The Washington herald., 1909-06-10
VIEWS
OF ALDRICH BILL

pulp VIII 1are any Detter AZ the l1nOS U
the standpatters than other things Even
II Senator Root listens 10 the appeal Of
the Newspaper Publishers Association,
Senator Aldrich viii continue unabashed
the process OF spurning the consumer.
Yet there IS not IN all the schedules a
clearer case for a change than this pre-
sents. The special committee OF the
House. composed necessarily OF a major
ity OF Republicans. made a most Impair
tial and thorough investigation OF the
subject. taking testimony from every
available source; and IN consequence the
admission OF mechanically ground wood
pulp free. barring restrictions from the
exporting country. was unanimously
recommended. The fact that the labor
cost does not require any duty whstso-
ever was definitely established. On this
ground alone, therefore. the Senate should
be guided by the report OF the committee;
for even Senator Aldrieh has not denied
that the Chicago platform did promise
to consider the labor cost in revising the
duties. Promises like these. however. are
made 70 be broken; the whole course
OF the debate in the Senate shows that
The cotton schedule is the latest case
in point. and Il simply illustrates the
genes. rule. More than the interests
OF the newspapers IS at stake in this
matter. The rapid destruction Of the
forests viii bear heavily. not on one par
ticular interest. but on all No one can
read the report Of the special committee
without realizing that the arguments
there offered are unanswerable- But what
IS the use? Senator Aldrich does not have
20 answer them He has the votes and
be VIII drive his obedient sheep through
any gate he pleases- The bystanders can
take il out in protesting
ESuu the Baltinoze sun
Mr.. Taft has kept very quiet thus far
and his opinion OF Senator Aldrich's per
formanoes as revisionist has not been
communicated 20 the public. But sup
pose. as some OF our New York cOntempo-
raries suggest as possible. he should de-
velop into an "fnsurgent Republican on
the tariff. Suppose he should 90 10 the
extreme OF vetoing the bill Il the Senate
amendments prevail. The result even
then might not be disappointing TO Mr.. Al
drlch For II the Payne-Aldrich bill
should be vetoed. and Congress adjourn
without passing another bill. the Dingley
act would still be in force All the pro-
tectionists OF the old guard are satisfied
with the Dingley rates. and their cry all
along has been Let US alone. While
the Rhode Island Senator has played 2
shreWd game. he IS not yet out of the
woods, however Even experts IN tariff
making may come 20 grief, however
skinfuliy their plans be laid
From the PirtsbuTz Post.
Members OF Congress and other persons
said 10 be close 10 the President" insist |
that there is not the shadow OF a doubt
that he will sign the Aldrich-Payne biz, |
no matter how viciously II repudiates his I
pledges and promises. They cite as the
reason that trite. old. thread-bare argU- |
ment that business is at a standstin and
viii continue 20 languish until Congress /
completes its work They aver that he /
would prefer to sign the worst kind OF a /
bin than TO hold Congress in session all I
summer. In other words. the President is I
prepared 10 prove himself eligible to the I
Ananias Club. 70 sanction the Surrender 4
OF his party 70 the trusts. 10 father a /
trust-rnade tariff measure, 70 admit hat 1
of the party. We would have weightier /
assurance OF this than the wcrd OF IN
named politicians.
From the New York American
Senator Aldrich has referred contempt /
uousiy to the Taft doctrine Of protection /
as the Iowa idea" That Is too much /
honor for Iowa II Is the idea OF com /
mon fairness and honesty held alike by 4
citizens OF every Commonwealth who /
have given intelligent. unselhsh. and pa
triotic consideration 70 the tariff question. 4
And it is an idea which ultimately viii 4
prevail, we warn Mr.. Aldrich. even though /
all the hosts Of greed and privilege fight 4
against it-yes. even though its foremost 1
champion shO1id grow faint-hearted and /
cast down the standard which. bu: 4
short time since, he so valiantly held 4
sloft.
From the Springfield Republican.
Better late than never at all but it IS
to be observed that the failure OF the
President hitherto 10 say a word as be-
tween the Aldrich party and the insur-
gent Republican Senators has brought the 4
AIdrich Senators into so complete a COM
mitment TO a reaetionary revision that \
they cannot be made 10 retreat from II \
without great humiliation Still. it is well 4
that the country should not be left longer 1
under an impression that one Nelson ". 1
Aldrich was elected President and Repub-
lican party leader last fal and not VIII
lam H. Taft
From the Chicago Record-Herald
One thing is certain. The people are in /
no mood 70 take the Aldrich tariff lying 4
down" The standpatters who talk loud /
est about disturbing business and reJard- /
ing prosperity are making disturbance 4
and agitation inevitable. II they want 4
stability and industrial activity they must 4
abandon their stratagenns and bourbon +
ism and give the people schedules and 4
rates that can be defended on grounds Of /
public policy.
FrOm the Indianapolis star.
Mr.. Aldrich must be daily grateful 70 \
the benign Providence which ordered that /
the Dingley or House rates should De so 4
high that they may be reduced consider /
ably and still be high enough 10 satisfy l
the most exacting mill owner.
Prom the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
After al. the most effective Dread I
nought America could devise would be 4
Senator Aldrich seated in a canoe and I
armed with his imperial frOwn.
Fron the Richmond Tines DisuGtch.
And yet. by a curious coincidence. /
mythical consumers are paying Nelson /
Aldr{chfS salary