The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-09-01
TAFT OUTLINES
PARTY POLICY
Chief Executive ExtoIs Good
Work Done Under His Ad-
ministration
PLATFORM PLEDGES ALL KEPT
In Letter TO Chairman Of National
Republican Congressional Commit,
fstees the President Claims Cred
Il for Majority for Much
Good Legislation.

GOOD Le0Isiatlons
Beverly, Mass. Sept. 2s.-The let
ter of President Taft, to be r incor-
porated in the Republican campaign
text book. is substantially as follows:
Beverly. Mass. Aug. 20. 1910.
My Dear Mr.. Mckinley:
As the chairman Of the National Con-
lgressional Republican committee you have
asked me TO give the reason which should
load voters in the coming November cleo
ton to cast their ballots for Republican
candidates for congress. T.
/ assume that when this letter IL given
publicity the lines will be drawn. the
party candidates will have been selected,
and the question for decision will be
whether we shall have in the house Of
representatives a Republican or Demo-
cratic majority. The question then will
be not what complexion of Republicanism
one prefers, but whether 1t Is better for
the country to have the Republican party
control the legislation for the next two
years and further redeem Its promises, or
to enable a Democratic majority In the
house either to tnterpcse a veto to RE-
publican measures, or to formulate and
pass bills 70 carry out Democratic prin-
ciples Prominence has been given during
the preliminary canvasses just ended TO
the differences between Republicans; but
in the election such differences should be
forgotten. Differences within the party
were manifested in the two sessions OF
the present congress. and yet never In
its history has the Republican party pass
ed and become responsible for as mueh
useful and progressive legislation. So.
while issues will doubtless arise between
members of a Republican majority as to
l.,srl esl Tan
ty. as a whole, will show itself In the
future as in the past. practical and pa
triotic In subordinating Individual opin-
ions in order to secure real progress.
Hence II is important that after Repuo-
lican congressional candidates have been
duly and fairly chosen. all Republicans
who believe in the party principles as De
ciared IN It's national platform OF 1903
should give the candidates loyal and eff
fectiye support II this Is done there VIII
be no doubt Of a return OF a Republican
majority So t.E.-
In Case Of Democratic Majority.
The only other alternative is Demo-
cratic majority 1t Is difficult, very Diff
cult to state all the principles that would
govern such a majority In its Legislative
course: and this because Its party plat
forms have presented a variety OF planks
1j6t altogether consistent, and because IN
the present congress, leading democratic
IN the senate and the house have nor nesl-
tated TO lrepudiate certain of their party
pletiges and to deny their binding char
aeter. We may reasonably assume, how
ever. that Democratic majority In the
house would reject the Republican doc
trine of protection as announced In 1908.
Let US consider, summarily, the prom
ises made and the legislation enacted by
the present congress; First. and of pri-
mary Importance. was the promise TO re-
wise the tariff in accordance with the rule
laid down In the platform, to-wit: That
the tariff on articles imported should be
equal to the difference between their cost
Of production abroad and that cost In this
country including a reasonable profit for
the domestic manufacturer. very full
fr,yestigation-full, at feast, as such In
yestigati have been conducted In the
past-was made by the ways and means
committee of the house to determine what
rates should be changed to conform to
this rule. A reduction was made in six
hundred and fifty-four numbers, and an
increase in some two hundred and twenty.
while eleven hundred and fifty remained
unchanged. The bill was amended In the
senate but the proportion of increases to
decreases was maintained. When I signed
the BILL accompanied by approval with
the Following memorandum:
Payne Tariff Bill Explained.
II, have signed the Payne tariff bill be-
cause / believe II to be the result OF
sincere effort on the part of the Republi-
can party to make a downward revision,
and to comply with the promises OF the
platform as they have been generally I'M
derstood, and as I interpreted them In the
campaign before election. "
''The bin is not perfect tariff BILL or
a complete compliance with the promises
made strictly interpreted, but fulhlment
free from criticism in respect to a subject
matter Involving many schedules and
thousands of articles could not be ex-
pected There have been a great num-
Der of real decreases in rates. and they
constitute a sufficient amount TO justify
the statement that this, bill Is a substan-
tial downward revision and a reduction
OF excessive rates. This Is not free
trade bill! Tt was not intended TO be.
sfhe Republican party did not promise to
make free-trade bill iItvpremised to
make the rates protective, but to reduce
them when they exceeded the difference
Between the cost OF productions abroad
ana here. making allowance for the great
er normal profit on active investments
here. I believe that while this excess has
dot been reduced In a number OF cases.
III q great majority the rates are such
10 are necessary to protect American In
dustries, bgt are low enough, in case of
ABNORMAL increase Of demand and rails
ir,g OF prices, to permit thu possibility OF
xiis importation Of the foreign article and
.hus to prevent excessive prices.
1.-THE power granted to the executive
under tiis maximum and minimum clause
may be exercised to secure the removal
OF obstacles which have been interposed
by foreign governments in the way OF un-
due and unfair discrimination against
American merchandise and products
! The Payne tariff blu is the ffrst bill
passed by the Republican party In which
the necessity for reducing rates 10 avoid
chse evil has been recognized, and Il Ia
tIleFefors decided step In the right a.
Snction and It ought to be accepted as
Euch. On the whole, 1t was a downward
revision, particularly on articles OF neces-
Shy and on raw materials. tf -
Ebe charge that the present tariff is
rSslponsible for the increase In the prices
d ukcesaities 10 -demonstrably false. be-
cause tho high prices, with very few en-
eeptionS. affect articles In the tariff upon
@tsch there was no increase In rates or
tArcspect 70 which there was sabstan-
nal reduction ~ @iH taifF
M Tssiff Commission. s3s'4
Pexhaps more important than any one
fsatpSA OF the operative part OF the tariff
law d thar section which enables the
executive 70 appoint tasift edmnission
~ hQksd a. senNre the nse1s6 infoeEnation
~ he Is9Rfy amendQsps aea Resfsstlea