The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-08-04
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1909.
MAKlNcoTARIFF LAWS.

MAKlNcoTARiFF LAWS.
It is unfortunate that partisan news.
papers and political stump speakers
frequently attempt to discredit the
opposition party BY misrepresenta-
tion. abuse and fslsehood. 1t is con.
sidered legitim ate in the game Of poll.
tics to accuse members OF the opposi.
tion party of the most unworthy mo.
tives-to represent them al tricksters
and conspirstors against the welfare
Of the community. These newspapers
and politicians seldom have the de.
cency or honesty to credit their op.
ponents with . patriotic purpose to
give faithful service toithe country by
enacting legislation which, in their
best judgment, will increase the pres.
tige Of the United States as the great.
est and most prosperous nation on
earth.
This disposition to belittle and die.
credit political op~ponentslby methods
that are unfair and humanity, obtains
among republican as lwell as demo.
cratic critics-esch seekingkpsrtissn
advantage by d~eceiving the public.
A perfectly fair estimate OF republican
achievement is not expected from .
democratic source, nor is the public
likely to get an!0unbiased review OF
democratic accomplishment II republic
can testimony is the source of infor.
nation.
The consider ationland enactment OF
. new tariff measured affords q great
opportunity for engaging in this IN.
fortunate political diversion of mis-.
representing the motives Of congress.
II partisan prejudice could be elimin.
ated, It would be admitted by all fair.
minded citizens that wi senators and
representatives are honorable men
whose aim at all times is to advance
the interests of.ltheir constituents and
the American people generally. The
members Of congress- from the various
states, in nearly every instance, have
won political preferment by individual
merit. Theylwere considered by their
neighbors and fellow citizens to be
qualified for service in congress be.
cause of their good record as mem.
bers of the community in which they
lived-becausesof their demon str ated
fitness to represent their districts in
the United States senate or in the
house Of representative. The members
of congressAformaa body of picked
men from the various states-the
choice of their constituents for posi-.
lions of honor and trust that would
be esteemed by any American citizen.
Is it reasonable tosassume that such
men, whetheruthey be republicans or
democrats. would enter into q scheme
to Cypress andirobjthe American peo-
pie by enacting tariff legislation for
the benefit of trusts and monopolies?
There may bel honest differences of
opinion as to the effect of certain
schedules as revenue producers, or
the degree Of protection necessary to
encourage American industries that
may be affected, but such disagree
ments do not justify the allegation
that any party to the controversy is
actuated by unworthy motives.
The discussion OF the ~so.called
Payne.Aldrich tariff bill has been
productive OF an unusually large
amount of this political buncombe
from partisan newspapers. Members
of the majority party in congress- have
been accused of ~"standiug in" with
interests that will derive illegitim ate
profit from the operation of the pro.
posed law, and are pilloried before
the public as men of base motives and
false to their duties as law makers for
the American people. That kind OF
stuff will not fool any intelligent
citizen.
When the new tariff measure be-
comes a law, it is quite probable that
imperfections will develop from time
to time. That is generally the case in
all legislative en- actments. But it Is be.
lieved that, when it's provisions have
been in effect for q reasonable period,
the work OF the special session of con.
gress will be recognized as q com
mendable piece of legislation.