The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-29


the near future. They argue that the |
country is not satisfied with the Payne
Aldrich tariff law; that the Republicans |
are responsible for the prevailing high
prices of food; that the majority In Con-
gress has not fulfilled the pledges made
in the Chicago platform. OF course,
such an outcry was to be expected. The
mere fact that the tariff had nothing
to 90 with the result of the election in
the Fourteenth Massachusetts district
tinue TO fiddle upon this one string until
given their quietus next November.
AS to the tariff. The Republican
party, in national convention assem-
bled, adopted a platform which con-
tanned the following plank:
The Republican party declares I'M
equiVocally for a revision of the tariff
by special session of Congress i'm
mediately following the Inauguration
Of the next President, and commends
the steps already taken to this end in
the work assigned to the appropriate
committees of Congress which are now
investigating the operation and effect
of existing schedules. In all tariff legiS-
lation the true principle of protection is
best maintained by the imposition of
such duties as will equal the difference
between the cost and production at
home and abroad, together with rea-
sonable profit to American industries.
We favor the establishment Of maxi
mum and minimum rates to be admin
istered by the President under hmita-
lions fixed by the law, the maximum
TO be available to meet determinations
by foreign countries against American
goods entering their markets, and the
minimum to represent the normal meas
ure of protection at home; the aim and
purpose of the Republican policy being
not only to preserve, without excessive
duties, that security against foreign
competition to which American manu-
faeturers, farmers and producers are
entitled, but also to maintain the high
standard of living Of the wage-earners
of this country, who are the most direct
beneficiaries of the protective system.
The special session was called by
President Taft Immediately following
| his Inauguration. The tariff was re-
vised according to promise. 1t was re-
vised downward. Some Republicans
favored still further reductions; others
believed the rates should go higher in
| some instances. All insisted that the
principle of protection should be re-
tanned. All that was done was with an
/ eye single to the best interests of the
country. The sequel proves that Presi-
dent Taft's assertion that 1t was the
best tariff law ever enacted was found
ed on fact The maximum and mini
mum clause has enabled the admins
tration to make satisfactory terms with
every nation on the face of the globe
Heretofore the United States has been
placed at disadvantage and compelled
to pay the highest rates in many coun-
tries. AS revenue-producing measure
the act is an immense success. Wages
of workingmen have been well main
tanned and in many instances have
been raised. no one not a candidate
for Dippyville should lift his voice
against the Payne-Aldrich bill
The Democrats should not be too vo-
ciferous In their claims. The world isn't
coming to an end very soon, although
the donkey may die at any time. Champ
Clark's comment upon the election of
/ Mr.. Foss was that zone swallow does
not make a summer" while Henry
Watterson cautioned the brethren re-
garding the Cannon incident that "the
victory may be more seeming than
real" If the Democrats can delude
themselves with the idea that the cleo
ton of FOss means a Democratic House
in the next Congress, it is their blessed
privilege to be so deluded. If they
fondly imagine that the people of this
country will ever abandon the principle
of protection for free trade and four
bits day, there is no law against hav-
ing such hallucinations. In the mean
time let the Republicans be of good
cheer. The control of the government
has been placed in their charge and
there 1t is likely to remain.
The Washington Post has the follow
ing to say regarding the promise Of the
Republican party to revise the tariff
at a special session of Congress, and
the election of Mr.. Foss:
The special session was held and the
tariff was revised. The maximum ano
: minimum rates were established, exact
= " according TO the campaign pledge
! The new tariff is declared by President
Taft to be the best the country ha:
ever had. 1t is not perfect. but it is
2 the best that was obtainable. consider
= ing the pressure from innumerable con
flicting interests. The downward re
vlsionists did not get all they wanted
D nor did the other side get all it wanted
e Now, is there any evidence that 1906
Republicans in the Fourteenth distric
of Massachusetts have voted for Mr.
Foss because they are disguised will
= the tariff? The Wetern insurgents al
0 lege that the tariff was made in the in
6 terest of New England. If 1t was, VIII!
should New England repudiate it? Tn
j truth seems to be that Mr. Foss wa
elected in spite of his attack on tn
i tariff, and not because of 1t. Does an!
3 one suppose that he would have pre-
. vailed over Mr. Lowering, for example
I Local and personal considerations wer
of more weight than any national ques
2 ton. It is probable that Massachu
+ sets Republicans, knowing that tn
: tariff law could not be affected b.
. anything Mr.. Foss might do or say
8 chose him in preference to his opponen
\ for reasons wholly apart from nationa
! issues. They could afford to expires
4 their local and personal preferences il
n an off year.
n President Taft, in our opinion. take
q the current hubbub Of tariff criticism
|. ! too seriously We do not see any evi
: dence whatever that the great body o
Z Republicans, the 7,677,4z9 voters VIII
\ cast their votes for the Republican
President and the Republican platform
have changed their minds. or are dIs
: satisfied with tariff legislation or wit
t the general course of the Taft admin
o istration. Mr.. Taft acknowledges tina
he is disheartened sometimes by inces
|, can't fa1It-finding and the sings n