Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1911-05-18

- 80. y,
Washington. Nay 10,
he Republican party il ID , mos
dangt Rus situation Defeat atares i
q tlS fSce at the next election anf
i largely 6n account Of its own attempts
! - c1fiy Water on both shoulders end
| e n'hee party SUCCESS above principle.
| Tie party 81 protection, the Republican
ns1t3 ii naturally expected to be firm
| II f1is sand pats principles ADVOCATED
| by senator Scott and proclaimed By
\ him &, the heat 81 the last campaign,
But President Taft; realizing that high
ttari1 = doomed and hoping the Repub.
| Herd rafty may reap some Of the bene.
| Ats Is follow reduction of the high
tariff under which the country is now
groaning, has demanded areduetion Of
certaia saTin duties and the Republican
majority d the Senate now faces the
proposition Of reducing tariff duties Of
lrepudiating Republican Presidentwho
| is as certain to be ren0minated as the
sun is to rise tomorrow.
The Canadian reciprocity bill, remov-
ing the duty from Canadian farm and
other products importedinto the Uuited
States, in exchange for which Canada
is to remove its duty On numerous man
ufactured articles imported from the
United States, is now before the Re-
publican Senate, having been passed by
the Democratic House along with the
farmers free list" bill, removing the
duty from the articles of every day use
by farmers and others. Because the
reciprocity bill has been urged and vig-
orously supported by the Republican
President, who is expected to be the
Republican nominee for the presidency
in 1912, the Republican Senate does not
reject the measure and it will pass.
But when it comes to passing the
farmers free list" bill, removing the
duty on various manufactured articles
used by the farmer; the Republican
Senators are likely to balk. The adopA
ton Of the free list bill by the House
Democrats has placed the Republican
Senators in peculiar and dangerous
position; They have to pass the reci-
procity bill, putting Canadian farm
products in direct competition with the
products of the American farm, but
when It comes to taking OH the duty
from manufactured articles which the
farmer needs in his every day duties,
they will not know what course to pur-
sue.
It the Republicans pass the Tree list
bill, they viii have taken a long step
toward the abandonment OF the prlncl-
pie OF protection, Whlcnl mas been the
foundation OF the Repuplican party, ana
will antagonize the n'lfaccufers, who
have been contributing to the Republican
campaigns and reaping their Fe"aFd7by
having their tariff duties maintained 50
they can sell their products for higher
prices than they coufdsell them other
wise.
II the Republicans refuse to pass the
free list bill, and it appears now that
they will, they, will place the farmer IN
the position OF having TO sell In an un-
protected market while buying IN pro-
tected one, and already 50,OOO farmers
IN the great northwest section OF the
country have expressed IN writing their
intention to vote against the Republl-
can nominee hereafter It they do 50.
Consequently, the Republicans,
through their course in the Senate,
must antagonize either the farmer or
the manufacturer and mnst either pro-
claim by their votes that protection has
robbed the farmer in the past, or must
admit that it is intended only for the
manufacturer and not for the farmer.
In either event they will lose many
votes in the next election and it is freely
admitted by Republicans here that
nothing can prevent the success of the
Democratic national ticket at the cleo
ton Of 1912. ~
The West Virginia Democratic Con-
gressmen all voted for the reciprocity
bill as well as for the free list bill, con
sidering that the two together tend to
reduce the cost Of living for all classes
Of people without injnring anyone, al
though II the reciprocity Dill IS passed
%takAf list
the farmer will Be injured. ), The sena-