The Detroit times., 1909-05-27
PLEDGE IS
BROKEN, He SAYS
Senator La Toilette Declares Aldrich
Tariff Bill Revised Upward
Speakers Pledged Lower Rates.
BY OLSON GARDNER.

WASHINGTON. d. C., May al
What 30 think OF the tarif?"
Senator La Toilette looked at his
questioner and was silent. Then he
looked about the room-nis study
piled with open books. Uttered with
pamphlets. strewn with corded-up man.
usc,ipt aud typewriter copy.
That's what you think?" was sug-
gested Volumes"
He nodded.
The Aldrich bill IS
Bad"
Why? In what respect more than
another"
Il can't at the moment think OF any
respect In which II isn't bad
Which way does it reyise-up or
down."
Upward have the figures. /
shall make il a matter OF mathemati'
cal demonstration before this business
is over"
Isn't that what the people want?
DO the people want the burden OF
taxation laid more heavily on their
backs?''
But the people asked revision
of the tariff and the Republican party
promised that"
Revision downward That is what
the people asked. And that Is what
the platform makers pledged outward,
ly. And that Is what was-in fact
pledged by every candidate and party
man who made a speech ON this sub
ject. It is nonsense TO pretend that
this is not true"
Then somebody is guilty OF bad
faith?"
Every man who supports the Aid
rich bill is guilty OF bad faith"
But they say the bill will be i'm
proved in conference"
Il have seen bills improved In con-
ference before | remember how MI.
Aldrich sent the emergency currency
act 10 conference with five improve
ments which had been added In the
senate. And | remember how II came
back stripped OF all OF them. incluc-
ing that for strengthening bank re-
serves, and then-in the rush AMI
urgency OF winding up the business
OF the senate-it was approved. This
is the Aldrich way"
you don't think tariff laws should
be made behind closed doors?"
Nor any other kind OF laws. Pub
LEFTY is the one great safeguard TO the
peoples liberties. | propose 10 fight
the effort To suppress debate"
Are there efforts OF that sort?"
There are Every day the inter
ests which Aldrich represents In the
senate are trying to bring the tariff
matter To the closed-door conference
committee stage They don't like this
talk Mr.. Root sneers at senators
who talk-'for home consumption
talk for home consumption-and for
the consumption OF all the homes in
the United States. The people ought
10 understand that they are being
robbed would like 10 talk 10 them
until they understand that they are.
being fooled: that they are being lied
TO by Aldrlch; that they are standing
like patient pack-mules while the
Aldriches. Roots and Gallilgers OF the
senate add more pounds to the bur
den OF taxation-more dollars to the
poor mans cost of living
lis Aldrich great tariff expert|"
II venture 10 assert that Aldrich
cannot supply the fundamental data
necessary TO defend the schedules
which he has prepared. BY that |
mean that he cannot defend his bill
even according to the standards laid
down in the party platform. He does
not know the simple fundamental
things essential TO be. known in franz
ing a tariff. He has met inquiries by
evasion.
And yet this is the man who asks
the country 70 take the bill reported