The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29
80, FIREMAN, SAVE MY CHILD

President Taft's letter to Chairman
Mckinley, of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, may very we'll be
described as a plea in confession and
avoidance. He tries to show why the
Republican candidates for Congress
should be elected, why the Regulars
and the Insurgents and the In-Be-
tweens should pull together just this
one time more so that the represen-
tatives of the party in Congress may
carry out the pledges which they have
done so imperfect1y as to require fur
ther treatment. 1t is mot what COM
lpleNion Of Republicanism one prefers,
but whether 1t is better for the coun-
| try to have the Republican party con-
/ troll the legislation for the next two
years and further redeem it's promises,
Or to enable Democratic majority
DIN the House either to interpose a
formulate and pass bills to carry out
Democratic principles" That is 1T:
Murdoch and Cummins and la Toilette
land Bristow, and anybody else who
wears the party label or can pro
nounce the party. shibboleth will do
in this trying emergency; Mr.. Taft
being, apparently. In the position of
the elderly maiden lady who was
praying vociferously that she might
not longer be continued in a state
of singularity. when an obtrusive owl
seated in an old tree uttered, as owls
are in the habit of doing, ''Whoo.
,whoo?" when the lady at her devo-
tions answered promptly Anybody.
good Lord. just 50 it's mani" So 1t
! is with Mr.. Taft-anybody will suit
him now, just so he is a Republican,
because it will be a comparatively easy
matter to fix things up with him some
how. and it would be a fearful thing
Tor Taft and his Administration to fall
into the hands of the wicked Demo-
scrats many OF whom, 1t Will be recol-
lected, were on very good terms, with
true Republicanism. the Hon. Joseph
G. Cannon. while the Payne-Aldrich
bill was making
Mr.. Taft says that never in its his
tory has the Republican party passed
and become responsible FOR as much
useful and progressive legislation as
during the last session of Congress and
the extra session at which the tariff
law was enacted. 1t is now claimed
that this is the best tariff bill the
Republicans ever passed; yet, in sign
ing it, Mr.. Taft accompanied his ap-
proval Of 1t by a memorandum" in
(which he said frankly that il is not a
perfect tariff bill, or a complete COM
pliance with the promises made strictly
interpreted"
According to Mr.. Tafts own admis-
,sion the Republicans reduced the
duties on 654 tSdmheEs, increased the
duties on 22s' aid left the duties UNI
!changed on 1,15o. Under the Dingley
Bil there was an average tariff of
t44.16 per cent. ad valorem; under the
TPayne4Aldrich Bill there is a duty
!of 1851 per cent. ad valorem. The
average increase under tre present
naw over the Dinglcy law amounts to
Ill per cent. ad valorem. thus i'm
lposing upon the country, according
TO Senator Rayner. of Maryland. "the
highest tariff ever imposed by any
Monumental nation in the history OF
1.-THE world"
Mr.. Taft claims that ION the whole
1t was downward revision, particu-
Harry on articles of necessity and on
lraw materials but this statement
ishould be taken with good deal of
1salt. For example, it did not reduce
the tariff on stockings an article OF
great necessity to the people of the
cheapest grade, as Mr. Clark pointed
,out when the bill was under discussion
anaving been increased from gill per
cent. to 1915 per cent, and on the
/ next two grades of the cheaper stock
hngs to a still higher per cent. 1t did
L mot reduce the tariff on woollen goods
ithe price of suit worth under the
)Dingley law SO having been raised to
fs12.5o. the SIS suit to SIS, the $40 suit
ito SIS.
IT has not made the cost of living
cheaper in the United States; but 1,
1las placed upon the people who are
least able to afford it higher duties or
\ tthe things that they need and mus,
have If they are to exist in any sor,
OF comfort. Mr.. Taft knows that It
8 As not satisfactory law, whatever it:
II revenue producing value, and he knows
also that 1t is not what the Republican
party promised TO do for the relief o.
the people. He asks, now. that tbs
party which has proved false 10 III
pledges shall be continued in a posi-
zion to do even further wrong TO thu
consumers of this country. and fol
n the sake of achieving party success
advises the reelection Of the Very mel
who failed to carry out their promises
Mr., Taft defends the legisla
tion against the corporations tn
creation OF the Court OF Commerce