The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-22
TAFTss VE,TOEs.

Because of his vetoes Of the hybrid
tariff legislation that was enacted at
this special session Of congress, Presi-
dent Taft is being subjected to criti-
cism that is an unjust as was the bulk
Of it that was leveled at him during
the first few months of his admins
tration. 1t is urged that he is opposed
to alIy honest revision of the tariff
law and is thereby playing into the
HANDS of the rapacious interests that
have unduly profited by the overly pro-
tective features of the tariff laws of
the past few years as well as the law
now in existence.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. Pres ident Taft is admittedly d
protectionist. as are all Republicans
WHO have not played traitor to their
party. But he also is a revisionist
downward to the point where protection
protects, but does not harbor extor-
tion. More than that he believes that
the only possible way to arrive at such
a reasonable protection is through
scientific examination and investiga-
ton Of all matters pertaining to the
cost Of production and manufacture at
home and abroad so that tariff sched-
ules can be made which will give prop
er protection and no more. In the tar
in board, which was created by the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law, the president
believes he has an agency wnish is
capable of making the Investigations
thai the premises demand.
Is it unreasonable on his part, there
fore, to withhold his sanction to new
tariff bill for the woolen schedule
which was made up in the same old.
unscientifiC way that all of the tariff
laws of the past have been made? 1t
does not seem so. In the final creation
Of this proposed Underwood wool
schedule. it was brought about through
a giving and taking on the part of the
| Iconferees Of the senate ami house. Tn
derwood, the Democratic leader, waived
some of his wooden hobbies, and the in
surgent LaFollette, who led the SEN
ate faction in the conference, waived
some of his pet hobbies on wOolen tariff
/ legislation. Thus the measure came
from conference, not as an honest and
scientific revision of the wool sche 1ule,
but as the only kind of a revision that
the warning factions in congress could
agree upon. Nor would this agreement
have been reached had it not been for
tho overwhelming desire on the part
Of the Democrats and their Republican
insurgent allies in the senate to pass
some sort of woolen tariff legislation
which might put President Taft in a
political hole.
Fut, as President Taft wrote in veto
message of the wool bill: There is no
public exigency 1eqriring the revision
of Schedule K in August without ade-
ouate information, rather then IN DE
cember next with such information"
And again he wrote: when 1 have
1.-THE accurate information which justi-
fies such action I shall recommend to
lcongress as great a reduction is Sched-
ule K as the measure Of protection
already stated. viii permit"
Thus Is President Taft plnning his
faith for a downward revision of the
tariff to the workings of a sort of a
tariff commission. He has repeatedly
stated that he believes many features
of Schedule K to be "indefensible.'' 1t
is reasonable to assume he las ar ink
ling that the tariff board will so re-
port. At any rate he places himself
souarely on record for revision OF
the tariff only after an honest irvesti-
lsation Of conditions on the part Of a
tariH coTniEfSSlon. OF years iHeh VI
all parties have urged that this was
the only proper way to revise the tar
iff. Is it unreasonable for President
Taft to ask that this plan be given q
trial now that the opportunity for dUin2
so is almost at hand for the first time
in all the history of tariff making? Il
the Democrats can make any politica
IeapiisI out Of opposing tariff revision
on the Investigations of a tariff bOart
or commission, the temper of the great
majority of the people IF the colntrS
has suddenly charged in this particular