The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-08-27
B 4 prEMocRATlc sauIRM.

The Democratic papers OF the First
Congressional district have been do
ing nobly IN defending free trader Da.
VS., the man who talks like Wilson,"
but they have had hard task. The
Z Clnrksburg Telegram very cleverly
comments on their efforts in the fol-
lowing interesting editorial:
Squirming around under the criti-
cism brought upon itself by its dis
scussion OF the tariff question, the Fair
mont Times makes some peculiar ad-
missions.
In the first place the Times makes
the same mistake o number OF other
Democratic newspapers have made,
that oil assuming that all tariff legis-
lstion Of whatever kind that has
been accomplished by Republicans
was born in iniquity, nourished in
sfalsehood and deception and worked
out in Its maturity for the single
4 purpose of robbing the people. Then,
with hypocrisy written all over itself,
the Times has the gall to say that
IL Is distressed because the Republic
: can newspapers constantly misrcpre-
sent .the tariff and Democratic Views
upon 1t. In other words, the Times
asserts that all protectionists, in
GLIDING of course such great states
men as Washington, Franklin, Ham
,ilton, Lincoln, Mckinley and Roose.
welt, have been thieves and robbers;
that there Is no honesty of purpose
nor moral good in any person or any
measure that has been known as Re.
publican. With great below OF
false Indignation the Times thus
Jumps mot the court of public opln-
! ion and asks to be relieved OF alleged
unjust Misrepresentation!
The Times went into spasm OF
secstacy q week or so ago when the
Democratic congressional nominee OF
the First, district enunciated free
trade tariff principles in public
speech at Fairmont and that ncwspa.
per lauded the nominee to the dome
OF heaven because his principles
we're like those OF William L. VII.
son and because he talked lust like
WILSON," Now then the Times has
the nerve to intimate that there is
not an intelligent, free trade Demo-
crat In the United States and that
Davis and other Democrats are not
more free traders than Cummins and
other Republicans!
Apparently the Times Is ashamed
OF its former blanket Endorsement of
I the free trade theory and is now try.
ling to delude the voters into the be.
lief that the Democrats would, If
elected, give them measure of the
protection that has made this coun.
try so prosperous under Republican
administrations. If this Is not pure
deception on the part OF the Times,
It Is at least sQuirm that can be
discerned among the whole family OF
( Times readers.
Again, the Times believes the tariff
Is purely a local issue because Gen.
eral Hancock said so. The tariff is
a local issue in Its inception, but 1t
ought not to be made local issue
IN; is national application. The Re.
publican party believes in. justice
and equal rights to all. A tariff
principle that is good for one section
OF the country ought to be good for
another section and the principle
that is injurious to one section ougn,
to be regarded as injurious in its
specific application to another section.
And here is shown one OF the chief
faults of the Democratic theory of In.
cidental protection that the Times ap.
pears now so willing to advocate over
its recent sweeping Endorsement OF
8 freeI trade In Its entirety, for the
Times apparently wants n little pro.
lection hero and q little free trade
there.
St}slAs a matter of fact, the Times has
7 no definite, orderly, logical tariff sys.
tenn upon which to base its arguments
and In that respect It is just like the
Democratic party nationally. Neither
knows just what 1t wants, unless, per
haps. 1t Is the desire TO get into of
fee at any hazard.