New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-29
THERE HE BELONGED.

Mr.. Dix is out Of his element running
for Governor of this state. He ought 10
he 4 candidate for the United States
Senate. where. if elected. he would be
welcomed with open arms by the ardent
tariff revisionists Of his own class ana
faith. who believe in lower duties on all
articles except those produced 10y them
selves or their constituents. Had MI
Dix been in the Senate when the Payne
tariff bill was under consideration he
could have acted in full communion with
those Democratic statesmen who go out
on the hustings and thunder i'll favor OF
freer trade and tariff for revenue only,
but who always cast their votes in Con-
cress for the highest possible duties on
things in which they have fireside In
terest.
As "Old Lincrusta- Walton" he would
have ranked with "Old AIoIasseS." "Old
Pineapples. odd Sassafras, odd Que
hracho." odd Rawhides'' and "Old
Loblolly Pine" in the gallant company
of Democrats who stood for downward
revision and a lowering Of the cost or
living in the abstract. but who dlon I
want the cost of living lowered at their
own expense or that of their communl-
ties. When Senator John ". Daniel. OF
Virginia. was appealing for hlSher
tariff rate on quebracho. which is made
10 some extent In the Old Dominion. he
was reminded that he was asking for a
protective and not revenue duty l
don't care what you call it" he re-
snondpd. I'm for it." When Senators
Fletcher and TaliaferrO. Of Florida.
nIeaded for an advance in the duty on
pineapples 10 figure far above that
of the Dingley law. some Republican Sen
atorS INQUIRED whether the increase was
being advocated on the ground that it
would give more protection or furnish
more revenue. and the two Senators re-
rljed that they would be glad 70 see
votes east for their amendment from
either or both motives. Senator Tillman
urged a duty on tea because there was
a plantation in South Carolina which
wanted TO put an American tea upon the
home market Senator Smith. OF Mary
land. fought desperately against a
higher duty on pineapples. because the
MARYLAND canneries didn't want the
price Of pineapples raised. but struG-
cipd with equal desperation against the
lowering Of the duties on lumber be
cause lia didn't think that the Southern
lumber companies ought to be compelled
To contribute 10 the cause Of cheaper
living by scaling down lumber prices.
In that patriotic band Mr.. Dix would
have felt at home. F'lourishing in one
hand the letter which his partner, Mr..
Hunpucf. wrote 10 the Ways and Means
Committee of the House of Representa-
tives requesting an increase in the duties
on wallpaper. he could have said: Call
1t higher protection. if You Will; I'm for
ct" while when the iron and steel pot
terv or glassware and other schedules
were under consideration. he could have
reneated the touching complaint Of his
acceptance speech against the excessive
and UBIQUITOUS rates of the Payne tariff
law on products not manufactured in
the vicinity Of Thomson. As "0ld Lin
cruSta- Walton" he could have gone down
t. fame with the other Democratic
statesmen who by their votes at the
extra session Of 1909 indicated General
Hancock's historic remark that among
Democrats the tariff is and always will
be "a local issue" 1t is 2 pity that he
didn't have a chance To shine in situa-
ton which would have fitted him like
the PAPER on the wall.