Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-03-25

The last tariff law enacted by Con-
gress has been the subject of contin-
uous discussion in the editorial col
umns of the national press during
the past few months and has also
been the basis for several special
news articles. For the most part
these editorials and articles have
been of a criticising nature. Espe-
cially has this been true of those pub
lished in the democratic press. Once
in a while a republican paper has
seen fit to criticise the law and on
the occasion OF the recent Line oln
day banquet in Denver, Ex-Congress-
man Robert w. Bonynge, had for his
subject "The Tariff Law" and dis
cussed it at length. He not only
proved that the law was fulhllment
of the party promises to the people.
but that it was the best law the ma
ton has ever enjoyed on the tariff
question. He maintained that the re-
vision of the tariff was downward as
promised. and that neither the repub-
1ican party or press has anything to
fear on the final results that will ac-
crue from the practical operation OF
the new measure.
q T..
IF you will fairly and impartially
free from personal prejudice, you will
find, I am confident, that the sehed-
ules of the bill that are most bitterly
attacked outside OF Colorado are
those in which the people of our
state were most vitality interested in
having the Dingley rates maintained.
refer especially to the duties on
ores, on sugar, and on wool. You
will, I am sure, II you will make an
examination of the bill, reach the con-
clusion that, with the possible excep-
tion of the repeal of the duty on
hides, all the agricultural and miner
al products Of Colorado are afforded
adequate and just protection by its
provisions.
"rhe republican party did not
promise to reduce all duties. II
promised a revision of the Dingley
tariff law along protective lines.
which was fairly construed to mean
q reduction Of any duties that were
found to be excessive and the impo-
sition Of new duties where such were
shown to be necessary. Every tariff
law ever enacted has necessarily in
volved some compromises. The con-
stitution Of the United States could
never have been adopted il the, thir-
teen colonies had not been willing to
compromise some of their differences
From that time to the present. COM
promises on some features have been
found necessary. in all important leg
islation for . country of such vast
area, with such varied resources. and
with the conflicting interests of our
different sections and our people.
The Payne tariff Law is no exception
TO that general rule. On the whole,
however, an unbiased examination of
its provisions cannot fail to satisfy
you that i IS compliance with the
pledges of the republican national
platform.
A recapitulation of the results of
the revision will demonstrate that the
Payne act lowered the duty on arti-
clcs whose yearly consumption in this
country amounts in value to 5000
100000. II raised the duty on arti-
cIcs whose yearly consumption
amounts to SS5o,ooo,ooo. about two
thirds of which were Injuries. The
net result, then, is that the duties
were lowered on articles OF the value
of 100000 against an increase
of duties on articles of the value OF
S85o,oooooo, including necessaries to
the value of about S27o,oooyooo.
! submit for your candid consider
alton that this shows a revision down
ward and compliance with rcpubli
can pledges.
ask you to remember these facts
and to bear in mind that it j. better
in the end to. remain faithful to the
principles of our party than even to
win a temporary victory. II We
should be driven from power because
of the unjust and unreasonable at
tacks of some Of our critics, you may
rest assured that history would re-
peat itself. and after the country had
had another experience with a demo-
cratic congress and a democratic tar
if measure, the republican party
would be restored to power, as it was
under Mckinley. stronger than before
and free from any charge of having
abandoned its principles. which have
ALWAYS proven to be for the best in
terests and welfare of the entire
country, and particularly our state,
with its undeveloped resources.