The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-01-06
DEMOCRATIC PROSPECTS.
written by w. ]. Bryan for Norman
II. Mack's National MOnthly.)

Written by w. j. Bryan for Norman
Il. Mack's National Monthly.)
We ought to elect democratic
congress this year-there would be
no doubt about it but for the I'M
fortunate division that manifested
itself in our party during the dis
cussion of the Aldrich bill. The at
tempt of some of the democratic
members and senators to secure pro-
lection for local interests put them
in the attitude of opposing reduc-
tions proposed by the progressive re-
publicans. While the rates asked
by these protectionist democrats
were low as compared with the high
rates of manufactured products still
the very fact that they demanded
Protection, and not only demanded
protection but More protection, in
some instances, than the progressive
republicans were ready to give to
those particular articles puts our
party on the defensive when it urges
tariff reduction. In addition to sup
porting protective duties few of the
democratic representatives in the
senate and the house attacked the
national platform and denied the
binding force of platforms. The po-
sition was so broadly stated in some
cases as to make the platform worse
than. useless il such position is en-
dorsed by the democrats of the ma
ton.
A platform that is not binding is a
fraud, because it invites support on
a pledge that is only made to be
broken. / am sure that the almost
unanimous sentiment among demo-
Gratis is that a platform is binding
upon the representative, and that to
violate it in letter Or in spirit is not
only undemocratic but subversive to
to the principles of representative
government. 1t is sometimes urged
that platform ought not to go into
detail, but that depends upon condi-
tons. The convention which adopts
a platform has authority to decide
whether it will deal with general
principles or present specific de-
mands. The official cannot, after his
election, reject the platform upon
which he secured his position.
Most of the democratic votes cast
against proposed reduction were de-
the ground that raw materials
should be taxed as long as there is a
tax on the manufactured product,
and, strange to say, the democrats
who presented this defense insisted
that they were only asking for a
revenue tariff A tariff that is asked
for the Purpose of protecting pro-
Queer of raw material can not be
called a revenue tariff, no matter
how small it is. A revenue tariff is
Il tariff collected for the purpose of
raising revenue and without regard
to the question of protection. There
may be incidental protection under a
revenue tariff, but a tariff is not in
eidental when it is planned for and
demanded on the ground of Justice
4 to the producer of raw MATERIAL or
on the ground that it is not flair" to
subject the producer of raw mater
ial to foreign competition as long as
there is a tariff on manufactured
products.
Those who voted against reduc-
tions vigorously denounced protec-
tion to manufacturers, overlooking
entirely the fact that large part of
the protection secured by manufac-
turerS is under the guise of compen-
satory duties. Whenever a tax is
placed upon raw material it is i'm
mediately transferred to the consum-
er by the imposition of a tax on the
manufactured article. Even fiat
ad valorem tax on both raw material
and manufactured products much
more than compensates the manufac-
turer for the tax imposed upon raw
material because the raw material is
but a part of the total value of the
article, while ad valorem tax is col
lected on the entire value. 1t is inn
possible to secure any reduction in
the tariff on manufactured goods
without reducing the tariff on raw
material, and a much larger adj
vantage can be given to the consum-
er in the way of reduction if raw
material can be placed on the free
list.
While our chances of winning the
next congress has been seriously i'm
paired by the votes cast and speeches
made by democrats in favor of local
protection, still this disadvantage
can be, in measure, overcome ii
our democratic candidates will come
out upon strong platforms, declaring
first, that a platform is binding, Sec
ond, declaring against Cannonism
and in favor of the restoration OF
popular government in the house OF
representatives; third, in favor OF
specific reductions in the tariff.
: have proposed the following plat
form:
L. A platform is pledge, given
by the candidate to the voters, and
when ratified at the polls becomes
a contract between the official and
his constituents. To violate it in
letter or in spirit, is not only undem-
ocratic, but repugnant to the prin-
ciples of representative government
and constitutes an embezzlement OF
power.
@. We denounce the depotism
known as Cannonism and favor such
an amendment to the rules of the
national house of representatives as
will restore popular government in
& ~. L I No Nf + h.