Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-08-11

countries, 1T became the chief object Of
our manufacturers to destroy competition
II their own country . Tney secomp,isas so
In nearly every important field OF produc-
tion prices ceased to be the result of the
time-honored laws of trade, and the power
either Of a monopoly or an Acknowledged
master in protected industry.
Then came demand for a revision OF
the tariff 1t originated In the necessities
of the people. and was founded upon the
fundamental instinct for Justice. Depriv-
ed of the safeguards which competition at
home had furnished them, the people
knew, without reasoning upon ii, that they
Of the tariff. They felt the duties should
be so modified that the continued insist
ence upon unfair prices would expose our
manufacturers to the correction Of foreign
In this demand there was no disloyalty
TO the doctrine OF protection, although for
a short period the benefciaries of exces-
sfve duties succeeded in confusing the
issue
Standpattism Means Monopoly.
1t was then that the standpatter adopted
the name which he now bears, and his
campaign cry was LET well enough
alone" The movement, however. was r.
resistible and the republican national con-
unanimity but with enthusiasm to the
progressive sentiment Of the rank and
file of the party, not only pledged the in-
coming congress to a revision OF the tar
III. but defined the doctrine Of protection
with care and precision unknown to any
former platform. 1t solemnly prescribed
a rule with which to measure import du.
ties, to the end that both producer and
consumer, both capital and labor, might
share in our prosperity You remember
It well, but nevertheless | quote it:
The republican. party declares unequi-
vocaily for revision of the tariff by a
cnnaial NJ mr. To al
following the Inauguration of the next
president, and commends the steps already
taken to this end in the work assigned
to the appropriate committees of congress
which are now investigating the operation
and effect of existing schedules In all
tariff legislation the true principle Of pro-
lection is best maintained by the impo-
sltion Of such duties as will equal the
difference between the cost Of production
at home and abroad, together with a rea-
sonable profit to American industries. We
favor the establishment of maximum rates
to be administered by the president under
limitations fixed in the law the maximum
to be available to meet determinations by
foreign countries against American goods
entering their markets, and the minimum
to represent the normal measure Of pro-
lection at home, the aim and purpose of
the republican policy being not only to
preserve without excessive duties, that
security against foreign competition which
American manufacturers, farmers and
producers are entitled, but also to main
tain the high standard of living of the
wage earners Of this country. who are the
most direct benefciaries OF the protective
system. Between the United States and
the Philippines we believe in a free inter.
change of products with such limitations
ing an order of the commission should be
adequate protection to domestic interests"
Upon this pledge. definition, and rule
we appealed to the country for the cleo
publican congress. The county, beIiev-
ing profoundly In maintaining our own
industries. and reposing implicit faith
in the promise that export duties would.
in the revision to take place. be measured
by the difference between the cost OF
production at home and abroad. elected
a republican president and republican
congress.
In redemption of the pledge so made,
the president convened the new congress
in special session. and it did revise the
tariff.
have never been much interested in
the debate over the technical proposition
that our promise was to revise the tariff
downward. Beyond dispute, the people
generally expected that it would be re-
vised downward, because they knew that
the duties were too high and were greatly
more than the difference between the cost
Of production here and elsewhere.
What the Pledge Was.
But whatever may have been said In
the campaign, | agree that there was no
formal pledge in the platform to revise
the tariff downward.
There was however, pledge that 1t
should be revised so that the duties upon
protected commodities should be the Diff
ference between the cost of producing
them here and in other countries, with
everybody will concede, was, that our
manufacturers should be able to enter
our markets and sell their products at a
fair price as against their foreign com
nd ur1S fnrth
that grossly excessive profits growing out
of abnormal prices should be prevented by
reducing the duties to point that would
admit importations whenever our own
the level of fairness and decency.
Such was the platform and such was
the purpose that it became the duty. Of
congress to carry them into effect believe
dred desired revision that would keep
the faith and accomplish the purpose.
believe that the president wanted to fulfill
good his own declarations but the leaders
of both the house and the senate refused
to recognize the party pledge: refused to
be guided by the rule which had been an
nounced,, and forced through congress a
tariff bill without even the pretense of at
tempting 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 stiiI far above the difference IN
cost of production, and therefore permits
the protected manufacturers not only to
charge existing prices, but to lift them
still higher, and the increases were, IN
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 II should
have been, finally voted for It,. and ] have
what they believed to be their duty. Some
of us voted against the bill and we make
no apology for our votes.
Open Reputation Of Pledges.
II there had been an honest attempt to
fix duties according to the cost of produc-
ton might have yielded my view on the
question Of fact; but there was no sucn
low. and would refuse again to follow
Aldrich, Hale Lodge, Cannon. Payne and
DalZell into a sneering, contemptouous
open reputation q my party p'ad ItSnn,n
passed by republican votes, for the men
who are chiefly responsible for II thought
more of swelling the overgrown fortunes
Of the party principles, the party pledge,
or the welfare of a long suffering people,
1t is said that the law has been success
full from revenue nst st an rpemsmberea that
n Is very easy to enlarge the receipts at
the custom houses. The democrats could
have done that with their condemned and
obsolete theorv of a tariff for revenue only.
1t is said that 1t has stimulated busi-
ness. It NAV be that 1t has for the prize
of enormous profits is exceedingly tempting.
1t is claimed that the average tax upon
duitiable imports Is something like one per
centum less than under the Dingley Act;
This may or may not be so, for ! have
learned to doubt the accuracy of tariff
statements. but granting the truth of. the
statement, what superb showing 1t is.
We have revised the tariff In response
TO an over-powering republican sentiment,
and have succeeded In taking on about