Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-08-03
THEY ASK TOO MUCH
TNsuReENT" REPUBLICANS AP-
PEAR PREsuMPTuous.
Democratic Votes Should Put Through
the Wool Schedules, Regardless
Of Sentiment Of the Party
In the Minority.

OF course, the Smoot wool bill will
receive no consideration from the
Democrats of the senate. 1t provides
for higher duties on woolens than are
provided for in the La Toilette bill,
and, of course, higher than those In
the Democratic bill. Though there
are reductions, they are not consider
able, and the did specific, compensa-
tory taxes are retained. The bill is
chiefly interesting as indicating that
even Senator Smoot seems to have
learned that the present wool tariff.
which he helped to put through only
two years ago, will no longer do.
The La Toilette bill is, Of course
better than the Smoot bill. but it does
not go as far as the Democratic bill.
As this latter is open to criticism on
the score of its conservative charac-
ter, it is hard to see why the Demo
Gratis should make any further con-
cessions. Their bill was prepared
with the idea that it might go through
with the help of the votes of those Re
publicans who really desired tariff re-
duction. 1t is, therefore, a compro-
mise measu offered by men who
proved by their adoption of 1t that
they sincerely wished for some action
at this session. How much further
ought they to be expected to go in
sacrificing party principles for the
sake of Republican votes?
1t seems to us that the country has
a right to demand some concessions
from the insurgents. The Democratic
| bill is not radical, and was not in,
tended to be radical. 1t was passed
by the house, the body in which this
sort of legislation ought to originate.
1t is now backed by practically the
solid Democratic strength of the sen
ate. Yet a few Republicans are in
sisting on their right to impose their
will on the Democrats, and to ask a
heavily Democratic house Of repre-
sentatives to repudiate their W bill
and to substitute therefor a bill pre-
pared by a few Republican senators,
And the bill Is more protective than
the Democratic measur which Is It
self thought by many Democrats to
be too protective.
We fully appreciate the Importance
of getting something done, but II
should be remembered that any re
vision Of the wool schedule now will
be pleaded in bar Of further revision
in the neal future. Those attempting
1t will be assailed with the old cry
against tinkering with the tariff
Therefore, the Democrats should &c
as far as they can at this session. a
good deal has been yielded already
We suggest that it might be well tt
put the responsibility for defeatini
the very moderate measure OF reform
that is proposed directly up to the In
surgents. They have fought reel
procity determinedly, largely on tn
ground that it was not fair to tn
farmers. Will they care, after tn
reciprocity agreement is adopted, I
defeat the two bills that are designe'
to meet their own objections? Thi
is doubtful. The Democrats hav
made a very fair and honest bid TO
t%nsurgent support. The bid should b
accepted, and with gratitude. Tn
house bill is the best of the three, an
1t ought to pass and become a law
Indianapolis News.