The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-02
he TALKS TARIFF.
Senator BriStOw Says Promise
Was Not Kept.
Men in Political Power Pre-
vented 1t.
HE MADE PROTEST.
Says He Did Fest to Redeem the
Pledge.
Places Blame on Aldrich and
Ryan.

Alta Vista, Kan, Nov. 2.-"The old
est question in American politics is the
one that is of the most acute interest
in the minds of the people of today
the tariff" declared Senator Joseph
L. Bristow in a speech here last night.
And that question is of acute inter
est today because it has never been
settled right. 1t has outlived every
other question, because the tariff has
been made the vehicle of special priv
ilege. And this country was founded
and its government organized as a pro-
test against special privilege. The
reason is that the tariff, which has
been the subject of so much legisla-
ton, never has been framed in har-
mony with the American idea of the
square deal for both the producer and
the consumer"
That was the Introduction to a Re
publican speech before a Republican
audience by a Republican United
States senator, marking the tremen-
dOus distinction between the new order
and the old in Kansas. Just imagine
what would have happened to a. Re
publican speaker of the old school if
he had commenced a campaign speech
with an admission of that kind. But
the Republican audience here tonight
seemed to like it, they liked all the
rest of the speech as well as this part
of it. For instance: when the Re
publican party continued Senator
Bristow, declared in the Chicago con-
vention of 1908 for tariff that would
simply meet the difference between
the cost of production at home and
abroad it took new ground on the tar
if, it took the right ground; it retain
ed the old doctrine of protection, the
kind that made the Republican party
great; it provides protection for the
labOring man, and protection for the
people against the avarice and greed
OF special privilege.
Didn't Keep Promise.
But" said Senator Bristow, I'VE
did not keep the promise. I do not
propose to defend that special session
of congress nor lie about what occur
red there simply because it was Re
publican congress"
And a Republican cheered that senti-
ment until the senator was compelled
to wait for order
Why was it?' asked the senator
that the promise was not kept? Well,
I'll tell you. 1t was because there were
men who had the political power to pre-
vent it; men who were more interested
in reaping the benefits of a high pro-
tectlve tariff than in keeping their party
if, ' - N''0' d ~ p O's''''e Tar
'I protested against that political
crime in the senate and I protest
against it now before the Republican
voters of Kansas" declared Senator
Bristow. and there was a shout of ap-
proVal that put the Kansas voters who
heard him squarely in line with that
protest. Senator BristoW repeated rub
Der charges against Senator Aldrich
and declared that every denial of Aid
rich only proved the charges made in
his Winfield speech last summer 1T
was evident by the interest of his hear
ers that the Kansas people have not
forgotten the rubber schedule speech.
And just as the Democrats of Alta
Vista were preparing to take encour-
agement from the senator's arraign-
ment of the old line Republicans he