The Detroit times., 1909-05-19

not agree upon definite policy. ow-
ing TO the influence brought 10 bear
by fayor-seeking corporations Even
when there are platforms they are
misconstrued unless they are positive
snt specific. Sometimes positive and
specific platforms are violated, but
a positive aud specific platform is
not apt 10 be violated, and when they
are violated the guilt can be fixed
and the guilty punished.
The trouble with the Republican
platform OF last fall was that it was
lot specific and definite. The tariff
plank used the word revised" instead
or the word reduced, and now Sen
ator Aldrich and his crowd construe II
to mean an increase. while some OF
the western Republicans insist 1t con-
templated decrease in the rates
Mr. Taft lodged the question. SO
far as could learn from his speeches
the nearest he ever came TO a con-
struction OF the platform was to de-
clare. when In the west. that IL meant
an honest revision" at one time de-
claring that while some schedules
ought TO be raised and some lowered
the revision would probably be down
ward.
The Republican national convention
was al fault in not making a SPECIFIC
promise OF reduction. and the Repub-
lican voters were at fault in accepting
SO indefinite. so evasive aud so decep-
tive a word as revision. as a sutfi-
cient promise. The voters ought TO
have known hattie friends OF the
tarir" will, never give US any mate
rial reduction.
AS to the Democrats who voted for
the imposition OF duties. they have
as rule defended their conduct on
the ground that the duties voted for
were revenue duties, and they have
not been high duties. Measured on
en- advalorem basis, the duty on lum-
Der and iron ore are but a small por
ton Of the price. | think that the
Democrats who voted for the duty
made mistake
The Democratic platform demanded
I tree lumber, and | believe a platform
/ Is binding upon all who run upon II,
and II ought TO have weight with the
members OF the party who were elect.
| ed before the platform was adopted.
Tax Eaters Have Advantage.
| Those who voted for a duty on lum-
( Der did SO. / presume, because ~
( lumber interests in their districts
I snl states, but In doing so | think
/ they gave the preference to a few
owners Of timber lands over those who
buy lumber There is no state in the
union where the consumers OF lumber
/ DO lot outnumber the persons who
profit by the tariff on lumber. and the
man who votes for tariff on lumber
votes TO tax a majority OF the people
Of his district and state for the benefit
OF a minority OF his constituents.
But the men who get the benefit
I OF the tax are more active in present.
/ ing their demands than the consumers
are ia presenting their protests, and
as long as this Is true. the tax eaters
will have the advantage over the tax.
payers.
If the taxpayers would take little
more interest IN the tariff question
and chastise the representatives who,
ignoring the interests OF the consum.
crs. follow the advice Of he protected
interests. relief would come sooner.
As TO the duty on iron ore. the chief
objection 10 n is not that II Is high
rate o. duty. but that II helps people
who do not need help. and gives an
excuse for higher duties on manufac-
tured iron