Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-22
TAFT AND LEADERS
AGREED ON TARIFF
Adopt Program Intended to
Put Issue Squarely Up to
the Democrats.
WILL FRAME WOOL BILL
BASED ON BOARDS DATA
This Measure They Will Ask the
Democrats to Accept.
MUST NOT CUT TOO DEEP
Veto Awaits Any Tariff Legislation
Which Violates Protection Prin-
ciple-Willing to Have Tariff
Campaign Issue.

Clple-W1lllnS TO lave 1arlH
Campaign Issue.
President Taft and the republican lead
efs of Congress have agreed upon tariff
program. 1t is based upon the belief that
the people of the country are overwhelm-
ingIy for the protective principle in Gus
toms laws, and that if put clearly to the
voters this principle will be sustained in
the next presidential and congressional
election.
dence that the democrats intend to force
the tariff as the paramount issue next
year; that this cannot be avoided, even
If desirable, and the President and his
followers are willing to meet it squarely
and fairly.
Build Republican Bill.
The republican members of the ways
and means committee of the House are to
begin at once putting together wool
bill, as already announced. This bill is
to be founded wholly upon the report of
the tariff board. The administration and
the party leaders are determined to stand
or fall by the data in this report, which
the President pronounces the most scien-
ti1ic series of facts and figures ever got
ten together upon tariff question.
Every step to he taken by the minor
Try republicans of the ways ana means
committee will be with the cooperation
and assistance Of President Taft. The
bill will be drafted with the purpose OF
giving TO the various branches Of the
wool industry, from the farmer to the
manufacturer, just the degree of pro-
lection necessary to place him on foot
ing above the foreigner engaged in the
same business That is, the American
farmer will have the raw wool protected
just enough to prevent the cheap wool
of Australia, Argentina and elsewhere
coming in here and running the home
industry. The manufacturer in the
various branches will be treated the
same way. The protection will represent
the. difference between the cost of rails
ing and manufacturing abroad and here
There will be no Oyerprotection, but a
clear margin will be allowed so that the
american farmer. laborer or manuf;ic-
turer will not find himself competing in
a disastrous manner with foreign coun-
tries.
Abuses Of the Tariff.
1t is the firm belief. Of President Taft
and those in agreement with him that the
voters of the country have turned against
the present tariff law because of it's in
qualities and its giving too much pro-
lection. thereby encouraging monopoly
and high prices. If the present laws have
fostered monopoly and restrained fair
competition, the bill to be framed by the
republicans will attempt to prevent this
in tine future.
The republicans will present their bill
to the full ways and means committee
and urge the democrats to accept it If
the democrats refuse to do so and INSIST
upon Passing a measure that carries IN
sufficient protection, President Taft will
veto il and go to the country upon the
straigEt-cut issue of protective tarin
one that they will claim Will menace
industry and business. and place the
American Iaborer. farmer and business
man upon a European or South Ameri-
can plane. Every speaker in the next
campaign. from Mr.. Taft, as the republic
can nomlI for President, down, will
rostrum TO another. The business inter-
ests of the country will be aroused.
Ready to Meet Issue.
Tie President is not averse to- the is
sue that he seems to apprehend as prac-
tically certain. The only way the demo-
Gratis can avert the issue and place the
republicans In Il bad position. according
To calculations, is by accepting the re-
publican wool bill or passing one so near
like IL that they will be able to claim the
credit for inaugurating the first real
downward revision for many years.
The democrats. on the other hand. will
go ahead with their program Their bill
will contain what they deem to be suf-
ficient protection, although their figures
are likely TO be below the republican
figures They will fight from now on
the claim that the tariff board figures
are indisputable or infallible. They will
stand by their bill. claiming that it is
based upon years of accumulation OF
facts fully tested and to be given every
credence. They will assert that the tariff
board is made up of republicans whose
report has been biased by the beliefs of
tine majority OF its members.
The democrats will make the question
one of accuracy as between their figures
In the tariff board report.
Partisanship to Run High.
The situation promises to arouse more
partisan spirit than has been seen in
Congress in years. The President ha,
kept on the best terms personally with
democratic senators and representative.
and wishes to continue to do so. but Il
there is to be fighting he will not dodg,
his share Of responsibility.
The republicans will follow precisei,
the same course as to the cotton schedul,
of the tariff, upon which the tariff boart
will report in a comparatively short time
The President and republican minority o
the ways and means committee will urg
the same degree of protection for cottol
and its manufactures as is given to wool
and IL this they will place the protection
democrats of the south in position
where they must align themselves will
the republicans or go back upon thei
principles, provided the democrats d.
not offer bills on wool and cotton tina
will protect and promote home indus
tries.
Republican members OF the ways an
means committee, summoned by Repre-
sentative Serene K. Payne of New Yorl
former chairman of the committee. toda
began the preparation of the wool tari
schedule which is to represent the reput
Hcan view.