The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-13
He Presents His Case In on
Authorized Interview In
the Outlook.
THE Outlook prints an article en-.
titled president Taft's Own
View, an Authorized Interview '

view, an AuUnOrlZeu interview,
/ in which the president discusscs
current topics and particularly his
own administration.
Speaking of the tariff issue, NJ.
President, if you could begin your ad.
ministration again would you repeat
your Winona speech tomorrow" the
interviewer asked.
"In phraseology, no; in effect, yes,
Had l known as much as / do now
should have realized that there are
some things one cannot leave to be
taken for granted. l dictated that
speech to a stenographer on the cars
between two stations and glanced
through it only enough to straighten
| its grammar. 1t was sent out by the
press with correspondingly little cere-
mony, so that papers received it in ell
sorts of shapes. If l had prepared It
| two or three weeks before and revised
it deliberately, as l ought to have done
should have clarified several pas
sages. And particularly should have
changed the sentence where proclaim
the Payne tariff act the best ever pass
ed. The comparative would have been
better description than the super
lative, for whatever its shortcomings
the act still contains less to be criti-
cised than it's predecessors. and it did,
as a whole, revise the existing sched-
ules downward
High Duties Nourish Monopoly.
as your tariff reduction program
based on the theory that it will bring
about a corresponding reduction in the
cost of living?'
81 think that that effect is greatly
overestimated. My chief objection to
a needlessly high tariff is that it nour
ishes monopoly. 1t holds forth a con.
stant temptation to the formation of
little trusts, which often are more di-
rectly oppressive to the consumer than
big ones"
WAS your adoption of a low tariff
mind?"
81 have long been convinced that we
were OVERRIDING the tariff business.
The Republican platform Of 1908 gave
expression to this view, for it COM
mitted the party of protection to a re-
vision. l have been trying honestly
to keep faith with the people, who
elected me on that understanding. OF
course we feared that there might be
opposition from the extreme high pro-
tectionist Republicans in congress, and
not few of my friends have blamed
me for not breaking with them, throw
ing down the gage of battle and VOW
ing that 1 would stand or fall by the
low tariff issue. They fail to reflect,
however, that 1 was not only presi-
dent of the United States, but head of
the party to which these men belong
ed. / could not hope to have assist
ance from the Democrats, and my bat
tie was lost before it was begun un-
less. by patient effort, could get re-
endorsements from the ranks of pro-
lection Republicans. Some of these
men were amenable to argument, and
they had long been leaders in con
gress. One must not lose sight of the
fact that, while l was pledged to in
sist upon lower tariff duties; there
were many representatives whose me-
tive to protect the industries of thei,
districts was just as strong as minc
to comply with my construction of the
platform. Former presidents had work
ed with these party leaders in con
} gress, with whom they were not In en-
tire sympathy, in order to make prog
: ress. Looking back now on the rec
ord of those first few months, do no.
, | al n.
What He Accomplished.
!. 'In spite of such handicaps l did Sc
, cure tariff reductions on number o
items, including several raw materials
induced Aldrich to cut down hi
amended cotton schedule about 10 pc
cent. | made like attempt with wool
but It wouldn't work in either house.
got hides on the free list and lowe
, duty on coal, iron ore and scrap iron
If the Payne bill had passed the sen
ate in the shape in which it passed tn
house there would have been little sc
rious censure of it in the country a
, large. l realize now, though, that
made one mistake-I ought to hav
made as strong a point on paper as
did on hides. Chairman Payne in til
house did not like to go down to a tw
) dollar duty on paper, but he voted TO
it rather than cause a split. Mr.. L
. Toilette consulted as to the amour
of duty needed on paper, and h
3 thought 50 was too low for immediat
4 application and wanted a sliding seal
5 of duties from a higher rate. AS
: was we compromised on $3.75.
: But 1 could not get free lumbe
r either. The only way 1 procured an
substantial reduction from $1.5O wa
e by sending the conference committe
e an intimation that 1 should veto th
bill if it carried a lumber duty highe
i than $1.25. l took similar and equa
: ly successful stand regarding glove
e on some classes Of which an increas
J. had been proposed for the benefit
d an infant industry Some OF my cri
les will ask, II you could do so muc
s In these instances by swinging you
q veto club. WHY did Won not use til