East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-08-03

lete theory of n tariff for revenue only.
1t is said that it has stimulated
business. 1t may be that 1t has, for
the prize of enormous profits Is ex-
ceedingly tempting.
1t is claimed that the average tax
upon dutiable imports is something
| like one per centum less than under
| the Dingley act. This may or may
not be so, for ] have learned to doubt
the accuracy of tariff statements, but
granting the truth of the statement,
| what a superb showing II Is.
We have revised the tariff in re-
Spouse to an overpowering republican
sentiment. and have succeeded in TAX
ing off about one-forty-second of the
average imposition upon dutiable
goods.
In all that has been said by those
who have. during the last year, de-
Tended the measure, there has been
no claim that we either fixed or tried
to fix, the duties according to the
cost of production. and yet that ia
the test, and the only test. by which
the act should be tried If we have any
regard for our plighted word.
l do not intend to review its sched-
ules upon this occasion. | have done
that in another and more appropriate
forum, and expect.to do it again when
the time comes. 1t is no pleasure for
me 10 differ from some of my party
associates upon this subject: but there
is no exigency in public affairs or
party action that can induce me to
say that a thing is good when I be-
70 IA hD1 L.,
true when I believe it to be false.
There are many gratifying reduce
tions in the Payne-Aldrich act, but
upon the whole it is not a fair exem-
plification of the protective policy.
nor is it an honest performance of our
platform promise, and no matter what
happens I will tell the truth as l
see the truth, about It,
Let me, however, again warn re-
publicans who are of my way OF
thinking concerning the shortcom-
: ings of this measure that the failure
of the republican leaders in congress
TO abide by our platform furnishes no
reason for delivering this country in
to the hands of the democrats.
The one thing that can be said in
favor of our recent revision is that
it is vastly better than any tariff
which the democrats could enact
founded upon the exploded theory OF
: levying duties for revenue only. II
would be fatal to commit this coun-
try to any such doctrine, and I know
that republicans have too much pa
triotism and too much intelligence tc
punish a mistake in leadership by de-
! priving our party of power. and turn
ing over the government to politi.
cal organization which holds a view
of the constitution that would paral-
we our efforts in dealing with The
modern problems OF commerce indus.
try and transportation. and which hold
a view OF the tariff that If put into
execution would bring upon us uni
, versal disaster
a Wipe out the Blot
TIL logical. sensible thing to do Is
: to correct our mistake-nOne but re.
q publicans can correct it-and under
II the impulse of the sentiment, grow
ing now by leaps and bounds every
where they will correct II and leave
4 the republican name and republican
@ pledge without a stain in all its won
n derful history.
Our course it seems to me. is Sc
# plainly before us. I do not favor al
- immediate general revision of the tar
d iff. indeed I earnestly hope that w
If may never be compelled to enter an
n other general rtSdjustment of tn
a system.
o. In our last attempt 1t was mad
id clearer than ever before first. tha
III some better way must be found tha
ls we now have Of securing Information
Id as to cost here and abroad; and sec
" ond, that we must amend the sched
b. ules separately As to the first, tn
oy way will be found in the creation o
at an Independent. nonpartisan tariff
lr commission. not to change the Law
es for that is and must remain the wor
e. of congress; but to collect and lay be
fore congress and before the peopl
n the facts
ne When this is done there will b
I. neither high tariff man nor low tar
ns iff man who will venture to disregar
on his duty Fortunately, the deman
sh for such a commission has become al
s. most unanimous among republican,
es and the few who still oppose it wi
lis soon disappear from public life
of We have already made a good be
e. ginning for under the strong and pei
e; sistent recommendations of the pres
n dent congress gave him an appropria
ed ton which he will use insofar as
ut has the power to do it, to get the in
s. formation so necessary to a prope
r. understanding of the subject. Th
ty provision is inadequate; but It give
Us hope that before long we will b
nd able to establish a commission wit
ms full powers and complete equipmen
III As to the second. we must insii
r upon a law or rule of congress thf
g. will allow one schedule to be amend
c. ed or revised without going over tn
ne whole range Of the tariff. We mu!
r. exclude the opportunity for the trade
w and combinations which now disnor
p or tariff legislation. We must mal
III II impossible to coerce or bribe a men
Der of congress into voting for VIII;
all he knows to be wrong in order to g
It what he believes to be right.
1t, Happily, the movement for such
or rule or law is steadily advancing, an
" it will not be long until It, too, wi
" embrace every republican in the lam
no These evidences Of progress cheer I'll
heart Of every patriot We may stan
fast for a principle, but we cann'