Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-29
PRESIDENT TAFT'S
CONVINCING REASONS
Why You Should Vote for the Repub|i-
can Candidates for Congress Are
Ably Presented in a Letter to
Hon. VIM. B. Mckinley.

New York, Aug. 2S.-The local head
quarters OF the Republican Congress
ional committee today gave out the
following letter from President Taft to
William B. Mckinley. chairman of the
Republican Congressional committee:
Beverly, Mass Aug 20, 1910.
My Dear Mr.. Mckinley:
AS the chairman of the National
Congressional Republican committee.
you have asked me to give the reasons
which should lead voters in the coming
November election to cast their ballots
for Republican candidates for Con-
gress.
l assume that when this letter is
given publicity the lines will be drawn
the party candidates will have been Sc
lected. and the question for decision
will be whether we shall have in the
House of Representatives a Republi-
can or Democratic majority. The
question, then, will be not what COM
piexion of Republicanism one prefers
but whether it is better for the coun-
try to have the Republican party con-
troll the legislation for the next two
years ard further redeem it's promises.
the House either to interpose veto to
Republican measures, or to formulate
and pass bills to carry out Democratic
principles. Prominence has been given
during the preliminary canvasses just
ended to the differences between Re
pubicans; but in the election such diff
ferences should be forgotten Differ
ences within the party We're manifest
ed in the two sessions of the present
Congress and yet never in it's history
has the Republican party passed ana
become responsible for as much use
full and progressive legislation. So
while issues will doubtless arise be-
tween members of n Republican ma
jority as to the details of further leg
islatiOn, the party, as a whole, will
show itself in the future. as in the past
practical and patriotic in subordinate
ing individual opinions in order to Sc
cure real progress. Hence it is import
ant that after Republican Congrcssion
al candidates been duly and fair
w chosen. all Republicans who be
lieve in the party principles as de
clared in it's national platform of 1908
should give the candidates loyal and
effective support. If this is done. there
will be no doubt of a return of a Re-
publican majority.
DEMOCRATIC REPUTATION.
The only other alternative is a Dem
ocratic majority. 1t is difficult. very
difficult, to state all the principles that
would govern such a majority in its
legislative course; and this because its
party platforms have presented a va
LII. -. h.,
ent, and because in the present Con
gress. leading Democrats in the Sen
ate and the House have not hesitated
to reDudiate certain of their party
pledges and to deny their ginding char
acter. we may reasonably assume.
however. that Democratic majority in
the House would reiec: the Republican
doctrine of protection as announced II.
1908
What therefore. has Republican
who believes in protection but objects
to some rates or schedules in the pres
ent tariff act to hope for from n Dem
ocratic ma jorty which. if allowed its
way. would attack the protective sys-
tenn. and halt business by threaten
ed revision of the whole tariff on rev
enue basis or if prevented by the Sen
ate or the Executive would merely do
nothing?
Such legislative program as that
set forth in the Republican national
platform of 1908 could not be carried
ont in full by one Congress Certainly
if all it's promises are executed in one
administration, it will be within a
proper time. The present Congress has
not only fulfilled 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 parties. Hereafter
those who would catch voters by dec
larations in favor of alluring RENE
dial legislation will not make them ex-
cept with much more care as to the
possibility Of it's enactment. In view of
the history of the present Congress-
the return of a Republican majority in
the next Congress may well INSPIRE
confidence that the pledges still unre-
deemed will be met and satisfied.
THE TARIFF.
Let us consider. summarily. the
promises made and the legislation en-
acted by the present Congress: First
and of primary Importance IVES tue
promise to revise the tariff in accord
ance with the rule laid down in the
platform. to wit: that the tariff on ar
ticles imported should be equal to the
difference between their cost of pro
duction abroad and thar cost in this
country, including a reasonable pro1t
for the domestic manufacturer. A very
full investigation-full. at least. as
such investigations have been conduct
ed in the past-was made by the WAYS
ond Means committee of the House to
determine what rates should be chang
cd To conform to this rule. A reduction
was made in 654 numbers. and an IN
crease in some 22O, while 1850 remain
ed unchanged. The bill was amended 20
in the senate. but the proportion OF
increases to decreases was maintained
when I signed the bill. l accompanied