Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-03


only pledged the incoming congress to
a revision Of the tariff. but defined the
doctrine Of protection with care and
precision unknown to any former plat
form. It solemnly prescribed a rule
with which to measure import duties,
to the end that both producer and con-
sumer, both capital and labor, might
share in our prosperity. You remem-
Der 1t well, but nevertheless quote IT.:
The republican party declares I'M
equivocally for q revision OF the tariff
by a 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 com
mitteeS of congress which are now In
vestigating the operation and effect OF
existing schedules. In all tariff leg
islation the true principle of protec-
ton is best maintained by the IMPOSE
ton Of such duties as will equal the
difference between the cost OF pro-
duction at home and abroad, together
with reasonable profit to American
industries. We favor the establishment
OF maximum rates to be administered
by the president under limitations fix
ed in the law, the maximum to be
available to meet discrimination by
foreign countries against American
goods entering their markets, and the
minimum to represent the normal
measure of protection at home, the aim
and purpose of the republican policy
being not only to preserve, without ex-
cessive duties, that security against
foreign competition which American
manufacturers, farmers and producers
h1tS al 70 in ai
high standard of living of the wage
earners of this country, who are the
most direct beneficiaries of the protec-
tive system. Between the United States
and the Philippines we believe in a
free interchange of products with such
limitations as to sugar and tobacco as
will afford adequate protection to do
nestle interests"
Upon this pledge, definition, and rule
we appealed to the country for the
election of republican president and
a republican congress. The country,
believing profoundly in maintaining
our own industries, and reposing i'm
plicit faith in the promise that export
duties would. in the revision to take
place, he measured by the difference
between the cost of production at home
and abroad, elected a republican presi-
dent and a republican congress
In redemption of the pledge so made,
the president convened the new con-
gress in special session, and it did re-
wise the tariff
l have never been much interested in
the debate over the technical PROPOSE
ton that our promise was to revise the
tariff downward. Beyond dispute, the
people generally expected that it would
be revised downward, because they
knew that the duties were too high,
and were greatly more than the differ
ence between the cost of production
here and elsewhere
What the Pledge Was.
But whatever may have been said in
the campaign, l agree that there was
no formal pledge in the platform to re-
wise the tariff downward.
There was, however, pledge that it
should be revised so that the duties up
on protected commodities should be the
difference between the cost of produce
ing them here and in other countries,
with a fair profit added, and the intent,
as everyInody will concede, was, that
our manufacturers should be able TO en-
Ter our markets and sell their products
at fair price as against their foreign
tent that grossly excessive profits
growing out Of abnormal prices should
be prevented by reducing the duties
to point that would admit importa-
tons whenever our own manufacturers
raised their prices above the level of
fairness and decency.
Such was the platform and such was
the purpose that it became the duty OF
congress to carry into effect. believe
that ninety-ni1e republicans in every
hundred desired a revision that would
keep the faith and accomplish the pur-
pose. believe that the president want
ed TO fulfill the promises of the party,
and TO make good his own declarations;
but the leaders OF both the house and
the senate refused 10 recognize the
party pledge: refused to be guided by
the rule which had been announced,
and forced thru congress tariff bill
without even the pretense of attempt
ing TO ascertain, or Of applying when
ascertained. the standard which the
party had established.
The bill made many reductions and
many increases-but the reductions
were of little or no avail for they left
the duties still far above the difference
in cost of production. and therefore
permitted the protected manufacturers
not only to charge existing prices. bu,
to lit them still higher, and the in
creases We're, III nearly every instance
not only without reason in fact, but
without defense in debate
Some republicans, having done all
they could to make the bill what it
should have been, finally voted for it
and l have no word of censure for
them. for they did what they believed
to be their duty. Some of us voted
against the bill, and we make nc
apology for our votes.
Open Reputation of Pledges.
If there had been an honest attempt
TO fix duties according to the cost OF
production I might have yielded my
view on the question of fact; but there
was no such attempt. and I, for one
refused to follow, and would refuse
again to follow Aldrich, Hale, Lodge
Cannon. Payne and DaIzen into a
sneering. contemptuous. open repudia-
ton of my party platform
1t is not republican measure, althc
passed by republican votes, for the mer
who are chiefly responsible for IL
thought more of swelling the over
grown fortunes OF their Intimate
friends than they thought Of the party
principles. the party pledge, or the
welfare OF a long suffering people
1t is said that the law has been sue.
cessful from revenue standpoint. This
is quite trlia. HIT rorct y,a ras,,o~,