The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-11
Vermont and the Tariff

anu AnN pun AOA 10 YES Il
no, SS. Republicans voted yes, 1; no
"a, and there we're 45-a majority
who did not reply at ALL Upon these
figures The Tribune bases the re-
mark that Among the states of the
East Vermont shows the strongest
opposition to the Aldrich law, only
one editor placing himself on record
as favorins it." Since a majority
refrained from placing themselves on
record as against il, is it fair to infer
that the Republicans of Vermont dis
approve the law enacted by their
party?
AT some length The Tribune des-
cribes the replies, one paragraph of
which will serve to show the charac-
ter of the whole.
'Emphatically no. says the editor
of one of the leading Republican or
gans of the Green Mountain state.
NO." underscored three times, is the
way three others vote. mo sir; no
sir" replied one of the old time Re-
publican editors, who adds. 1--WE need
a new deal all around. They are all
rotten to the core"
1t must be admitted that these an
swers show postiveness of convic-
ton, but l have read the article
through in vain to find one reason
against the law.
Now from my long connection with
Vermont journalism and my respect
for its present editors as among the
ablest in the country, | wish to ask
you or some of the others to publish
the reasons for opposing the new tar
III, and to state whether or not you
favor another revision by this Con-
gress or the next. 1t is easy to UNI
derstand how this man or that may
dislike this or that duty for this has
always been the case under any tar
if, but there must be a preponder-
ance of strong reasons to turn intel
ligent and honest men against the
law as whole and II they have al
ready been published, | hope that
some Of you gifted writer's will sum-
Marie them, and II this cannot be
done that you will state them origin
ally, bearing in mind that your ans
wer must be not a criticism of the
law but condemnation of It.
AS student OF tariffs and of indus
trial conditions for many years. |
shall await your answer with great
interest and so, am sure, will thou
sands of other Republicans through
out the country.
Albert Clarke.
Boston, March 81
The foregoing letter from a former
editor OF the Messenger, recognized
as one OF the countrys leading auth
critics on the tariff, and a profound
student of economic questions in gem
eral, will be OF great interest to YER
monters. He puts a fair proposition
up to the editors of Vermont and Il
is entitled TO serious consideration.
OF course, the Messenger can only
answer Colonel Clarke's question for
itself. Its editor expressed disap-
proval of the Aldrich tariff law in
The Chicago Tribunes canvass, but
Il was an academic dissent rather
than the vigorous protest to which
Colonel Clarke refers, and II was
based largely upon the belief that
the wooden schedule for one thing,
was unjust to the ultimate consum-
err OF course a law of such com
plicated parts as a tariff measure
cannot fairly be condemned altogeth-
er out of hand because some one
schedule may be thought to be defec-
tive and categorical yes" or mo"
In response to the Tribune's question
did not permit OF some qualifications
that doubtless many editors had In
mind. But the Messenger has belIev-
ed that elements and interests not
confined to the beneficiaries of the
WOODEN schedule exerted more or less
standpat pressure during the recent
revision of the tariff and that the re-
vision was not always made with an
eye single to the public benefit.
Perhaps this is a prejudiced view
OF the matter. something OF gener.
alization. but Il is very real and shar-
ed by great many others. The fact
Is. as Colonel Clarke we'll knows that
comparatively few men are tariff ex.
perts or have special knowledge OF
tariff schedules and the history OF
the economies Of tariffs The Mes.
senger does not pretend to such
learning. The average editor or cit.
izen does not pretend to II. Never.
theless there is something OF an In.
stinct for the right in the minds OF
most of us that appears to be able to
form fairly intelligent opinions about
such things as tariffs, when certain
features and facts are explained. and
there appears to have been a Singh.
lar unanimi;y on the part OF the PEG.
pie IN arriving at general dlsap.
proval Of the Aldrich measure.
The Messenger does not believe a
would be wise to hurry into another
general revision OF the tariff until a
little more time has been had In
which to study the results OF the new
features OF the Aldrlch law, say moth
ing OF the broader fact that contin
ued unsettledness OF business be
cause OF uncertainty about the tariff
would mean more mischief TO bust
ness than few defective schedules
II Il is possible to mend the wooden
schedule, however, without such a
general uset, II might be wise to at
tempt It.
The Messenger heartily favors the
proposition that the tariff should be
taken ont of nOlitiCe and tfc vario,,s