The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-19
Whats in a name. "

Wnats IN u name.
Enough to make dupes Of a good
many ordinarily intelligent American
citizens" would be our answer now
adays. But even though 1t may be
impossible to make many people I'M
derstand just now that they are le-
luded. we think well for their future
reference, at least, TO suggest an AZ
PLANTATION OF how the rightly honored
name reciprocity" has been bestow-
ed upon a changeling.
The admission made by President
Taft, in his Indianapolis speech last
Tuesday, in direct contradiction to
the earlier assertion OF his newspaper
and political indorsers, that, 1T is my
own judgment that the reciprocity
agreement will not greatly reduce the
cost of living, IL at ALI creates a re-
markable situation for his admins
tration, for congress and for the
American people.
II the presidents present words be
true, the defects Of the plan, as as
serted by the progressive Republican
senators, are plainly proved and the
chief merits claimed for the project
by the advocates OF Taft reciprocity
are nonexistent.
II the general consumer IL not to
be benefited and the American farmer
IL to be penalized, while the rail-
roads, the millers, the brewers, the
beef trust, the newspapers and the
Canadian farmer are TO be the only
direct benefciaries, then the measure
is devoid of sufficient merit to Offset
the really vicious provisions which It
contains.
In brief, with this presidential ad-
mission In mind, the Taft reciprocity
plan is not reciprocity with wise ex.
change OF equivalents and advantages,
but executive amendment OF the
lPayne-Aldrich tariff law condemned
by the country. And the amendment
Is almost wholly Of the few schedules
not condemned. while denunciation
and threats Of the veto follow every
proposal to extend the presidential
legislation to cover what the coun
| try has condemned.
As the Review of Reviews puts II
pointedly: ITO adopt the reciprocity
bill In somewhat like building beau
tiful and elaborate new entrance or
the north side OF your old house al
the very time when you have deter
mined to tear down your old house
and build new one on radically diff
ferent plans"
Therefore, when Mr.. Taft abandon
ed the only plausible argument FOL
the adoption of his proposal we re
| luctantly became convinced that II
was simply a false-labeled cheat, In
asmuch as Il will work hardship Il
| the agricultural interests Of the coun
try, confer no benefits upon the con
sumers. and be of service solely TO 9
few special interests and some OF the
manufacturers OF the United States
But regardless of whether this
false-pretense reciprocity becomes
law, as now seems probable, the pun
cling question IL why President TAFT
ut this time, should make that ad
mission. after the advocates OF hii
reciprocity plan for six months have
been assuring the general consumes
that its adoption would lessen the
cost OF living, can be accounted FOL
only by one theory.
II the proposed pact with Canals
liza not TO benefit the American con
sumner, then President Taft, when Il
| DeCdm6 CeIIhlu bunS th0 AsoPeSsAS~e
progressives in the senate intended
to analyze the agreement without feai
or favor, was confronted with ex
posture, which he could meet only b>
telling the truth and cutting thu
ground from under his critics feet
But II such IL the real explanation
OF Mr.. Taft's desire no longer TO de
ceive the public about the results o.
the pact, what then was the motive
which inspired the president to nd
vocate such sham reciprocity In the
first place?
This newspaper has erred offer
when Il attempted to interpret thu
motives behind Mr.. Taft's words ant
acts by the logical reasoning ordinar
liIy applicable TO public men In places
+uf nigh responsibility But within tn
year we have found two usually SAFE
rules to apply to his conduct in al
cases where the issue Is clearly be
tween special interests and public
welfare.
We are indebted to the dead San
ator DoIliver for Number One:
President Taft Is a well-meaninl
person, entirely surrounded by mer
who know exactly what they want
Rule Number Two was supplied tc
us by a friend OF the Taft family from
Ohio. who found US I'm perplexity re
garding the presidents contradictory
racord Said he: