New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-27
TAFT STRIKES FIRST
BLOW IN CAMPAIGN
Assails Coalition in Congress
That Passed "Tariff-for-PolI-
tics-0nIy' Measures.
LA TOILETTE SINGLED OUT
Vetoes Justified and Promise
Given to Recommend Revi-
sion in Accordance with
Tariff Boards Report.

Hamilton. Mass, Aug. Zo.-rres'u"iiS
Taft began the campaign OF 1917 here
to-day. his friends believe. In speech
that breathed defiance. He denounced
the insurgent members of the Repub-
lican PARTY in Congress and the Demo-
Gratis who combined 10 revise several
schedules Of the tariff at the special ses-
sion lust closed. He singled out sera-
tor La Toilette. OF Wisconsin; Speaker
Clark and Chairman Underwood OF the
Ways and Means Committee as leaders
Of the attempted revision. and paid them
special attention. He referred 20 Mr.. La
Toilette several times. and mentioned the
other insurgents merry as the u
consin Senator's Associates. The pro-
posed revision he regarded as inJudlclous
and dangerous TO business IL was. ne
said, tariff for politics only and ths
| measures we're i'll considered and passed
solely for the purpose Of embarr&Slns
the administration and making politini
capital. The President made II plaS
that # the Tariff Board in December re"
| ports that downward revision Of the cote
ton and wool schedules should be unders
taken he will recommend the use OF tns
pruning knife.
Think Il the "Keynote" Speech.
Standing on the terrace at Representa-
tive A. P. Gardner's farm, with --..=tct
Lodge and other Massachusetts Rerubs
lican leaders. the President seemed -
scent the smoke Of the coming battle.
Many of the five hundred members %
the Essex County Republican Club
gathered below 70 listen thought they
heard the keynote" speech Of the come
ing campaign. and their cheers were louc
and long. The President said:
am here 10 speak words Of encourage
ment 10 the outlook for Republican sucS
cess. You have a state election immedlates
ly before you. into which, lt seems 70 ny
national issues ought 10 enter. We haVs
| lust finished an extra session OF Congress,
g-J 49, ,,a.,o-s .c,sidored we're of such
importance 20 the Commonwealth or Mass
/ sachusetts that I do not see how the peos
ple OF the state can withhold an express
sion OF opinion upon them. The eNtre
session Of Congress was called for the pur-
pose Of confirming the Canadian reciprocity
I treaty. which il did by support MADE I'D
II votes from 5oth parties. I have No
doubt Massachusetts. by ooth parueS
I would confirm .ts adoption.
r or DeTnOfraf.c IIleuO-s lDNFfNAF "'AV
not content - allow the session 70 pass
with the accomplishment Of the purposS
for which IL vas called. They assisted
most OF them-in the passage or the recl~
procity bill because they believed in its usss
! fulness and in so doing they united Wlts
the Republican support and dld not pay
politics. in its passage. ! am very sorry
10 say. however. that. having pursued
purely statesmanlike course with reference
10 reciprocity, thev c.d play poAtcS y.
the most irresponsible character IN respect
- n-iN- which. uniting
certain Republicans In the senate, tney
we're able 70 pass and present 10 the Exec
ternal evidence OF the fact that they rest
ed on basis of not tariff for revenue
only" but tariff -politics-only.'
The Wool Bill.
The frst-the wool bill-was introduced
into the House by Mr.. Underwood, the
Democratic leader. with the statement that
il was a free trade bill and was not IN
tended TO provide protection % me Wool or
woollen industry, but that the % per cent
tax which was placed on raw WOOL I'M
ported into this country was mace heces.
sary as a revenue measure oy tne prosgets. s
OF a deficit in the national revenues. ms
was a most profound error, made oy MI
Underwood through a mistake in adding up
the columns OF the estimated revenues ana @
expenditures, so that. instead or there oe-
ing deficit as suggested, there is IN re-
alitv a surplus OF 100000. Though TINS
error was made known 70 nlm, me - per
cent tax upon raw wool was nevertheless
! retained.
measure TO the Senate Of the United states,
where, being defeated, the Democrats and
the so-called Republican insurgents unlted
in passing az a substitute the amendmenS
~ a bill prepared by Senator La Folletro
! on the floor without reference 20 or inYes-
tication by any committee. The bill, as
! proposed imposed "A duty or AZ per cent
ad vaiorem on wool and an average or ~
per cent on woollen manufactures. This
bin Mr. La Toilette claimed 20 be pro-
lection bill. The Democrats OF the senate
secured a reduction OF per cent for nin:
and then with his assistance and tnat or
his associates passed Dill proVidlns
duty Of 35 per cent on raw WOOL ana an
Of Ber B vent Sens G6 o and
emerged after a further compromise, pro,
viding a duty Of - per cent on raw Woet
and an average Of ts Per cent on woollen
manufactures. Thls compromise was
Thus the bill is seen 10 be a compromise
| between avowed free traders and avowed
! protectionists. bill conceived In an unnat-
ilral alliance a bill the product OF poitf-
| cal log-rollng FOR the purpose OF securing
! its passage: a bill framed IN ignorance ot
! the exact effect of It's operation. and a bill
/ that presents only those methods IN its
adoption which had been generally con-
demned in the making OK previous tarin
Mr. Underwood and Mr. Clark in the
\ House. and Mr.. La Toilette and his ssso-
! ciates. in the Senate. had earlier been con-
] SplCNOls IN the support OF a Ni'dSLle Nih'u
vas avowedly adopted for the purpose of
securing scientific Information 10 assist In
| revsions OF the tariff Indeed they ear
/ restly deprecated any future revision with
out an accurate knowledge OF the facts.
But now. IN the opportunity presented by
! the special session and In the desire %
play politics" and crafty what was sup
10 sed TO be a popular desire for the reduc-
ton OF duties they did not hesitate 20
adopt all the alleged defective methods OF
previous tariff revision which they had de-
nounced. and TO reject as entirely un-
worthy OF consideration the suggestion os
DELAY until Investigation by an impartial
board should be had
Passed with Little Care.
No tariff bill with any ones recollec-
tion has ever been passed with so little
care They declined 10 wait ninety days 20
hear a report of a full investigation on
Schedule X which the previous Congress by
a united vote OF the Democrats and Repub-
Leans including the Insurgents. had d.
rected 10 be made on the first OF December
II is true that this statutory direction
was specifically made 10 a tarir board
created under bill which ultimately failed
OF passage. although supported by all the
gentlemen who were prominent in the pas
sage OF this woollen bill. StA. that same
Congress gave me money enough TO create
"A board 10 do the same work. IL Is a board
OF exactly the same personnel as that which
the tariff commission would have had for
on IL I have put three Republicans and two
the sense that the tariff commission hili
required. IL is board tnat I'm every re-
spect Is the same as the statutory tariff
| commission except that II is not perrna-
nent and mas not the power 10 summon
witnesses. and this IL finds unnecessary he
cause IL can secure all the informatio n
needs without doing 50.
I -