St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-09-27

sumner in securing information re-
garding proposed tariff changes,
that the republican conventions of
% states had endorsed the plan
of an unbiased commission to recon-
mend further tariff changes after
learning the difference between the
costs of foreign and home produc-
ton and that he had instructed this
board to have information ready for
the regular session of congress on
Dec. 1. The wool bill as passed by
the democrats was simply a revenue
bill and did not give the protection
pledged by the republican party of
the difference between the cost of
production abroad and at home. The
bill passed was not the bill formed
by the ways and means committee
of the house, which has spent some
time in it's study and preparation,
but changed through compromise in
to an entirely different measure the
effects of which no one understood.
The Free List Bill'' was a mis-
make agricultural implements free
when as matter of fact they are al
ready free under the Payne tariff,
from any country that admitted our
agricultural implements free. The
price of agricultural implements in
America is lower today than in any
other country. The bill as passed
would free many expensive articles
not used by the farmers at all. 1t
made the manufactured products of
leather free but retained tariff on
the raw material thus making open
discrimination against American
manufacturers. Free meat and -four
were provided with only those coun-
-four free. Canada was the only
country with which this could be
done and Canada had already re-
fused us this privilege in the nego-
tiations for reciprocity because they
feared our competition in these ar
ticles.
The cotton bill was passed with
out any testimony being taken re-
garding it's effects or any careful
consideration whatever and affected
articles entirely foreign to the cot
ton schedule. 1t was such an
considered and hastily put together
bill that no one could sign it with
any knowledge of what it's practical
application would accomplish.
He expressed his tariff policy as
follows:
1 am in favor of the reduction of
the tariff wherever it can be done
and still give living measure of
protection to those industries of the
country that need it. But insist
that we have reached now a point in
the history of tariff making, when
every one ought to realize that the
tariff should not be changed and
business disturbed, except upon in
formation which shall enable US to
pass bills that will disturb it least.
Our whole business system rests up
on the protective tariff basis. The
real hope of men who are in favor
of lowering duties is to pursue the
policy of securing accurate informa-
ton to keep the tariff rates down as
low as possible consistent with the
life of the business protected.
In speaking of arbitration the
president adhered to the position he
had previously announced in public
speeches. In announcing his position
regarding the progressives the pres
ident made one of the most pathet-
ic declarations of his administra-
| ton. 1t was at Peoria, ILL.,, where
he had heart-to-heart talk with
: the leaders of the different republi-
can factions in Illinois. He plead
ed guilty to being a very poor poll
tician, acknowledged again that his
ambition had lain in the direction Of
Office of chief justice rather than the
presidency, admitted that he IN
doubtedly had made many mistakes
: but asserted that as president he ha6
tried to do what he thought to be
right. What the future held fol
him he did not know; he would &C
: ahead and do the best he could. Mr.
Taft declared he was not allied will
2 the extremists of his party, either
conservatives or progressives, bu
S had tried to take middle ground
! but we middle-of-the-road people
o believe we are the real progress
: sives,'' said the president, ''becaus
you do not make progress in grea
strides; you make it step by step.
Thus far it must be admitted tina
f the president has taken sane posi-
# tions on the subjects he discusse'
o during his trip and avoided an
: mistakes it was feared he nigh
. make. His speeches show him
j. broad minded man loyal to his dut
as he sees it and to the America
: industries, ready to work for an