Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-05

vision downward. First there were
only what the doctors call sporadic
cases of Republican dissatisfaction;
but the Republican dissenters in
creased so rapidly that in the spring
of 1908 Hon. Serene e. Payne,
chairman of the great committee on
ways and means and eX-officio Re-
publican floor leader in the house,
was driven into declaring that he
violated no confidence in stating
that the Republicans would revise
the tariff His statement was equi-
vocal as he did not say whether the
revision was to be down or up but,
considering all the circumstances
under which his utterance was
made, he intended it to be UNDER
stood as a promise of revision
downward and to do him perfect
Justice he claims that his Dill Is a
revision downward.
Clearly he has been imposed upon
by his arithmetricians, for his bill
b revises it up about Ill per cent on
the average. His declaration, how
ever, did not allay the clamor
among Republicans. 1t swelled into
such a roar that when the Repubh-
cans held their national convention
in 1908, they were forced to promise
tariff revision in their platform.
Again the promise was equivocal,
as it did not state whether the re-
vision was to be up or down. But
the demand for tariff revision
downward was so strong and so in
sistent that a majority of Republi-
can orators and editors declared
that the revision was to be down.
ward. on that promise they won.
Having got in, they proceeded to
revise it upward. So that in the
impending campaign the over
shadowing issue is whether men in
conducting a campaign are under
any obligation to tell the truth or
whether they are licensed to palter
in a double sense-to keep the word
of promise to the ear and break it
to the hope. Query: Is it any less
dishonest to secure offices under
false pretenses than to obtain
money in that felonious manner?
RATE TOO HIGH
President Taft himself admitted
in his Winona speech that the
wooden goods schedule is too high
and ought to be reduced. L agree
with him on that; so do you all.
Why then have they not reduced it?
It is eleven months lacking one day
since he signed the Payne-Aldrich-
Smoot tariff bill. He is a Republic
can. Both houses of congress are
Republican by overwhelming ma
jorities. AS the Democratic floor
leader in the house l guaranteed
that if the president would send in
message urging that the woolen
goods schedule be cut to a reason
- 1an yNannIa nnIII6
have cheaper clothing and cheaper
blankets, and Mr.. Chairman Payne
would report such bill and put 1t
upon it's passage every Democrat
would vote for it, and every Demo-
crat in the house applauded my
offer, thereby proving that 1 spoke
their sentiments. That was on May
81, but the president has never sent
N any such message and Mr.. Chair
man Payne has never reported any
such bill.
Every newspaper in the land that
commented on my offer to the presi-
dent said that it was fair PROPOSE
tion and should be accepted. By
reason Of Republican refusal to cure
that great outrage hundreds Of
thousands of people must shiver
and freeze through the ensuing win
lGl. DOCIOAo anu Ct'ADNN'
are waging war against the great
white plague, which the woolen
goods schedule of the Payne-Ald-
rich-Smoot tariff bill does so much
to foster. Shame upon men who
will not remedy such a gross out
rage, an outrage whose existence
they admit, an outrage which
causes incalculable sickness, suf-
fering and death, an outrage which
they have abundant power to stop!
PLANS FOR REVISION
If we have the next house, as 1
believe we will have, we will
honestly and courageously report a
bill to revise the ta~iff down tO
revenue basis, pass it through the
house and send it over 10 rue SEN
ate. Perhaps by that time the SEN
ate. yielding to the public demand,
will also pass it. If 1t does not, we
will go to the people on that issue
in 1912.
A Democrat is a man who be-
lieVes in Democratic principles and
who votes the Democratic ticket.
In recent years there has been
much struggling from the ranks.
| cordially invite all backsliders to
come back home. / also heartily
invite all OIHefS WHO are ulSSaIlS-
fled with Republican misrule and
Republican extravaganza to join
with us in the crusade for the over
throw of the Republican machine.
We will give them a warm welcome,
not inquiring too closely into their
political pedigrees or political ante
cedents. The doors stand wide
open. There is no mourners' bench
in the church Democratic. Even
lifelong Republicans will be well