Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-16
CANNON WRITES TO EDITORS
Speaker Defends Tariff Law in Let
ter to Convention.
TAFT ALSO ASKS FOR SUPPORT
Urges Illinois Newspaper Men TO Lend
Their support "a Administra-
tiOn Measures-Good words
for Congress.

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SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March t5.-speakeT
Cannon. in a letter at a meeting OF repub-
llcan editors here today renewed his at
tack on the Insurgents inc declared that
all the pledges Of the platform would be
kept by the republican party II II has the
continued support Of the people.
The letter is addressed to George c. Ran
kin, president OF the Illinois Republican
Editorial association, Springfield, and in
part is as follows: >
Dear Mr.. ankin: I have your favor of
the sth instant, informing me that there
will DO a meeting OF the Illinois Republican
Editorial association at Springfield, March
Is, and inviting me to give you a word of
encouragement and suggestion.
Il thank you for the courtesy, but / feel
there is no occasion for me either to advise
or encourage the republican editors OF
Illinois who have been IA potent factor IN
the politics of the state since before the
republican party was formally organized,
The republican party has not discarded
any of its principles nor has II sought new
Issues simply for the purpose Of catching
the crowd ever ready for novelties. Where
1t has added a new plank to it's platform,
It has kept its pledges. . = . Repub-
lican majorities in house and senate CO.
operating with the president placed the
Payne tariff law on the statute books
August 8, or within less than five months
from the beginning OF the session.
Defends Payne Law,
within six months after its enactment
that law has demonstrated that 1t is the
best revenue producer as wen as the most
scientific adjustment OF protective duties
we have ever had, fully justlfylng the pres
ident's declaration that 1t Is the best tariff
law ever enacted. The republican party did
not promise a free trade tariff, not a down
ward revision, but a revision in which It
should recognize the principle of pro-
lection with the minimum and maximum
rates 10 preserve without excessive duties
that security against foreign competition
to which American manufacturers and pro-
ducers are entitled; and also to maintain
the high standard Of living of the wage
earners of this country who are the most
direct beneficiaries Of the protective sys-
tenn.
I'm carrying out that pledge Of the plat
form we enacted a tariff in which there
were 654 decreases from the Dingley law,
2O increases and 1,15O Items of the dutiabIe
list unchanged. The articles on which such
were decreased represented 5000, 900, 900
worth Of consumption, while those in
creased had a consumption value OF less
than $1,000, 600, 900. The increases were on
Injuries and the decreases on necessities,
and in the first six months of the law
more than 81 per cent of all importations
were free of duty, the largest percentage
of free imports we nave ever had under
any tariff. not even excepting the Walker
tariff of 1876, which was called a free
trade tariff. The increase OF revenues has
been nearly $780, OO. 700 in six months, max
ing the Payne law the best revenue pro-
curer we have ever had. and that is a
prime necessity In our increased expendi-
lures for the greater Increase of the
country.
Lands Work OF COngress..
THE republican party has carried out
Its tariff pledges in a way to justify the
presidents pride in that enactment and 1t
will carry out it's pledges as 1t has time
for discussion and agreement on the form
'of the wise legislation to meet those
pledges.
THE present congress in regular session
has been more energetic and more success
fui in carrying forward the work before 1t
than has any other congress in recent
years.
The committees have been giving most
careful study to the number Of bills to
amend the interstate law and
other legislation promised in the republican
platform and l think / can safely predict
that this legislation will be kept by the
party II it has the continued support of
the people, No party has ever been able
to accomplish all it promised in one ses-
sion of congress and such an accomplish
ment has never been expected.
1T is the function Of the republican edi-
tors to keep the people informed as to
the work accomplished, that they may not
be misled by demagogues, whose function
Is to complain and create dissatisfaction
and the republican editors of Illinois can be
OF material assistance in presenting the
truth to meet friction, hat the people may
fairly Judge as TO the fidelity of the pres
emit administration TO the principles Of the
party h gave 1t power. TO the end that
the president may continue to have the
support of the legislative department in
working out the policies Of the republican
party"
President Asks support.
WASHINGTON, March l5-Presldent
Taft sent to the convention Of republican
editors at Springfield, H.. today a tele-
gram in which he expressed the hope that
the editorial association would stand by
the republican congress and the admins
tration in its attitude toward the tariff and
other legislation, The telegram addressed
to George Rankin, president OF the Illinois
Republican Editorial association, was as
follows:
Sincerely hope that you will nave a full
meeting; that there will be harmony, and
that the republican editors of Illinois will
stand by the action Of the republican con-
gress and republican administration In ref
erence to the tariff bill n other pro-
gressive legislation. The expression Of a
meeting like the one you have called, arls-
ing from a normal, sane and patriotic re-
publican attitude, viii have much influence
for good in Illinois and the rest OF the
country. WILLIAM II. TAFT"
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