Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10
HARMON HITS TAFT
Accuses President of "PIaying
Politics" on Tariff.
CHARGES ABUSE OF VETO
People Should Have Had Benefit of
Doubt, He Says.
INTERESTS" GAIN BY DELAY
Ohio Governor Accuses Taft Of Hav-
ing Failed to Redeem His
Pledges to the People.
CHARGES ABUSE OF VETO
INTERESTS" GAIN BY DELAY

the opening of the democratic campaisn|
for the coming state election. the demo-
cratic city committee quickly readjusted
its plans and an enthusiastic gathering
of democrats listened To addresses by
prominent members of the parry in Fan
euil Hall. The chief guest and speaker
was Gov. Harmon of Ohio while spec hes
also We're made by GOV. Foss Of Mas
sachusetts and Mayor John r FITZGERALD
of Boston Gov. Harmon in his address
SAID that the Presidents course in Vetoing
tariff bills passed by the special session
OF Congress indicated that he lad been
reached by wrong advisers" Speaking
of the Presidents objections TO those
bills. he said: These and other marks
OF paternity suggest the question whether
the Netocs may not have been adopted
offspring, like the defense of BaIlinger :"
He needed no commissioner. said the
speaker, when he promised a general re-
duction before his election. nor when he
called the special session TO keep the
promise. nor when he signed the bill that
broke the promise. nor when he confessed
that the wooden and cotton goods duties
were too high. nor when he made the
agreement with Canada His position is
simply that those who by the trickery of
tariff making secured a license to impose
eSorbitant prices on the American peo-
pie shall go on doing IL, in spite of the
action of both houses of Congress- until
five men who are not responsible to the
people. nor even experts. snail advise
him how much these favor taxes ought
to he reduced and how to do it scientif-
fcaliy. He admits they are too high on
these absolute and universal ncceSSitie !
of life. but lie fears these bills may nave
CIT them too much. All the men. women
and children in the land must continue
to suffer an admitted wrong which af-
fects health ard comfort. rather than
run any risk of causing too much shrink
age in profits made excessive by law
The people must not even have the bene-
fit of the doubt.
Not Sin of Ignorance.
If the present tariff charges had
been fixed merely without proper
knowledge and skill it could well he
said that an unscientific' remedy is
good enough for an unscientific wrong.
especially when those who apply the
remedy have the advantage of dealing
with actual results. while those who did
the wrong acted only I'm conjecture. But
the Payne Aldrich- Smoot law had far
worse sire than ignorance. And it is Il
reflection on our plan of government
to say that the fragrant iniquitieS of
that law shall go on defying good sense.
common knowledge and honest purpose
until commission without legal re-
sponsibility or authority shall decide
how the duly chosen law making body
may deal with them.
Il believe in the veto power But it
is to be employed only on the clear
and positive conviction of the executive
that the public interest so requires. He
is allowed ten days to consider and de-
eide If he remains in doubt at the
end of that time action Of his part Is
dispensed with and the judgment of the
legislative body becomes effective with
out it. For the President to defeat the
action of Congress especially when it
follows the plain mandate of the coun-
try, merely because he is not certain
somebody else to advise him. is new
end perlous departure from the wise
design of the Constitution.
I'VE have had tariff commissions be-
fore but none of them ever accomplished
anything but delay. And If ever time
is money, ii certainly is to the henefi-
Charles of a favor tariff. The consumers
of the country were entitled to at least
partial immediate relief. This Congress
gave and the President took away. His
tenderness was all for the few who profit
by the present excessive rates. He hard-
ened his heart to the multitude. VINO are
compelled to pay the exorbitant prices
which include them.
Charges of Insincerity.
Not content with calling the majority
in Congress unscientific incompetent and
ignorant continued Gov. Harmon,
though in his yetoes he did so in par
lamentary phrase. the President now, in
public speeches. charges them with in
sincerity, employing the ruder language
of the stump. He says they were play
ing politics
This gives a fellow feeling for Messrs.
Clark and Underwood and their asso-
ciates. For when | set about the reforms
in Ohio which [ was elected to secure. l
found myself confronted by a general
assembly republican in both branches,
which undertook tn discredt my admin
istration in every way it could. 1t smoth-.
cred or defeated measures proposed TO
prevent further grating with the treas
ury funds. to limit taxation and distribute
it fairly, to reduce expenses ana secure
effective conduct of tile public business.
When | persisted in urging measures Tor
these and other worthy objects though
| knew the fixed purpose to make my
efforts fruitless !, too. was charged Win
playing politics. which means pursuing
a course from some unworthy motive.
and any motive except to promote the
general welfare is unworthy in public
officer.
of the state most emphatfcally declared
that they play politics who thwart Ell
forts for reforms, and not they who make
such efforts however hopeless of imme-
date success.
Cabinet Took a Hand.
And talk of playing politics, The
members of the obstructive republican
legislature were, according to press re-
ports. i'm constant touch with the ma
tional administration during both SEES
sions. The speaker and leaders ire
ouently went to Washington and con
ferred with the President. Half the eau
met were sent to take part in the cam
paisn last fall. where the direct issue
was who had been playing politics ana
who trying to serve the public interests.
Yet in dispatches inspired In Washine-
ton the claim is now set up tnat inns
great record of accomplishment by
democratic administration IS due 10 those
who had to be twice defeated at the polls
to secure il. Even from washington,
saws one of these. after reciting with
praise what has been done. where II was
realized bv the republican chieftan that
the democrats would claim most OF the
credit for the passage OF such leslsia-
ton republicans in the Legislature were
urged and advised to support proposed
laws which in theif operation would
prove to be a benefit to the great masses
Of the people This chieftain must have
little influence with his followers in Ohio,
because. with now and then an honorable
exception in either house. they continued
to oppose a solid front against the entire
program of reforms Tor wnlch the Demo
cratic administration was contending with
its slender majorities in senate and house.
surely irving to take credit from those
who have earned il is the worst form