The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-23
1lF1'S CAMPAIGN TOUR,
DENOUNCES COTTON, WOOL AND
FARMERS FREE LIST BILLS.
Bases Opposition on Their Alleged
Loose Construction and OH Pro-
tectiye Platform.

Grand Rapids, Mich, Sept. III
President Taft made his first speech
of his Yves tern trip on the tariff and
his vetoes of the wool, cotton and
farmers free list bills here today.
The president attacked the Demo-
Gratis and insurgent Republicans in
the senate and house, who put these
bills through congress at the special
session defended his own course in
voting them and declared that he
was unalterably opposed TO revision
OF the tariff except upon information
secured by the tariff board.
In his address the president based
his vetoes on two grounds-his duty
to his party as set forth in the plat
form upon which he was elected,
and the construction OF the bills,
which, he said, was loose and un-
scientific.
The president began his speech
with plea for a permanent tariff
board which, he said, had been in
dorsed by the Republican conven-
tions Of many States and by both
parties in Congress.
He recited the history Of his at
tempt TO secure such a commission.
This he did, he declared in order
that he might show how firmly com
mitted he was to the "proposition
that We ought not TO have any
change of a schedule without ac-
curate information as to the effect
OF the proposed changes"
Secondly. he said, he wished to
point out that the Republicans We're
definitely committed to a policy of
protection.
The president then assailed the
Democrats and insurgent Repubh-
cans for taking up tariff revisions
before the tariff board made it's re-
port. This he said, would have de-
layed matters only 80 days. as the
commission is to report December
1st.
Taking up the wool bill, "avowedly
| tariff for revenue" Mr. Taft as
serted that it was prepared without
consideration. This bill. he declared,
was merely compromise and show
ed no definite principle in tariff
making. a-..
The president admitted that the
duties in schedule K" are too high,
but said that 1T is one thing to know
that such duties are onerous and cit
is very different thing in such a
complicated schedule. to know upon
what items reductions should be
made and how great the reductions
ought to be-"
The farmers free list" bill, the
president claimed. was misleading in
its title and so clumsily drawn as to
interfere with the symmetry Of the
metal schedule
Mr.. Taft declared he found much
the same fault with the cotton re-
vision bill. OF which he said: $50
badly was the bill thrown together,
so little attention was paid to the
consideration Of 1t in the senate.
especially In the chemical schedule,
that the most ludicrous results were
reached
Mr.. Taft. after concluding his de-
tailed defense OF his vetoes. sum
med up his position thus:
II am in favor lof the reduction OF
the tariff wherever 1t can be done
and still give a living measure OF
protection TO those industries Of the
country that need it. But I insist
that we have reached now a point in
the history of tariff making when
everyone ought TO realize that the
tariff should not be changed and
business disturbed. except upon In
formation which shall enable ua N