The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-06-10
WASHINGTON


Washington, d. c., June 7, 1909.
In the estimation of Democratic
Senators who are studying the tar
if, the determination of the Re-
publicdns to maintain the increased
duties on meats of all description,
both fresh and cured, constitutes
one Of the most striking anomalies
of the protective policy. In their
defense of the policy of protection
almost every Republican Senator
has referred to the necessity of
maintaining the existing high
standard of living" of the Ameri-
can workingman. Many have de-
voted pages of the Congressional
Record to this argument. When
asked wherein lies the chief differ.
ence between the standard Ameri-
can laborers, both skilled and un-
skilled, and similar workmen
abroad, they invariably reply with
an elaboration of the difference to
be found in the tables of the two
classes, maintaining that meat is
served on the table of the Ameri-
can twice or thrice as often as on
that of his fellow workmen in for
eisn countries. And yet these
same Repu olicans refuse absolutely
to recognize that by increasing du-
ties OH meats they are not only adj
ding millions to the profits of the
beef trust, hut are precipitating a
situation precisely similar to that
abroad. In the estimation of
number of Democrats with whom
your correspondent has talked on
the effect of the Aldrich bill, if en-
acted as it now stands, will be to
drive meat off of the tables of a
large percentage of American work.
ingmen in the near future. Asked
why they do not make a more Wig
orous fight for the reduction of
these duties, the Democrats main
tain that they are perfectly helpless
in the matter, that Mr.. Aldrich
and his associates are in complete
control of the situation in the Sen
ate, and that it is useless for any
Democrat or group of Democrats to
undertake to secure reductions in
any schedule decided upon by the
Finance Committee. In this con-
nection. however, the remarks Of a
Republican member of the Finance
Committee, while not perhaps to
be taken at their face value, are of
interest.
H4T
To a New England member of
the Finance Committee your cor
respondent put this question, "Are
not the Democratic Senators pecul-
iarly helpless in this tariff debate,
and if so, what is the reason?
The Republican replied, "Our
Democratic friends can accomplish
nothing because they are so badly
divided among themselves. Prac-
tically every one of them has some
special industry for which he wish
es above all else to secure protec-
ton. Brother Aldrich is nobody's
fool and he has felt out the aims of
his opponents and knows so we'll
how to play one against the other
that throughout this debate there
has not been a single instance
where the Democrats have all voted
one way. 1t is simply the cid sto-
ry of house divided against itself
and of statesm en- who place person
al and local interests above party
zeal and national welfare. OF
course that is partisan arraign-
ment and must be accepted with
due allowance for the narrowness
of the New England viewpoint
Nevertheless it contains an element
of truth which is worthy the seri-
Gus consideration of every Demo-
crat.
*"
No member of the Taft cabinet
entered upon his term of service
confronted by more perplexing
situation and harassed by more
difficulties than George Won l..
Meyer, Secretary of the Navy.
Nevertheless Mr.. Meyer has not
only the courage of his convictions,
but the temerity Of a Roosevelt.
With the staff versus line contro-
YerSY still at white heat. Secretary