The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-01-13
LIFT THE TARIFF OUT OF
POLITICS IS THEIR AIM
DELEGATES PLAN FOR ACTION;
MEET IN WASHINGTON.
National Commission Association
Conventions; President Taft to
Be One of the Speakers at the
Banquet That Is Scheduled for
Tomorrow Night; Non-Partisan
Idea Is Gaining Favor.

Idea Is Gaining Favor.
Washington, January 11-Presi-
dent Taft is the principal speaker on
the program of the National Tariff
Commission association convention,
which was opened today at the New
Willard hotel. His address is 10 be
delivered at the closing banquet to-
morrow night. The opening session
today was devoted to preliminaries.
Among the delegates are some of the
leading commercial authorities, eco
nOmic experts, educators, editors and
statesmen OF the country Aside
from the president, the list of speak
ers includes Senators Cummins and
Beveridge and representative Nicho-
las LOngwOrth. The latter is expect
ed TO voice my policies on the tar
if commission question.
The campaign for tariff commits
sion, which has occupied SO much of
the time and attention of President
Taft and his advisers, is expected to
reach its climax this month, and the
convention commenced today will go
Tar toward putting the proposition
before congress and the public, as
all phases of the question are to be
discussed by competent speaker !.
Primarily, however, the meeting is
for the purpose of convincing the ma
tlonal solons that the bill now be-
fore them, providing for perma-
nent tariff commission, represents
the popular will and should be mas
sed.
Endorsed in Many Platforms.
John c. Cobb, vice president of
the Boston Chamber of Commerce. IL
president of the associations; Henry
Il. Towne, president OF the New
York Merchants association. is
treasurer, and Henry r. Wills Sec
rotary. Other men prominent in the
work of the association include John
Kirby. president of the National AS
ISOLATION OF Manufacturers, I'll. M.
Miles OF Racine, Wis, and Alba B.
johnson, vice-president of the Bald
win Locomotive works of Phila-
delphia.
Officials of the. association point
out that in twenty-eight states last
fall the republican platforms .inel,la-
ed planks indorsing the tariff com
mission idea, while i'm not one state
was it opposed. In two states the
commission idea was indorsed in
democratic platforms, and opposed
IN three. Eighty-three important
trade and business bodies all over
the country have affiliated with the
association and indOrsed its pro-
gram.
geographically, the tariff commits
sion idea is most generally favored
III the central and middle western
states. The sentiment favoring such
Il permanent commission is said to
be rapidly gaining in the east and
far west. 1t is admitted that little
interest in the subject has been man.
lfested in the southern states. but
even there. it is alleged. such CD
position as exists is directed rather
toward the republican treatment of
the question rather than to its basic
principles.
Resolutions Are Prepared.
RESOLUTIONS have been prepared
and will be passed by the convention
indorsing the work of the present
tariff board, which, il is said. has
done great deal of work i'm LAYING
the foundation for systematic and
intelligent investigation of the tar.
iff. 1t has gathered information as
to each article mentioned in the
tariff, the actual cost of production.
actual prices at home and abroad
peculiar local conditions affecting
particular industries and the gener
al conditions of home and foreign
competition to which they are sub
ject
me present tariff board is headed
by Professor Henry c.. Emery. of
Maine, as chairman. On the subject
of a permanent tariff commission. he
says:
believe that such commission
VIII render great service both to
the executive and legislative branch.
es OF the government. 1t is highly
important. however, that it should
be established on permanent ba-
SIS, and that its duties and powers be
so clearly defined by law as to rem.
der 1t free from the Influence or
control of any political party or
commercial interests"