The Washington herald., 1910-12-15

Henry watterson, the editor of the
Louisville Courier-Journal. speaking of
the Democratic plans for tarin reform
yesterday, said: 1T is an error 10 state,
as some OF the newspaper reports are
doing, that any definite plan OF tariff
revision was arrived at or agreed upon
by the conference OF Monday night Some
brushwood was got out of the way and
a clearing made in the labyrinth Of con-
fusion and misunderstanding which al
ways guards the approaches to the robber
castle OF proteetionism. No serious dis
sonance of opinion appeared. and there
was a consensus OF opinion that the prtn-
ciple of revenue opposed to the principle
Of protection should constitute the bed
rock of whatever plan the coming Ways
and Means Committee shall adopt.
THE main point is to get busy as soon
as possible, so as 10 have our caissons
filled with ammunition when the Demo-
cratic House meets next December. To
this end the newly elected members will
be asked TO come here and a tentative
Committee on Ways and Means be named
10 go 10 work at once with the partition
of labor and the collection of data. which
cannot be obtained by the government
and must be relegated TO experts en-
ployed for the purpose. There Is an
abundance OF surface information-often
Observation-Disclosures very little exact in
formation.
MANY Democrats are clamoring for
radical declarations and drastic measures,
quite forgetting that after the collapse
Of the Cleveland programme of 1Ssi-lS95,
we are back where we were in 1915, The
general education of the country and its
preparation for change from protec-
tive TO a revenue system will have TO be
begun all over again.
May OFFER bipartisan Plan.
1.-THE Democratic party is not an arch
itect of ruin and destruction, but a
builder, which II VIII show itself If in
trusted with complete power and respon-
sibility. as it did in the enactment OF
the Walker tariff. the wisest measure,
both of revenue and development, We
have ever had.
Since the Senate is Republican. We
might offer it, in the character OF pa
triots-and not partisans-a nOnpolitical
OF bipartisan measure of experimental
revision, eliminating the excuses and
leaving the country 20 decide In 1912 be-
tween the principle of protection and the
principle Of revenue. AS a brOad-minded
American, much distrusting confusing
frictions and acrimonies of party con-
fict. / should like TO see a question SO
momentous discussed upon its merits
and settled both justly and scientifically.
But / do not expect this. Like slavery,
the tariff is the kingpin Of political agi-
tation, and such it is likely TO continue.
Tariff commissions IRE merely schemes
for delay and pleas in allegiance The
question will never be settled until IL is
settled right; and it can never be SET
tied right except on a revenue basis.
because the government has no right in
equity or law TO levy and collect dol
lar OF taxation except for its own sup
port
THE real question. therefore, for the
manufacturers TO consider is whether
they will let US Democrats settle II on
the revenue basis, or, following the ex-
ample set them by the planters of the
South with respect to slavery. they will
leave it to be settled during some period
Of commercial and industrial famine by
the mob"