Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-03-23
NT|-:TAIR||FF FEELING,
Poll of 5000 Republican News
papers.
ONLY A THIRD FAVOR LAW.
Tariff and Cost Of Living tho Only Two
Things Talked About-Leading Re-
Law "a Dishonorable Deception"

PuOI'Sdu VdpoV ~alsS Vayuo- S%SoTtCU
Law "a Dishonorable Deception"
President Taft has been complain
ing keenly that the newspapers are
against him. And so they are. but
that is because Of his unfortunate in
dorsement Of the Payne-Aldrich tariff
law. Mr.. Taft regards the new tariff
law as substantial fultillment Of the
party pledges. The country regards
it. on the other hand. as shameful
betrayal. No need to 60 to the Demo-
cratic papers for this verdict. The
Republican press is in revolt.
The Chicago Tribune recently took a
poll Of Republican and independent
newspapers in twenty-six states west
of the Allegheny mountains. and the
replies received were nearly four TO
one against the tariff law. The ques-
ton asked was. DO you indorse the
Aldrich-Cannon TARIFF" No less than
3.49S Republican editors answered this
question and 604 independents. The
voting was:
FOR THE LAW.
republican ........................... Sl2
Independent ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. u
AGAINST THE LAW.
Republican NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2,686
independent OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ST.
--
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3.263
This is an extraordinary result
When the Republican press is SO
strongly arrayed against the mischiev-
Gus law what are we to think Of the
opinion of the rest of the country? If
ask every voter the same question as
was addressed to the editors. how long
would the law last? The tariff iniqui-
ty is maintained because men vote for
parties and not for measures. but in
this instance the inquiry is too strong
even for party loyalty.
On all sides we hear Of the dissatis-
faction with the tariff and its off,
spring. high prices. $50 far as have
been able to observe" said a senator
to the Washington correspondent Of
the New York Evening Post. 1.-The peo-
pie Of this country are just now inter-
ested in but two things. One Of them
is the cost Of living. and the other is
the effect of the new tariff law. 1t is
perfectly plain to me that the new
schedules adopted last summer are not
giving general satisfaction.
have had no inquiries to amount to
anything this winter on any other sub
ject."
The St. Paul Pioneer Press. the lead
ing Republican organ of Minnesota.
comes out boldly with a decIaratio
that 1.-The tariff is now q moral. not an
economic. ISSUE" and gives vent to the
popular indignation in these ringing
words:
mo amount of defense or explana.
ton by the president or any one else
will convince the American people that
the pledges Of the Republican platform
have been kept. The tariff law. when
all defense Of it has been weighed, re-
mains as a dishonorable deception. and
the American people resent being de-
ceived. They are convinced that the
tariff was framed in the interests OF
men who make money out of it. They
feel that the question is now more OF
a moral than an economic issue and
that 1t cannot be settled until it is
settled right"
We are evidently on the eve of stir.
ring times III party history. 1t is. how.
ever. hopeful sign when press and
people are beginning to think for them.
selves and to throw the party band.
ages from off their eyes