New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-29
DEMOCRATIC REVISION.

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cratic party. said that the tariff was
local issue. He was soldier. not
q politician. and he expressed unguafd-
eddy and at an inopportune moment
belief which he knew was widely held
and usually acted On. Democratic poll
ticians have no quarrel with General
f1ancock's dictum except for few
Then they try TO maintain that the
Democratic party stands for some
definite principle like tariff for reve-
nue. only As illustrating that pre-elec-
ton spirit of comedy it is amusing TO
read the speeches now being made i'll
the House of Representatives by Demo-
cratic statesmen who. desiring the cleo
ton of a Democratic House next fall,
are ready 10 promise the voters a re-
vision of the tariff in accordance with
some Just and scientific theory. Ii is
also interesting to note the action OF the
Democratic State Committee in Mary
land, which. at the instance of Senator
Isidor Rayner has just adopted an elo-
quent deliverance on the tariff question,
renewing the time-honored faith of the
party in the doctrine of q tariff for
revenue as against a. tariff for protec-
''tion.''
There is to be no state convention IN
Maryland this year, and the Rayner
platform is therefore. submitted through
the state committee Last year there
was q state convention, held only
month after the passage Of the Payne
tariff law. which the committee now de-
nounces as vicious and oppressive"
But the convention did not seem TO be
aware that such a reprehensible enact
ment had gone through Congress.
Though Mr. Rayner was himself on hand
TO advise the committee Gu resolutions,
that committee absolutely overlooked the
outrage on the voters of which bolster
Gus complaint is now made. The reason
was plain. The two Democratic Sena-
tors from Maryland took conspicuous
parts in the consideration Of the Payne
bill. They differed radically in their
views of tariff legislation. Mr.. Rayner
belonging TO the older Cleveland Bryan
school and Mr.. Smith having attached
himself to the new quasi-protectionist
school started by Mr.. Bailey. The
election OF Representatives was still far
ahead. and the Democratic party in
Maryland prudently refrained from try
ing to get together on a tariff declara
ton which could not possibly be
squared with the votes of one Senator
without rejecting on the votes and prin-
ciples OF the other
Now the Democratic leaders in Mary
land. as in every other state. are ready,
without regard to past professions and
performances. 70 assert their devotion TO
what they call the principle of tariff
for revenue only, without explaining
whether in revising the Payne sched-
ules, if such an opportunity comes to
them. they will use the METHODS favored
by Mr.. Bryan or those favored by Mr..
Bailey. At the last session Of Congress
the Baileyites had A majority of Demo
Gratis in the Senate, and they are likely
10 retain that majority if the Senate
becomes Democratic. no matter which
school attains ascendancy in the House
of Representatives.
The Senate usually controls in the
framing of tariff laws. What kind of
revision could the country expect. then,
from Democratic Congress? Demo
cratic statesmen denounce the Payne
law, but the Payne law is. infinitely
preferable. even from the point CT view
of Il believer in moderate tariff duties,
To a BaileyiZed tariff for-revenue-o only
law. which would lay duties on all i'm
ports regardless of the needs and pres
ent state of development Of American
industries. Under a tariff scheme such
as Mr. Bailey advocates the free list
would be abolished The half Of our
imports now coming in untaxed would
he subjected Ia duty. although these
Imports consist largely OF foods and of
Jaw materials needed by the domestic
manufacturer. In order TO protect the
producer Of raw materials, Mr. Bailey
would levy Il tariff tax on every article
brought into our ports. But such
scheme would derange industry and
paralyZe commerce and might not even
have the single merit of bringing IA little
more money into the Treasury. That is
the destructive sort Gf revision which
The Democratic party would force upon
the country if il should gain power
through the false pretence of seeking to
reduce duties which are excessive and
To place the tariff ca Il non-diScrfmlna-
tory basis