Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-26
Editorial Comment.
The Tariff Issue.
(Bcston Daily Advertiser.)

tBCStoIl Ddiiy AQVertlSeF.)
A Boston business man, who was
visiting the capital in support OF
President Taft's movement for a scIen-
tific and absolutely reliable basis for
the next revision of the tariff, is
quoted as predicting a Democratic WIS.,
tory in Massachusetts, next November.
AS the Democratic leaders already an
nounce that they will make the cam
paign largely on the tariff issue, TINS
would imply some very weak ana
rather amusing Inconsistency on the
part of the Massachusetts prophet or
ON the part of the voters OF this Com
monWealth.
one of the most prominent OF the
Democratic campaigners, in this state,
recently stated that in his opinion the
time had come for the Democratic par
ty to cut loose from the protective
principle, altogether. So long as the
Democratic party held to the princi-
pie Of protection, he felt convinced,
the Republican party would be able
to show, by next autumn, that it was
doing the best it could, under the pro-
tectiVe system, TO provide for lalr
and equitable revision of the tariif
But if, as many Democrats believe,
all protection is robbery of the many
by, or for the benefit of, the few;
then the position for the Democrats
to take is that even President Taft
plan of reducing the protective duties
to the bare equivalent OF the difference
i'm labor cost would in itself be in
defenSible, as the Democrats should
show to the voters that even that
scheme must be mere variation on
the protective plan of forcing the
consumer to support American facto-
riaS at his own expense.
The advice of this Democratic lead
or is at least logical from his own
point of view. But is there any reason
to believe that the Democratic leaders
in Massachusetts will dare to take it =?
AND if they do not, have they any
thing better to offer, for method oil
giving the United States protective
tariff, than that which President TAFT
| is now urging on Congress. and which
Congress will undoubtedly adopt at
| this session? If the Democrats are
willing to admit that the protective
principle is Just and right; if they are
willing to concede that the proper
method Of determining duty Is u
| fix 1t at the margin of difference III
| the abor cost of production. in TN:
| country and abroad, will they not b'
| forced logically to admit that they be-
| leve that Presidents plan for tarlf
revision is the very best the country
| can hope to have? And if they refus'
to support the President, while they
still maintain that the protective pol
lev is the best for the country, nov
| can they make a winning political Is
| sue on the tariff?
on the other hand, if the Democrats
| make a campaign in Massachusett:
avcwedly and explicitly in opposition
| to protection to American labor IN tht
| industries of this country, is 1t ike
Nv that they can carry Massachusetts
on such an issue? The prosperity o.
| this whole state depends largely upon
| the prosperity of it's great manulactur
| ing industries. Even if the Democfat1'
| leaders are satisfied that the voters
| Massachusetts are ready to demand I'M
abolition of the protective policy, it II
| very much to be doubted whether IN
| neople of the manufacturing commun'
! tiles of Massachusetts will adopt Una
| view