New-York tribune., 1910-05-01
B4ILEYIZED-

The Democratic newspapers which de-
scribed the tariff declaration of the plat
form adopted by the Indiana kepubil"
cans as "rery Democratic" are naturally
fighting shy of describing the tariff
declaration Of the platform just adopted
by the Indiana Democrats. Can the lat
ter also be called very Democratic
The Republican platform reasserted the
cardinal principle OF protection when it
said: I'VE believe in protective tariff
measured by the difference between the
"cost of production here and abroad
That was applauded as sound Democracy
by The New York Times" and 1.-The
Philadelphia Record" But there is no
echo Of the principle thus eulogized as
Democratic in the platform framed
by the Indiana Democrats. In fact, there
is no clear statement Of any principle,
for the Indiana convention seems to
have taken to heart the protest Of Sena-
tor Joseph w. Bailey. of Texas, against
defniteness In platforms as an encroach-
ment on the prerogatives Of the states
men who constitute the legislative
branch of the government, and TO have
carefully avoided committing the party
in Indiana TO anything too conc etc. AL
though reproaching the Republican con-
vention for failing to meet the tariff
issue 'in fair and manly way" the
Democratic gathering adopted this blind
and evasive declaration:
Tariff taxation like other taxation.
should be for public purposes only, and
not for private profit; and should be so
levied as not to discriminate against any
section. class, industry or occupation,
and limited to the actual necessities of
the government economically admins
tered
Probably not onetenth of the member
ship of the convention knew what this
shifty declaration meant or where 1t
came from. It was, in fact, an adapta-
ton Of the tariff plank of the Demo-
cratic National Convention OF 1896, which
was prepared by the Hon. Joseph ".
Bailey. and. as he has testified, was run
into the platform practically unnoticed
while the convention's attention was
focused on the paramount" issue of
free silver coinage. Mr.. Bailey was try
ing 10 prevent the national organiza-
tons adopting any declaration in con-
fiict with the Texas platform Of 1894,
which had denounced as "un-Democratic"
the policy Of free raw materials. His
plank read:
We hold that tariff duties should he
levied for purposes of revenue, such
duties 70 he so adjusted as 10 operate
equally throughout the country end not
al TO Hnru section
and that taxation should be limited by
the needs of government, honestly and
economically administered.
The Indiana version dropped out for
PURPOSES of revenue" and substituted
for public purposes a phrase of far
broader scope, which might easily he
construed so as to justify prohibitive
protective duties laid in order to accom-
plish some desirable public object. We
have already called attention to the old
fashioned free trade views of Governor
Marshall. the temporary chairman of the
convention He said, addressing the dele
gates last Wednesday: "A government
which declares for the equality of man
"kind puts the stamp of falsehood upon
ats declaration Nhenever ii permits the
enactment of statute whereby leglS-
"lative made dollar goes into the pocket
"of an individual citizen" But under the
terms Of the watered Baileyized declara-
ton Of the Indiana platform tariff duties
may be laid which Will give protec-
ton to many industries and which will
always insure a relatively larger Stare
of protection to the producers of raw
materials whose welfare Mr.. Bailey and
the Texas school have most at heart.
Mr.. Bryan recently made trip through
Texas TO prove to the Democrats of that
state that the Bailey theory was mot
Democratic" What will he say, and
what will the Cleveland Democrats of
the East and South say, when they find
that the Democratic party In Indiana has
now been Baileyized?