The Washington herald., 1909-04-17
Wnrninr from the, Midd.e ~.

James J. Hm the Western railroad +
magaate. has come TO Washington with /
warning that should send cold chill
down the backs OF our tariff revisers. /
He is quoted as saying:
"Unless the Rerubiieau party maker downward +
revision q the tariff the Democrats viii carry the
rezt House Iy a large masority- The platforms Ct I
both parties pledged tauH revision the Democrats /
said they would re.ise it downward wlae The Re- I
rutIcans we're not 20 frank. but ther were under /
stood by the peUpe 10 mean that reduced duties
would follow the election of President Taft Tic
people utrugtel The downward revision n the
Republican party ard if il fails. che Democrats
VIII be given a chance 70 ~ their lands have
ro interest En- the tariff. but I have an interest
in the prosperity Of the country. and what the
country needs Is downward revision OF the
tariff"
The Republican platform, Il Is true.
dces not declare Tor downward revision,
or anything resembling 1t. But it was
construed 10 mean that in the minds
Of many voters, and the construction was
openly encouraged by the Republican
Presidential candidate. Mr.. Taft has over
and over again asserted his belief that
many of the tariff rates were too high,
usually coupling this opinion with the
saving clause that other rates We're too
low: and the general IMPRESSION exists
that he stands fer a moderately protec-
tive tariff Whether this impression is
correct or not makes little practical dif-
! ference. since it exists and is the basis
Of the expectation current in some parts
OF the country that the revision Of the
tariff will remove certain OF the grosser
abuses Of the protective principle. In
other words. Mr.. Taft is largely response
bic for the supposed pledge Of the Re
publican party to revise the tarir down
ward.
That pledge is not being carried out in
a sincere and whoIehearted way. The
two bills SO far presented in Congress are
far from realizing the popular idea Of a
downward revision IN some respects
they are worse than the existing tariff
levying heavier burdens on the consumer
and hampering the development Of foreign
trade. Where there has been any con-
cession to the demands Of the ultimate
\ consumer at all, il has been forced since
/ the opening of the tariff debate by the
pressure Of public opinion. This result
shows that influences may be brought to
bear upon Congress effective, enough to
counteract the pressure Of protected in
terests whose demands may be unreason-
: able. Mp. Hnrs warning viii contribute
nightly 10 the sum total Of these in
j Guences. He undoubtedly rejects the feel
ing Of the Middle West. where revision
is held 10 signify something more than
a mere Encouragement Of rates so as to
8 retain the substance Of high protection
while slightly changing its form. Though
the revisionists at the Capitol have here
tofore sEeered ct the manifestations q
s disapprovaI in the West as manufactured
{ for the occasion. they will be likely tc
, pay heed to the representations Of a
t shrewd and unbiased observer Of events
such as the Minnesota multi-mnlionaire
2 has mere than once proved himself 10 be
President Taft, TOO. cannot fail TO be
sensitive to the movement OF public sen
t timent respecting the course Of tariff re-