Morris tribune., 1910-10-28

! paid representatives Of the big inter
ests seeking special privileges, who
know no political party but who sail
under the banner of Republicanism in
accordance with the political allegi-
ance of majority of the voting popu-
iat1on Of their home districts, who
sought under the guise of protection
to American labor and American in
dustry to- establish unfair and unrea-
sonable tariff schedules to the end that
the Interests which they represented
might obtain unfair and unreasonable
profit. The latter class temporarily
succeeded, but the true representatives
OF the Republican party in congress,
| aided and urged by the great body
membership throughout the country,
! kept hammering away. When the tar
( if law was enacted clause was in
serted after much effort which author
lied the President to appoint sort of
a tariff commission, but no appropri-
alton was made for defraying the ex-
penses Of the commission, and but lit
tie could be accomplished under the
act. When the last session met Presi-
dent Taft asked congress for an ap-
preparation of $25O,OO0 for the COM
mission and for an increase of author
ity for it in the performance of it's
duty, and through the intelligence and
force and persistent efforts of such
men as Senators Clapp and Nelson
and others of the Republican members
Of the Minnesota delegation, aided by
others of similar views throughout the
country, the representatives of the
System were forced to recede from
their positions, the Presidents recon-
mendations were adopted and the way
paved for correcting whatever errors
may have been made in the framing
of the Payne-Aldrich law, by providing
for the real tariff commission clothed
with authority to collect facts and
figures relative to tariff schedules, fix
upon maximum and minimum rates,
and submit the matter to the next con-
gress for it's intelligent adjustment,
schedule by schedule. This puts the
tariff where it belongs-in a way to be
considered schedule at time upon
its merits and in so considering it, no
congress is likely to make much head
way flying in the face of statistical
evidence furnished by tariff commits
sion made up of high grade men.
Theodore Roosevelt in recent speech
at Saratoga, after reviewing and COM
mending the long list of laws enacted
by the last congress and approved by
the President, such as the Interstate
Commerce law amendments, the ap-
pOintment of commission to frame
measures to do away with the evils of
over-capitalization and excessive is
sues of stocks and bonds, the law pro-
viding for the publicity of campaign
expenses, commended in high terms |
the Inauguration of the policy of pro-
viding for a disinterested revision of !
tariff schedules through the high-class |
commission of experts which will treat !
each schedule purely on its own mer-
it's, with a view both to protecting the |
consumer from excessive prices and to |
securing the American producer and /
especially the American Wage-wOrker,
what will represent the difference Of
cost of production here and abroad.
Mr.. Roosevelt said: This and similar
laws, backed by executive action, re-
fected high credit upon all who aided
in putting them in their present shape
upon the statute books. They rep
resent an earnest Of the achievement
which is yet to come
But the tariff law as it exists today,
whatever may be it's shortcomings,
has some gOod and salient features.
The principle of protection is there.
1t produces revenue tor government
expenses, protects American industry
and does such as bring about the con-
ditiOn whereby the American labOring |
class is the best paid of laboring class
es in any country Of the world. You
may have heard this talk before, but
it is as true To-Day as it ever was. The
protective principle is right and pro
per. as years of experience have
taught us. The Republicans instituted
it, they have advocated it in the past
and will continue to perpetuate it in
the future when IN power, and | do
not believe the time will ever come
MAc1-- y A-8jority OF the people of this
country will favor a free trade policy
as advocated by the opposition party.
But in order that the protective prin-
cipie may be properly established and
perpetuated, SO as to bring about the
most benefit to the most people, am
free to say that it behooves individuals
of the Republican party-the great |
mass of the voters of the party-to be
ever watchful and see to it that they
support for nomination and election
candidates in their party for congress
who will not submit to the demands
of scheming trusts and corporations
for the abuse of the protective prin-
ciples, in order that they may obtain
unfair and unreasonable financial bene-
fit to the detriment of the great mass
Of consumers of the country. A square
deal in tariff law, as we'll as in other
hiroC is tho ODlV kind Of q dooI that