Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-03-07
A BRYAN PLATFORM
SOUNDS KEYNOTE OF REFORM IN
TEXAS SPEECHES.
william J. Bryan Takes Issue with
Senator Bailey on Latfer'S Home
Ground. Laws Down Some funda-
mental Principles of Government
Worth Studying.

In opposition to Bailey's fatally
Fabian policy, Bryans speech, at
Dallas, reinforced by his speech at
Ell PaSO, offered a sound and vigor-
Gus policy to the Democratic party.
To those among us who object to
Bryan because he does not go deep
Ienough or far enough into the tar
iff question, these speeches should
be complete answer True, he
does not demand absolute free trade
and direct taxation. But if he did,
he would be unfit for leadership in
active politics at a time when the
Constitution stands in the way and
there is no general sentiment in ia
vor of a Constitutional amend
ment in that particular But
he does go the full length
of tariff for revenue only
| which is the extreme possibility of
free trade in the United States at
the present stage of public senti-
ment-he does advance elemental ar
guments in support of this demand.
Such sentiments as these appear
again and again in one form or an
other in Bryans Dallas speech.
found not in trying to get a tariff
that will benefit them, but in reduc-
1.-THE security of the masses is to be
ing the tariff to the lowest possible
point.
The masses of the people must not
expect to get their hands into other
peoples pockets; their efforts must
be to keep other peoples hands out
of their pockets.
| began the study of public ques-
tions with the tariff question. and
years ago reached the conclusion that
the protective principle is indefen-
sible from every standpoint.
The man who contends for Incl
dental protection soon becomes as un-
reasonable as the man who asks for
direct protection. Incidental protec-
ton is protection that was not in
tended-a protection that came
without planning; the moment you
begin to plan for protection it ceases
to be incidental and becomes direct
and intended protection, and to de-
fend 1T one must resort to the same
arguments that are used to defend
the protective system in general"
1t was in that spirit that Mr.. Bry-
an at Dallas addressed the Democrats
of Texas, who in their desire to pro-
tect local wool raising, had demand
ed the maintenance CT protection on
raw materials so long as finished
products are protected
In the same spirit, Mr.. Bryan pro-
posed Democratic policy OF nation
al scope for the coming Congression-
al elections, and here is what he
proposed:
q. A platform is a contract be-
tween the candidate elected upon it
and the people who elected him. the
violation of which is an "embezzle-
ment of power"
2. Congressional rules to ENSURE
the rule of the majority on every
question"
3. Free wool and abolition of the
compensatory duties on wollens, to-
| gether with a substantial reduction
in the ad valorem rate on woolens.
| 4. Free lumber, free wood pulp
and free paper.
5. Free hides, leather, harness,
boots and shoes.
6. Free oil and products of OIL
Z. Free iron ore. free coal and
low duties on all manufactures of
iron and steel.
s. Free binding twne, cotton
ties and cotton bagging.
8. Mterial reduction in the cot
ton schedules and in the tariff on
all other necessaries of life, espec-
tally upon articles sold abroad more
cheaply than at nome.
10. Articles competing with trust
made goods to go into the free list.
II. No tariff to be above so per
cent ad valOrem, except liquor and
tobacco, and all rates above % per
cent, excepting those upon liquor
and tobacco, to be reduced one-twen-
tieth each year until 25 per cent
rate is reached, the purpose being to
reduce the tariff gradually to a rev.
enue basis and thereafter to collect
tariff for revenue only"
That platform is no broader than
it ought to be, and no narrower than
is absolutely necessary for effective
purposes under existing political cir
cumstances. The radical free trader
who complains that it does not go
far enough, is probably taking coun-
sci of his impatience instead Of his
judgment; for, short of an improb-
able revolution, this country must
get to a revenue tariff basis before
it can establish free trade. The
conservative Democrat who on the
other hand objects to specifications
SO minute, may not be protection
ist, but he is justly open to suspicion.
The only way to bind political lead
ers is to substitute specific for gen.
eral instructions.
The candidate for Congress next
fall, who makes that platform his
pledge to and contract with his con-
stituents, ought to be supported by
democratic Democrats whether he
wears the Republican label or the
Democratic. Senator Bailey has ex-
posed himself by attacking it. Mr..
Bryan has again served his party and
his country well by proposing it.
The Public Chicago.