Arizona republican., 1910-07-25
PHoENIx. ARIZONA. JULY 25. 1910.
The Temptations of the Tariff.

The Temptations of the Tariff.
 Speaking at the Council Grove. Kans, chautauqua the other day on his plan for a reformation of the tariff system, Senator Cummins said:
 This would eliminate the intoler- able evils of the present system, combination with other members to vote for many schedules he believes absolutely wrong to get the schedules he believes right"
 It is unnecessary to refer to the senator's plan of reform. It is plainly designed to prevent that form of CO., operation technically known as log rolling As to the efficacy of his plan, we have nothing to do at this time. We design only to call attention to the fact that the particular evil he mentions is impossible under the present system. The whole record of tariff legislation, we think, will show that such an evil as the senator de- scribes never occurred. If the pres ent system should endure for thou sand years it would probably not occur-a conscientious congressman voting for a tariff schedule he knows 10 be wrong in order 10 secure votes for one he believes to be right.
 There are multiplied instances. how ever, of a congressman voting for schedules he knows to be wrong in exchange for votes for schedule which his constituents want The right or wrong of if is not con- sidered.
 We do not mean that all congress- men so barter votes; but it is not reasonable to suppose that any con- gressman who is desirous of correct ing schedules regardless of the effect upon his constituents would consent to a defect in one place in order that it might be flawless in another.
 The disinterested congressman is more likely to vote for the schedules he believes to be right and to vote against those he believes to be wrong.
 Senator Cummins was, no doubt. aware of all this and presented an imaginary evil to the chautauqua to make it appear that the present sys- tenn is so bad that eveR the pure minded are often led into tempta- ton, and that those of the present tariff reformers who have been so tempted, yielded in order that the tariff might be corrected in other places.
 Though the foregoing sustains no relation to what follows, we can not forbear allusion to an incident of the tariff discussion in the late con- gress. The lead and zinc schedules were under consideration in the sen- ate. When the name of that ar dent reformer, Senator La Fol lette. was reached on the roll call he rose to state that previous to his entrance upon official life he had acquired an interest in certain lands which had afterward been found to be lead and zinc bearing The pro- posed schedules would favorably af- feet him He was constrained. there fore. to withhold his vote.
 Golfers Weekly, which finds all re- formers and insurgents habitually sin less. found in this reticence of Sen ator La Toilette special proof of his righteousness, of his Spartan self denial, and not once, but at least twice. that journal has quoted MT La Follette's words and compared his course with that of various regular republicans similarly tempted and tried.
 But to less prejudiced mind than that of Golfers editor it would seem that MT. La Toilette neglected 6 re- formers opportunity. He had not, i' is true. gone 'the whole hog" but he went half a hog"
 Those proposed schedules were either right or wrong. MT. La Fol lette, who had had pronounced views on all the other schedules must have formed an impression as to these The impression of the country gener- ally, and of Senator Bristow and other insurgents particularly. was that they were wrong MT. Bristow is now de- lending his vote against them. Yet La Toilette, the tariff refOrmer. the owner of zinc and lead lands, with held his vote.
 The tariff. indeed. is filled with pitt falls and snares for the feet of the pure in heart Any plan Mir Cum mins may have for a reformation Of the system should involve a change of human tendencies and the elim- ination of human selfishness. along with all other evils of the tariff.