of Wyoming, free coal or reel
procity with Canada, and free hides,
the president said discussion was
participated in by the representatives,
who urged that the doctrine OF Tree
raw materials was not Republican
doctrine.
The president replied the state
ment continues. that he was not com
mitted TO the principle OF free raw
material but that he was committed
| to the principle of a downward revis-
/ ion OF the tariff, which he had promis'
ed. and that he was obliged TO look at
the matter, not from the standpoint OF
any particular district, but from Inc
standpoint OF the whole country, ana
also from the standpoint OF response
bility for the entire Republican party.
| He said the question in each case
was a question of fact TO be detertu-
! ined by evidence as TO whether the
present duty was needed for protee-
ton, or whether the rate was exccs-
sive. SO that a downward revision. or
putting the article on the Tree nsl
would not injure the industry. de re-
peated the platform OF the Republican
party and said he had always under
| stood that IL meant a downward re-
vision in many instances, though per-
| haps, in some few instances an IN
crease might be needed: that he reach
ed this construction OF the platform
on what he understood to be the prin-
ciple OF protection and It's Justification.
namely that after an industry was
protected by duty equal TO the dif-
| ference Of cost of production abroad
and the cost OF production In this coun-
| try including fair profit to the man
ufacturers. the energy and enterprise
| OF American business men and capltal-
| lists, the effectiveness OF American Ia
Dor and the ingenuity OF American IN
venturs, under the impulse OF compe-
/ tition behind the tariff wall, would re-
duce the cost OF production, and that
with the reduction OF the cost or pro-
duction the tariff rate would De-
come unnecessarily high and ought TO
be reduced. This was the norman
operation Of the tariff as claimed by
the defenders OF the protective system
not In every case, but as general
rule-that, OF course, revision OF the
tariff could not be perfect. must nave
tdefects and Inconsistencies, but inso-
| far as his influence went when called
upon TO act on the legislation II ,would
| be thrown In the direction OF perform
| ing the promises OF the party as ne
understood them; and that II iron ore
and oil, and coal and hides did nor
need protection. and that the condi-
lions were such as to enable the ore
producers and the oil producers ana
the coal producers and the producers
! OF hides TO compete successfully. with
out reduction OF wages, with the pro-
ducers from abroad, then they did not
need duty and their articles should
| go on the free list
1T was a question OF fact which ne
hoped to make up his mind with re-
spect to in order to carry out what
he understood TO be the promises or
the party to the whole people. He
said he felt that his position as the
titular head OF the Republican party
and as president. with the whole peo-
I Pie as MIS- constituency gave him a
somewhat broader point of view than
that of a single member Of congress in
respect to articles produced In his dis
trict.
He felt strongly the call OF the
country for a downward revision with
in the limitations OF the protective sy5-
tenn and he hoped TO be able to re-
spond 10 that call as he heard 1t. as
well as In the interest OF the party
as OF the country"