Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-05-01
MuddIe-Headed Politicians

II there is one thing more than an
other which stands out in the annals
OF the Taft administration, so that
he who runs may read, it is that while
the President is distinctly in favor of
carrying on the pledges of the Re-
publican party to the people at the
polls, and revising the tariff down
wards, the rank and file of the party,
file which constitutes the senate. is
as distinctly adverse to that fulfill
ment. Hence the results of the No
vember elections.
President Taft is fully aware that
new tariff to be permanent, must
be constructed scientifically and that
scientific work can only be based up
on facts. The labor of obtaining
those facts has been relegated to a
special and permanent Tariff Com
mission. This work is necessarily
long drawn out and it will consume
-
all the facts can be collated This
was the experience of the French and
German nations when they recently
placed their tariffs upon a scientific
basis. In the meantime, the nation
is impatient. and TO give some meas
ure of relief and at the same time
to enter upon a statesmanlike policy
with regard to Canada, President Taft
brought to conclusion a reciprocity
arrangement with that country. The
acceptance of that provisional treaty
was baked by the SiXty-first Con-
gress through the adoption of silly
hlibustering methods, worthy rather
OF the wardheeler than of statesmen.
An extra session has been called and
the House of Representatives, by a
substantial majority, has Endorsed the
presidents views, although the ma
jority of that House is opposed politi-
cally to President Taft, That majority
showed itself capable of rising above
shallow politics and acting for the
good of the whole nation. 1t is now
up to the senate to act. That the
senators seem unwilling to do, though
what is gained by futile delay it
is hard to see
For if the Senate desires to accom-.
plish anything with regard to the tar.
if it is that the evil day of it's revis-
ion downwards shall be delayed as
long as possible. But if it does not
pass the reciprocity arrangement the
reverse will happen. Such action will
rather accelerate its coming. If the
assent be given to the reciprocity
treaty then it is probable that the
people of the nation. having been
given an earnest of the policy of the
government, will the more patiently
awaft the investigations of the Tariff
Commission and its consequent low
ering of the taric walls. But if it
be rejected, not only will this nation
have failed to grasp an opportunity
of closer relations with Canada, which
may never again be presented, but
il will insist on the passing of other
and alternative measures of relief-it
will insist upon reduction Of the
tariff at once, even if tentative.
This is shown by the present tenn
per of the Democratic majority in
the Lower House. which is determin-
ed to take up at once some of the
tariff schedules. If this Democratic
majority does revise some of the
schedules downward, which seems
likely enough, and if at the same time
the senate has rejected Canadian re-
ciprOcity, the Upper Chamber, in face
of an aroused public opinion, will
not venture to reject these revisionS.
If, on the other hand, ii does assent
to the treaty it will be in a position
to ask for a further delay, at least
to December next. for a tariff revis-
ion, which, in the absence of proper
data. can only be tampering with its
provisions. finland Herald (RepD