Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-05-28
Defending the Tariff.

OF unrest among certain classes of peO-
pie: the people who think that their
special interests have been overlooked,
the men of opposite political faith
and the chronic grouches. These
three classes have never been at a loss
for topic of conversation for at least
year after the tariff bills have gone
into effect, unless some war scare has
arisen to distract the attention of the
people. Fortunately for these noise
makers. and unfortunately for the
tariff bill of 1909. (and in spite of the
strenuous efforts of our friend Hob
son there was no war scare available).
the tariff has had the undivided atten-
tion of these kickers for number of
months
BY pretending to know what they
were talking about and by posing as
deeply wronged individuals. as well as
by pointing to the high prices of GER
tain commodities. the disappointed
special interests. the people of oppo-
site political faith and the chronic
grouches have succeeded in holding the
talked themselves out. Now the friends
of the DILL are having their turn and
the array of facts and figures they are
presenting not only neutraliZes the eff
forts of their predecessors on the stage
but is rapidly making them ridiculous.
The Detroit Journal in commenting
upon a recent speech by Congressman
Henry Sherman Boutell on the Payne
tariff act, notes that the assailants
have been assuming the role OF accus-
ers and prosecutors before the people.
Congressman Boutell reversed the Or
der.
"The general public has listened pa
tiently and a portion of the public has
hardened credulously to the attacks
on the act" says the Journal. "They
have listened closely of late and with
growing illumination to the exposi-
tions of the bill by the statesman who
framed it. They may we'll consider
what the supporters of the bill say
about the character of the criticisms.
Said Mr. Boutell, so soon as the Payne
tariff act was passed political dema-
gogues, superficial theorists and self
seeking intriguers made common cause
in dencuncing the measure. They have
obscured the truth in vain welder of
words
"rEis is very mildly expressed but it
is a serious enough charge. 1t means
that as soon as the bill was passed
certain men set about TO deceive the
people. to obscure the truth Some
were demagogues striving for place.
Some were political plotters seeking
their own advantage Some were theo-
retical and shallow. If these men had
been merely individually mistaken no
one would blame them, but they are
men who have presumed to teach the
people 10 lead the masses, to represent
American common sense. They began
their crusade as soon as the act was
passed. Mr.. Boutell explains the 81
lence of the bill's friends by the simple
words: The character of the tariff bill
can be determined only by the results
of its operation. The time has now
come when thoughtful, fair-minded
men can form an intelligent estimate
of the principal provisions of the Payne
tariff
''The demagogues shouted before the
bill was signed. Self-seexIng intrigu-
ers opened fire at once Superficial
theorists were previously determined
not to be pleased with aught but their
theories But now the bill has been in
force nine months. Now its operation
can be studied and it's effects seen
"It is noteworthy that the most force
full part of Mr.. Boutelrs speech is
nothing but a study-an exposition of
what the bill really does. There is no
attempt to match theories. There is
no effort to rival the demagoguery of
the critics There is no effort to glori-
fy any individual; much less is there
any effort by Mr.. Boutell to glorify
himself 1t is only by facts that he
argues. It is only by the records. by
the history of the bill in operation that
he endeavors to prove his charge that
these men have 'obscured the truth in
vain welter of wards
In detail and by the facts Mr.. Bou-
tell shows that the Payne law raises
ample revenues-'With the treasury in
it's present strong condition the close
of receipts to expendi-
lures than now exist is the wisest pos
sible adjustment of the relation of in
come to disbursements
He shows that the maximum and
minimum provision has worked with
out friction despite the cries of pre-
tentious socialists He shows that the
Payne tariff law is not responsible for
the nigh cost of living-'There~is' not