Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-03-10
ANOTHER TARIFF PROMISE.


his. own signature a statement
QfeYhieh the following was a con-
Spichous part. q"
Il am elated at the Legislation
which has been enacted at this
Congress. 1t has fulfilled the
pledges Of the party. It is
great satisfaction to me that we
have accomplished so much. l
think the party in power has en-
acted legislation which will enure
greatly to its benefit. 1t has kept
its contract. The Congress which
Is now closing its first regular
session has done more what it
promised the people it would do,
and the Republican party has a
good record to take to the people
in the coming elections. "
Consistency Of President Taft.
How much or how little of that
statement would the President re-
lterate tOdayY He has given the
answer, perhaps, IN his reversal
of the whole Administration poll
cy on the tariff question. Judg-
ing by the terms of the Canadian
B reciprocity agreement and the
vigorous, not to say anxious sup
port, the President has given it,
j. is evident that were it in hs
power, he would Obliterate rather
than reiterate all his past utter
anceS on the tariff question from
the beginning of his adminStra-
tiOn. What Mr.. Taft would now
do with his WinOna speech and
other written and spoken evi-
denceS of presidential defense of
the Payne-Aldrich tariff, is not
so material as are the facts sur
rounding the Republican change
OF front at Washington since the
returns OF the late election.
Democrats have been quick and
generous, as Democrats usually
are, to extend congratulations to
the President and welcome him
As a convert to the Democratic
tariff policy. One sad experience
IN that line, however, should be.
and perhaps will, caused Demo-
'cratS to 60 slow in accepting the
presidential conversion to Demo-
cratic principle. Theodore ROOs9-
velt, when president of the Unit
ed States sought the refuge and
expOunded the doctrines of the
Democratic national platform, but
failed, and prOpOSely failed we
believe, to practice the policy he
trumpeted. His conversion to the
progressive features of govern
ment for which the Democracy
- had so earnestly fought was pro-
feSsedly complete and sincere;
so much. so, in fact, that he won
the hearts and affection of the
masses of the country to an ex-
tent greater than most, and as
B, great as any, in the whole line
Of his illustrations predecessors.
+ For the Nation and for ROOSe-
Welt there was a splendid promise
o in that situation but time-the
great leveler-haS explained the
failure by convincing the people
of the United States that TheO-
dOre Roosevelt was a politician,
@ not a statesman.
His forage into the Democratic
ranks was not Improbable to his
party, disastrous though it prov
ed to the country and to the De
mOcracy. 1t enabled him to hold
the presidency against the Hon.
Alton B. Parker by a tremendous
popular vote, and 50 great was its
impetus that it put William H.
Taft, a then pledged and con-
stantly reiterated EXPONENT Of
my policies" in the White
e House.
These are easily recognized anC
admitted facts, and through the
luSter Of the former president
glory is now some what dimmed
and tarniShed, the lesson of his
sway will not readily be fOrgOtte.
What Theodore Roosevelt did il
a political way, it would not b(
e. beyond President Taft to attemp
When the latter expressed OF
June 29rd, last, complete salts
faction and elahOn with the rec
ord of his administration he SPOKE
from a sOlidly entrenched Repub
$, lican position. No word was the.
heard from the White House tha
the tariff conclusions of tn,
Payne-Aldrich ring would be dis
turbed.
But the November vote seem
&C have put a little fear of Coo
and respect for the people in tn
Rp1Suhlioan haoy,+ Alec Drae;don