Arizona republican., 1911-09-22
In Great Speech at Grand
Rapids, Michigan, Says
He is Opposed to "Revis-
ION With Blacksmith
Tools"
AWAITS REPORT OF
THE TARIFF BOARD.
Chief Executive Riddles
Democratic Claims and
Says Maintenance of Pro
lection is a Matter of Con-
science.

GRAND RAPIDS. Mich. Sept. FL
President Taft addressed an i'm
mense audience here today on the
subject of his vetoes of the wool. and
cotton tariff bills. and the free list
bill His address, in part, was as
follows.
Fellow Citizens: I am going To tell
you in as simple a way as can why
vetoed three tariff bills which con-
gress submitted To me FOR my sigma
ture at the close of the extra session.
/ called that session TO secure enact
ment of the Canadian reciprocity
treaty. This was done July -.
Thereafter, the wool bill. the free list
bin. and the cotton bill were pre-
scented me for signature and l re-
turned them without approval and
explained my reasons for so doing in
a special message with each bill.
I am not going to discuss the
Payne bill, except to say the con
troverSy over its merits and dement's
developed a strong sentiment among
republicans. and indeed. among dem
ocrats, that a board Of competent
persons should be constituted to
make an investigation into the facts
concerning dutiable articles and re-
port them in such a way that con-
gress and the public would be re
liably advised of the probable effect
OF any proposed revision of the tar
if in the future.
of course with republicans. in or
der To secure proper revision on the
basis To which they are committed. it
is essential to know from unbiased
source. the difference in cost be
tween foreign and home production.
for this was the limit Of protection
which moderate protectionists had
set They did not wish to injure the
important industries of the country
by taking away from them the meas
ure protection needed to enable them
10 live against foreign competition,
but they did intend in the next re-
vision not To give them more than
this
"Of course democrats recognized no
such measure Of protection as just
hut many Of them contended such
commission was necessary to secure
facts upon which a proper tariff for
revenue only could be framed
Also I wish 10 point out that all
republicans are committed to the
maintenance of our protected indus
tries to the point Of retaining duties
on imported articles which shall equal
the difference in cost Of production
al home and abroad.
Except FOR the extra session. the first
time the sixty second congress could
consider and pass upon tariff sched-
ules would be in December. and that
time its predecessor, by consent Of
both parties, fixed as the proper time
at which full report as to the most
Objectionable schedule ought to be re-
ported
Although many democrats assisted
In support of the statutory tariff
board bin and advocated such means
of securing accurate information in re-
spect TO the probable operation OF
proposed revision the house at once
began to make a record for political
purposes by passing three tariff bills.
a wool bill, free list bill. and a cot
ton bill They gave no public hear
ings Of any kind and presented no
satisfactory information upon which
the effect of any of them could be
judged. Their Investigations NAV have
been sufficient to satisfy the con-
science Of the tariff for a revenue
man who believes in any reduction.
however great. from existing duties
but for one pledged as I am TO main
tain the tariff high enough to enable
existing Industries TO live, the case is
different
The bills were impossible and Of
course / vetoed them There was in
the passage of the bills. an indication
that the bills were based rather on
desire to make a political record i'm
favor of lower duties than upon a Sc
rious proposal To change the law. At
least this is the only explanation that
can be offered Of the careless. inarti-
flcial, and altogether unsatisfactory
character of the three bills.
am in favor of a reduction OF the
tariff wherever il can be done and still
give a living measure of protection to
those industries of the country which
need it. But / insist we have reached
a point in our history where everyone
ought TO realize the tariff is not to be
changed and business disturbed ex-
cept upon information which will en-
able to pass bills that disturb il least
Our whole business system rests upon
a protective tariff basis. The real hope
Of the men who We're in favor of low
ering the duties is to pursue the policy
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