New-York tribune., 1910-08-29
mr. T4FTS LETTER.


man of the Republican Congressional
Committee states with admirable clear
ness the issues on which Republican
candidates for Congress can appeal TO
the voters IT is a fair and accurate
summary of the record made by the
Republican majority in Congress ut the
last TWO sessions record sOf USeIu
and progressive legislation never sur
passed and seldom equalled. Mr. Taft
takes no personal credit for the work
done by Congress. though no one Will
question the fact that his energy and
patience We're the prime factors i'll Sc
curing the redemption by Congress of
so many of the promises of the last Re
publican national platform. The coun-
try real Lies that but for his steadfast-
ness the record of legislative accom-
pliShment at the last two sessions would
have fallen far short of public ex-
nectatiOn. He modestly suggests that
the present Congress has not only full
filled many party pledges, but it has by
''its course set higher the standard Of
party responsibility for such pledges
-'than ever before in the history Of
American politics But everybody
knows that the President himself de
serves the lions share of the credit for
the stricteT valua ton put upon party
pledges By the advance made possible
through his moral courage the Republi-
can party gains in strength and pres
tige i has the added advantage of
being able TO contrast its good faith in
, En lsTrr
the cynical repudiati0n by a majority
Of the Democrats in the Senate and a
large minority OF the Democrats in the
House Of Representative of the specific
tariff declarations of the Democratic ma
tional platform.
The President cites the Payne tariff
law. the interstate commerce law. the
postal savings bank law. the land with
drawaI law. the law admitting New
Mexico and Arizona TO statehood, the
law creating the Bureau Of Mines and
the federal election publicity law as
notable examples Of the discharge Of
party obligations. It is seldom possible
TO realize Immediately all the purposes
and aims of a party organization. The
:
than are the resources at its command
10 carry out that programme The
President does not close his eyes to the
fact that much remains for another Re
publican Congress 10 do. II = only argues
that what has been accomplished at the
last two sessions constitutes a salts
factory demonstration Of the Republican
partys capacity and good faith, and
should warrant renewal Of the coun-
try's support and confidence.
Criticism Of the work of Congress has
been concentrated on the PAYNE tariff
law That law did not furnish as large
4 measure Of downward revision as it
was expected TO furnish The President
was not thoroughly satisfied with il,
and said so frankly. But its great
merit was that it provided a method for
curing its own defects It authorized
the appointment Of a board TO collect
the infOrmatiOn-nOt availa BILE when the
law was SSed-nepded TO apply in
telligently the Republican theory that
the protection on any import should
measure the differential III cost here
and abroad. with q reasonable margin
Of profit 10 the domestic producer Of a
competing article Republicans have not
differed as 10 the principle to be fol-
lowed in tariff legislation, but only as
To the accuracy with which the principle
has been applied in fixing duties Presi-
dent Taft fully meets the objections
made 10 particular rates and schedules
by saving that whenever the imf0rma-
ZION collected by the Tariff Board shows
that a miscalculation has been made he
viii recommend its correction by Con
gresS That is all that any fair-minded
critic Of the Payne law could ask If he
is willing 10 subscribe 10 the doctrine
Of protection equal TO the diffeTentiaI
in cost here and abroad The tariff law
can easily he amended piecemeal if
definite standards OF protection are
recognized and adequate data Of cost
are supplied. Certainly. as the Presi-
dent says. -all Republicans-cOnser
tive progressive and radicaI-may well
abide the situation with respect to the
tariff until evidence now being accli-
"muated shall justify changes in the
rates To give control of the House Of
Representatives TO the Democracy
would involve the folly Of intrusting
the amendment of the Payne law to 4
party divided against itself and with
out the capacity 10 apply any logical
FtrlFaeiftlA n -.4-3 u