Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-05-10
"BEsT TARIFF BILL EVER PASSED"

BEST TARIFF BILL EVER PASSED''
 The republican national platform of 1908 promised tariff revision. It is true that the platform did not explicitly state that this re- vision would be downward; but the promise was response to-a widespread demand from the people to be relieved from the expressions of high prices bred by too high tariff rates
 During the campaign William Howard Taft, running for the presidency on that platform, emphatlcally construed the party promise to mean revision downward, and he added that the party would be held responsible by the people for its failure to keep that promise
 During the extra session in which the tariff was revlsed-not downward, in the interests of the people, but upward in the interests of a greedy and powerful few--the president stated that he did not know much about the tariff, and instead of demanding that the right kind of re- vision be made he took the stand that the pres: dent ought not to interfere in legislation. and played golf. Nevertheless, he could and did in terfere in legislation to prevent the passage of an income tax law, and now he is interfering in Legislation to procure the passage of his admin lstratlon measures, and to prevent their amend ment by men who stand for the people.
 After the bill was passed the president pro- nounced it the best tariff law ever passed by the republican party, and to support his view he used figures prepared for him by Payne, Aid rich and other supporters of tariff in the in terest of the "interests.'
 What is the result of it all?
 The people have not been convinced by the president that the Aldrich- Payne-Taft law is a good measure, that it is an honest response to their demand for relief or that it is an honest compliance with the party promise. If anything mas been effected, 1t IS popular conviction that the sort of tariff law now approved by Presi- dent Taft is the best that ever can be hoped for from the republican party
 Since the tariff law was passed, five mem- bers of congress have died Five men have been elected in their places. In each of these cleo tions the tariff was an issue; in most of them it was the main issue. In not single instance has republican been elected to fill a vacancy In not a single instance has man been elected who approved the Aldrich- Payne Taft tariff law, or who failed to rebuke it and the system that gave 1t being.
 Two of these five elections were in Virginia and Georgla, where the election of democrats was certain. One was in Missouri. where the republicans nominated a standpatter because the dlstrlct was close and they thought they could bluff It through. In that district demo- crat was elected by the largest majority in years The other two were in New York and Massachusetts, and in each the republicans nominated standpatter who was defeated by men running on the democratic ticket. though obVlously they were voted for with entire disre gard of partisan considerations. In each of these latter two cases old-time republican ma JOfltleS so large that they seemed unravoro;hIo Ia were turned into overwhelming democratic pluralities
 On the whole, doesn't it seem that the .sbestI tariff bill ever passed" and the party that ere ated 1t are having rather hard sedding?