The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-08-04

the accuracy OF tariff statements, but
granting the tfTth OF the statement,
what superb S..sHins II is.
We have revised the tariff in re-
Spouse to aiiSoyerpowering republican
sentiment, and have succeeded in TAX
ing off about one-forty-second Of the
average imposition upon dutiable
goods.
In all that has been said by those
who have, during. the past year, de.
Tended the. measure there has been no
claim that we either fixed or tried TO
| fix, the duties according to the cost
of production, and yet that is the test
and the only test by which the act
should be tried if we have any regard
for our plighted word.
do not intend to review its SEIZED,
ules upon this occasion ! have done
that in another and more appropriate
forum, and expect to do 1t again wnen
the tims comes. It is no pleasure for
me to differ from some of my party
associates upon this subject; but there
is no exegeiicy iii public affairs or
party action that can induce me TO
say that thing is good when ! be
lieve il to be bad, or to say that 1t Is
true when believe it to be false.
There are many gratifying reduc
lions in the Payne ldrich act, but up
on the whole it is not a fair exempt
fication of the protective policy, nor
is 1t an honest performance OF our
platform promise, and no matter what
happens will tell the truth, as ! see
the truth. about it.
Let me, however, again warn re-
publicans who are of my way of think.
ing concerning the Shortcomings OF
this measure that the failure OF the
republican leaders in congress to
abide by our platform furnishes no
reason for delivering this country into
the hands of the democrats.
The one thing that can be said IN
favor of our recent revision is that 1t
is vastly better than any tariff which
the democrats could enact founded
upon the exploded theory of levying
duties for revenue only. 1t would be
fatal to- commit this country TO any
such doctrines and | know that repub
licans have too much patriotism and
too much intelligence to punish mis-
take in leadership by depriving our
barty of power, and turning over the
government to political organization
which holds view Of the constitu-
ton that would paralyze our efforts
in dealing with the modern problems
of commerce., industry and transpor.
tation, and which hold view OF the
tariff that If put into execution would
bring upon us universal disaster.
Wipe. Out the Blot.
The logical, esensible thing to do is
to correct our mistake-none but re
publicans can correct it-and under
the implse of the sentiment, growing
now by leaps and bounds every
where, they will correct it and leave
the republican name and republican
pledge without a stain in all its won
derful history.
OF course, 1t seems to me, 1t is set
plainly before us. do not favor an
immediate general revision OF the
tariff, indeed | earnestly hope that we
may never be compelled to enter upon
another general REIMBURSEMENT of the
system. @
In our last attempt it was made
clearer than ever before, first, that
some better way must be found than
81 inf a
as to cost here and abroad; and sec
ond. that we must amend the SEIZED
ules separately. AS to the first, the
way will be found in the creation of
an independent, nonpartisan tariff
commission, not to change the law
for that's and must remain the work
of congress; but to collect and lay
before congress and before the people
the facts.
When this is done there will be
neither high tariff man nor low tariff
man who will venture to disregard his
duty. Fortunately, the demand for
such commission has become al
most unanimous among republicans,
and the few who still oppose it will
soon disappear from public life.
We have already made a good be-
ginning, for under the strong and per.
sistent recommendation of the presi
dent, congress gave him an appropria
ton which he will use insofar as he
has the power to do il, to get the in
formation so necessary to proper un
Outstanding of the subject. The pro-
vision is Inadequate; but it gives us
hope that before long we will be able
to establish a commission with full
powers and complete equipment.
AS to the second, we must insist up
on a law, or rule OF congress that will
allow one schedule to be amended or
revised without going over the whole
range of the tariff. We must exclude
the opportunity for the trades and
combinations which now dishonor
tariff legislation. We must make 1t
impossible TO coerce or bride a mem
Der of congress into voting for what
he knows to be wrong in order to get
what ne believes to be right.
Happily, the movement for such a
rule or law Is steadily advancing, and
il will not be long until Il, too, will