The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-29
"Mnior pooley criticize. rnt..-

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir,--"rhe public Will have ample
time calmly TO consider and 1ccid :
whether they desire to put into power
gentlemen leading a party who while
protesting Il wish for facts and infor-
nation. so as to make tariff legisla-
ton as just as possible. no sooner
have the opportunity than they ,dopt
measures with the same old Ignorance
OF the facts, with the same methods of
ioSrolling compromise and with the
same Indifference TO the exact opera
ton of the duties imposed they
themselves SO severely criticized IN
Others responsible for previous tariff
legislation.
Never in the history of the govern
mcnt, ! venture to say. have import
ant public interests been dealt with
in such Il light-hearted way. with such
absolute ignorance of the effect of
legislation and with such Willingness
to sacrifice business interests to polit-
ical eHiSencies as in the present leg
islation which has just been defeated
In the above paragraph. with which
Mr.. President Taft substantially closes
his speech, delivered on the 26th OF
August before the Essex County Re
publican Club, he evidently intended to
make up an issue on which the Repub-
lican party might go to the country in
the next presidential campaign.
Let every man who is suffering from
the high cost of living weigh well
and thoroughly understand the issue
which Mr. Taft makes against the
Democratic party and upon which he
expects the country to retain the Re-
publican party in power. His charge,
in substance and effect, is that the
Democratic party in Congress has
passed three tariff bills with the same
old Ignorance of the facts. with the
same methods of logrolling compro-
mise and with the same Indifference to
the equal operation of the duties i'm
posed. as they themselves so severely
criticized in others responsible for
previous tariff legislation" Who were
the Others responsible for previous
tariff legislation?
The Republican party. For nearly
fifty years the country has lived un-
der tariffs enacted by the Republican
party.
Mr.. Taft charges that these tariffs
have been made by the Republicans
with ignorance of the facts. with
methods of iogrolling compromise and
with indifference TO the exact opera
ton OF The duties imposed
His charge against the Democrats Is
that they have followed the reprchen-
party. therefore. he argues the Demo
Gratis should not he trusted. but the
Republicans should.
Tho answer is so plain. it might be
made by Il schoolboy.
The Republican party was guilty Of
these represersible practices. so vigor
ousv condemned because they were
panderinG to and fostering the excess
sive greed OF the manufacturers, who
were bent on plunderins the people.
while the Democrats erred, II they did
err. in an honest and Jealous effort to
relieve the people as quickly as posi-
BILE from the unnecessary burdens
placed upon them By the plunderers.
voted for Mr.. TAFT. and think lie
has made good President: but he
should be little less solicitous for
the protection OF the plunderers ana
a little more ventureeome for the re-
lief of the people.
II that Is the best he can DO in
framing an Issue for the presidential
ca mpaign, he will be severely rebuked
by an indignant country.
JAMES h DOoLEY
IrI,o