The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-20
KANSAS INSURGENTS AND TAFT.

1
| Up in opposition to President Taft They
are asking for specific instances where
Governor Stubbs has openly denounced
| Mr.. Taft In the same breath they
make inquiry of Mr.. Wagstaff and his
| friends as to whether they endorse the
action of Aldrich and Cannon on the
tariff question or whether they stand
with the insurgents in congress who
worked for the great common people
OF this country.
And N this fashion do they provide
the answer as 10 whether or not Gov
crnor Stubs and his followers are sup
portrs of President Taft or opposed to
him. President Taft is on record as
being most favorably impressed with
the tariff law that the insurgents refer
to as the work of Cannon and Aldrtch.
He calls it the best tariff law that has
ever been placed on the federal statute
books. How can insurgents in Kansas
or anybody else, for that matter, be in
sympathy with President Taft if they
are so unalterably opposed to the tariff
law as it now stands?
Concerning this self-same tariff law.
President Taft is also Of the belief that
it is a tariff law decidedly in the in
lSIVSbS VI Tic SISdI COIlIllOIl PSOP4S VI
this country" On this subject he pre-
scented some convincing information in
the speech he delivered at the Lincoln
birthday banquet Of the Republican
club of New York city. Among other
things he said: I'm the new tariff there
were 654 decreases, go increases, and
1,15G items Of the dutisble list I'M
changed, but this did not represent the
FL
tons and the increases, because the
duties were decreased on those articles
which had consumption value Of
nearly $1,000, o0o,0 900, while they were in
creased on those articles which had a
cons umption value of less than 81 000,-
100000. OF the increases the consump-
ton value of those affected which are
of luxuries, towit. silks, wines, liquors,
perfumsries, ponades, and like articles,
amounted to nearly $500 000, 900; While
the increases NOT on articles OF luxury
affected but about $500, 900, 900. as agains.
decreases on about $4,000, 100000 of con-
sumption. 1 repeat, therefore, that this
was a downward revision. 1t was not
downward with reference to silks or
liquors or high priced cottons in the
nature of luXurics. 1t was downward
in respect to nearly all other articles
except woolens, which were not affect
ed at all Certainly 1t was promised
that the rates on luxurieS should be
reduced. The revenues were falling off.
there was a deficit promised, and it was
essential that the revenues should be
Increased. 1t was no violation of the
promise to increase the revenues by
increasing the tax or luxuries, provided
there was downward revision on all
other articles. The one substantial de-
feet in compliance with the promise of
the platform was the failure to reduce
woolens. Does that defect so color the
action of the Republican party as to
make it a breach of faith leading to
its condemnation? / do not think So
Parties are like men. Revisions are
like the work Of men-they are not per-
feet. The change which this tariff eff
fected was a marked change down
ward in the rate Of the duties. and 1t
was a recognition by the party that
the time had come when instead of in
creasing duties they must be decreas-
cd. when the party recognized in its
platform, and in much of what it did,
that the proper measure of protection
was the difference in cost in the pro-
duction of articles here and abroad in
Guiding a fair profit to the manufac-
turer.
Since that speech was delivered in
disputable evidence has been pre-
scented of the value of the new tariff
law in its actual workings. Further
c. idence has been presented by it to
show that the tariff does not play much
of a part in the prices of things, es-
pecialIy commodities in general use and
for which there is a great demand. For
some commodities on which the tariff
duty was taken off entirely are now
bringing a greater price in the market
than they cid before the new tariff law
went into effect.
But the tariff is not the only matter
| on which there is disagreement be-
| tween the ideas of President Taft and
the Kansas insurgents. All of the
| Stubs organs are against Ballirger,
who is championed by President Taft.
| They apparently have no better rea-
son than that the excoriation of
Ballinger is fine field for undertaking
and also exploiting as deficient
president who believes in him.
Loud applause also goes up from
| the ms 1rgents in Kansas at each and
/ every new effort of the insurgents in
| the senate to tear from the railroad
bill the many important suggestions
which President Taft deems essential
for a proper and just regulation of the
railroads.
President Taft Believes that the sys-
tenn on which the federal judiciary has
been reared is the correct one and he
| looks upon this judiciary as one of
the bulwarks of national life. Cover
nor Stubbs would tear this system TO
tatters. if he could. He doesn't think
il is worth anything, that it tramples
on the rights of the people instead of
protecting them.
! II iS a MACMILLAN condition IF mind