The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-07
A FAILURE AND A FRAUD,

After long and bitter fight in con-
gress to revise the Dingley tariff, the
pledge of the Republican party turns
out to be failure and fraud" The
words inclosed within quotation marks
are taken from an editorial in the Pho
neer Press of Wednesday. President
Taft signed the abortion under the
mistaken idea that something has been
gained for downward revision" What
Is the something? He does not say
The ultimate consumer is no better of
than before. The cost of living is not
affected by the Payne-Aldrich tariff and
the grip of the trusts has not been
loosened. Better have left the Dfngley
tariff alone.
President Taft has lost the opportun-
ity Of his life. If he does not under
stand the practical workings of the
changes In the tariff schedules. he
could have consulted experts on the
matter. r" "'' Wv ,o''.e~ at his COM
nd to compel congress to fulfill the
pledge NAV. .. ..,ly, hut he did
not exercise it. He asked for an in
come tax on corporations to be en-
odied in the tariff bill. and congress
acceded to his request. though it had
convened solely for the purpose of re-
vising the tariff. Why did he not in
sist that a real downward revision be
made in accordance with the party
pledge given to the people in the Re-
publican platform and made by
himself in his campaign speech at.
Cincinnati when he said: 1T would
be better to have no revision at all,
unless we are going honestly and fairly
to revise the tariff on the basis prom
Used by our party" The revision was
made the wrong way-up instead of
down--and he signs the Payne Aldrich
monstrosity without tremor of the
hand. Much as We like the tax on
corporations in the bill. it gives no re-
lief whatever to the consumers of man.
ufactured articles. The New England
mills will charge more than before
for their products. and the price OF
wearing apparel for men and women
will be increased.
What President Taft should have
done was to veto the bill and call upon
the people to change their Representa-
tives at the first opportunity. Had he
done that instead Of signing the bill he
would become popular idol. He has
nj found wanting. AN
honor to the men who opposed the bill
10 the last. They can appear conf
IDENTIFY before their constituents to rem
der an account Of their stewardship.
The senators and representatives from
Minnesota. with one exception, fought
nobly in the cause Of the people from
the beginning to the end and went down
with colors flying. They wanted free
lumber but did not get It. Taft was
satisfied to give the lumber barons
further chances to rob the consumers,
but the senators and congressman from
the North Star state understood the
question better than the ex-proconsul
Of the Philippines.
The people Of the United States un-
derstand now what protective tariff
really means. 1t is for the benefit of
the few at the expense of the many.
1t Is commercial question which az
fects the whole population, irrespec-
tive OF politics. II the people act SEN
sfbly they will settle the question sat
1sfactorily in due time. They must re-
tire from congress the men who mis-
represent them and change the admin
istration when the time comes round.