Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-27

There were some republicans VINO Op-
posed 1t upon the pretence that 1t was
not carefully prepared. and that 1t
ought to come up as an independent
measure, but the democrats, with very
few exceptions, opposed it because
there was no power on the part OF con-
gress to interfere with the stocks and
bonds issued by corporation created
by a sovereign state. The republicans
who opposed the provision will. | pre-
dict, never again vote against 1t for
they are hearing now the unvarnished
opinions Of mighty constituency, but
the democrats will always oppose It
because it is not consistent with their
ancient theory Of the constitution.
The Tariff Question.
"The second subject In point OF I'M
portance, which cannot safely be
given into the hands of the democratic
party, is the tariff. am now speaking
of course to men who believe as / do,
in a protective tariff as distinguished
from a mere revenue tariff. recog-
nize that there Is q school OF economic
thinkers, writer's and speakers who
conscientiously hold to the doctrines
of free trade, or to the nearest pract1-
cal approach to the abstract theory
a tariff for revenue only. I do not
disparage their honesty or question
their patriotism; but the experience
of the world and the Judgment of his
tory are against them; and large
proportion Of the American people mas
again and again repudfated the doc
trine and has established in so far as
repeated expressions of the popular
will can establish anything, the policy
Of a tariff for the protection OF the
domestic producer as well as for the
raising of revenue. 1t is impossible
and unnecessary for me on this oc-
casion to recite the evidence or re-
neat the arguments which have demon
strated the soundness of the protective
policy. The proof is everywhere
abundant. overwhelming, conclusive.
It is sufficient to say that to every re-
publican Protection" Is the one I'M
VARYING unalterable tenet Of his poll
tical faith The republican party has
always stood for it, stands for 1t now,
and | hope always will stand for it.
The democratic party with equal per-
sistency has always stood. now stands.
and I assume always will stand for it's
cherished delusion-duties for revenue
only.
81 would gladly pause here. If the
time at my command permitted II.
and try out the issue between these op-
posing theories of government, but ]
have assigned to myself another task,
and must not be tempted from my
purpose | detain you on this subject
only long enough to record my pro-
found conviction that the greatness OF
the American nation, the wages Of the
working man, the dignity of labor. the
security Of capital the growth OF the
country and the prosperity OF its cit1-
zens are due in greater degree TO the
protection of our markets from the
unfair competition of foreign LANDS
than to any other one thing found IN
the laws of the Uunite States.
Refers to Negative Vote.
GAS a member of the senate I did
not vote for the tariff law of 1909 and
would cast q like vote again had the
to do so. I have criticised
some Of the schedules OF
this law, and not one of them do de-
sire to withdraw I voted against the
bill because, in my judgment it was
not fair and faithful application OF
the republican doctrine of protection.
To the business of our country. There
were some republicans in congress
who disregarded the commands OF our
platform, but the failure to properly
revise the tariff schedules was due in
nv Judgment, not so much to indifer-
ence toward our promises as it was to
the want OF information. We did tell
the country that we would revise the
tariff by equalizing conditions here and
abroad. That is to say, by imposing
import duties that would measure the
difference between the cost OF produc-
ton in the United States and the cost
Of production in rival countries. Our
difficulty was, that with respect to a
great majority of the items of the tar
if we did not know and could not as
certain what the difference in the cost
Of production is. While there are
many provisions In the tariff law of
vast yoarit 7 shall never defend it as