New-York tribune., 1910-08-29
PRESIDENTS CAMPAIGN LETTER
Issues on Which Congress Contest Should Be Made De
fined bv Mr.. Taft.
pa,-s-,v Mass August 90. 1910.

wan of the National Congresslonai re
nuhlican Committee. you nave asheu ny
TO give the reasons Wincn IN, stlu'lI 1850,
voters III the coming November elec,'oii
70 cast their ballots for Republican can
<iidates for Congress -:
assume that when this letter is given
rublicitv the lines will be drawn, tne
,,artv candidates will have been selecleu.
aand +tA question for decision VIII be
whether we shall have IN the House "i
REPRESENTATIVES e Republican or Dem
ocratic majority. The question: thei'
will be not what complexion OF fepuc
Ncanism one prefers, but @ Mhetilsi a,i
better for the country to nave the re f|e-
ruhlicau marty control the leslstauoh
for the next two years ane lurlhe5
deem its promises, or TO enaole q DeiI. ~
ocratic majority in the House eIlhe' eIlhei 10
Ente1-pose a veto TO RepuoHcan measures
- - +o-,,,,lare and pass bills 10 carry
ONT Democratic principles prominence
has been given during the preliminary
canyasses just ended TO TIE oliteielSeS
between Republicans; but IN the eiec-
,;on such differences should be forgot
ten differences within the party We're
manifested in the two sessions of the
present Congress, and yet never IN Its
history has the Republican party passed
and become responsible Tor as much
,,seful and progressive legislation. So.
while issues will doubtless arise between
members Of a Republican majority as to
the details of further legislation. the
-artv as a whole, will show itself in the
future. as in the past practical ana
y,atriotic in subordinating individual
opinions in order to secure real prog
ress. Hence It is important that after
Republican Congressional candidates
have been duly and fairly chosen al
Republicans who believe in the party
PRINCIPLES as declared in its national
platform of 1905 should give the candi-
dates loyal and effective support. II
This is done. there will be no doubt Of
return Of Republican majority
Democratic Reputation.
The only other alternative is a Demo
cratic majority. II is difficult very oil
ffcult TO state all the principles that
would govern such a majority IN It's
legislative course: and this because Its
party platforms have presented Varl-
ETY. of planks not altogether consistent
and because in the present congress
leading Democrats in the Senate ana
the House have not hesitated TO repudl-
ate certain of their party pledges and TO
deny their binding character We may
reasonably assume, however. that a
Democratic majority in the House would
reject the Republican doctrine OF pro
lection as announced in 1908.
What therefore. has Republican who
believes in protection but objects TO
some rates or schedules in the present
tariff act to hope for from Democrauc
majority which. if allowed It's way,
would attack the protective system ana
halt business by a threatened revision
Of the whole tariff on revenue basis. or
# prevented by the Senate or the Execu-
tive would merely do nothing?
Such q legislative programme as that
set forth IN the Republican national
platform of 1908 could not be carried
out in full by one Congress. Certaiilly
tf all its promises are executed IN one
administration it will be within proper
time. The present Congress has not
only fulfilled many party pledges. but II
has by its course set higher the standard
Of rartv responsibility for such pledges
than ever before. in the history of Amer
iCan parties. Hereafter those who Woulc
catch voters by declarations in favor OF
anuring remedial legislation Will not
make them except with much more care
IS TO the possibility of its enactment
In view Of the history Of the present
Congress, the return Of a Repubhcan
majority in the next Congress may Wen
inspire confidence that the pledges sun
unredeemed viii be met and satisfied.
The Tariff.
Let us consider, selmmarily, the prom
ises made and the legislation enacted by
the present Congress: First ana OF
primary importance was the promise
to revise the tariff in accordance with
the rule laid down in the platforn-to
wit: that the tariff on articles imported
should be equal to the difference be-
tween their cost Of production abroad
and that cost in this country, including
a reasonable profit for the domestic
manufacturer. 4 very full investigate
full. at least. as such Investigations
have been conducted in the past-Was
made by the Ways and Means Commit
tee of the House TO determine what rates
should be changed TO conform TO this
rule A reduction was made in 654 num-
berS and an increase in some 22o. while
7150 remained unchanged. The bill was
amended in the Senate but the proper
tior of increases TO decreases was main
tained. When I signed the bill / ac-
companed my approval with the 1ol-
lowing nneTnora 1duT:
/ have signed the Payne tariff bill be
cause ] believe il 10 be the result OF e SIN
oere effort on the part OF the Kepu9i59can 59 tn
comply with the promises OF the PLATFORM
they have been generally understood ana
as 1 interpreted them in the campaign be
The bin is rot d perfect tariff bill or a
complete compliance Win me pTefnlses
free from criticism in respect to subject
matter involving MANY schedules ana thou
suf1ices 10 say that. except with regard 10
xftskey, liquors and wines, and il regard
10 silks and as to some high classes Of cot
tons-su OF which may be treated as luxu-
ries and proper subjects OF revenue tarln
there have been very few increases IN
rates There have been a great number OF
real decreases in rates, and they constitute
a srIficiert amount 10 Justify the statement
that this bin is q substantial downward re
vision and q reduction of excessive rates
This is not a free trade bill. II was not
intended 10 be. The Republican party did
not promise 10 make free trade bill II
promised to make the rates protective, but
TO reduce them when they exceeded the
difference between the cost Of production
abroad and here. making allowance for the
greater normal profit active investments
here. ! believe that while this excess has
not been reduced in rLmber Of cases. in q
great latority the rates are such as are
necessary TO protect American industries,
but are low enough. in case Of abnormal in
crease of demand and raising of prices, to
permit the possibility Of the importa ton Of
the foreign article. and thus TO prevent ex-
cessive prices.
The power granted to the Executive un-
der the maximum and niDinums clause
may be exercised 10 secure the removal of
obstacles which have been 1nterpoSed by
foreign governments in the way OF undue
sno unfair discrimination against American
merchandise and products.
The Philippine tariff section ] have Strug-
gled TO secure for ten years last past. and
II gratifes me exceedingly by my signature
10 give IL the effect Of law. I am sure II
will greatly Increase the trade between the
two countries and x viii 90 much TO build
Up the Philippines in q healthful prosperity.
The administrative clauses Of the bill and
the customs court are acmirabl adapted
20 secure a more uniform and more
speedy final construction OF the meaning of
the law.
The authority TO the President 10 use
agents 10 assist him in the application OF
the maximum and minimum section of the
statute and TO enable officials 20 administer
the law gives a wide latitude for the ac-
4ulsltiCn under circumstances fayOr2 bIe to