The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-21

/ Charlotte observer mas reading ed
itorial column long exposing som.
daring Democratic hypocrisy and in
competency. The editorial begins a,
follows:
ION June 80 next the Tariff
Board will expire for lack OF
funds unless, against probable
ity, the Democratic majority in
the House shall abandon the an
tagonistic attitude which it has
assumed. Much is made OF the
fact that the Board reports di-
rectly to the President and only
through him to Congress and the
public at large. No criticism
could be more unjust, in view of
the circumstance that this pro-
visi IN was created by Congress
Itself. President Taft recon-
mended a regular Tariff Com
mission. he had the support of
enlightened non-partisan senti-
ment throughout the country in
doing so; the insurgent Repub-
licans creditably laid aside their
| petty feud with him and their
chronic crankiness to uphold the
measure as one man; some Dem
ocratic Congressman, including
Champ Clark, took the same
progressive, public-spirited at
titude-but it was all of no avail.
Standpat Republicans wanted
nothing Of the kindfi for reasons
of their own; and politics-play-
ing Democrats. wanted nothing
of the kind, for easons of their
own. So the present Tariff
Board was the best thing Presi-
dent Taft could secure"
The Observer then proceeded to
show the Democrats joined with the
extreme stand-pat Republicans to
cripple and limit the work of the
Tariff Board because
"They did not want the cold
water of fact thrown On their
partisan Or personal appeals
The President and all Republicans
who want tariff just high enough
to cover the difference between the
cost of production here and abroad
and no higher, were anxious to get
the full facts, so tariff reductions
could be made wisely and safely on
that basis. AS the Observer says, the
Democrats did not want the facts.
They wanted to be left in a position
where they could refuse to stand
for just tariff, and where they could
offer show bills for campaign pur-
poses and continue to make "parti-
san appeals"
The Observer commenting On the
show bills which the Democratic
House is now Offering and passing.
says:
But everybody Of any intelli-
gence knows that several of
those bills. were drawn for po-
ntlcal purposes alone and with
out the slightest expectation that
they could ever become law.
They did not bear the stamp of
responsible, carefully prepared
legislation, and one or two of
them, as amended on their pass
age, were laughably absurd,
many duties had been increased
several times over where sharp
reduction was designed
The Observer concludes it's edi-
toria1 as follows:
If the Democrats of Congress
are as sincere as they should be
in the conviction that the tariff
needs reduction, there is no good
reason for opposition on their
part to popularizing tariff
knowledge. Their real difficulty
lies in the matter of convincing
the electorate that they are
qualified to enact downward re-
vision wisely. What better evil
dence of sincere and rational
attitude could they give than
by at least continuing the pres
ent Tariff Board
What stronger Indictment could be
made against the incompetence and
hypocrisy Of the present Democratic
House, The people have had enough
OF them and will not entrust them
with power again
The Winston-Salem Journal has
announced its candidate for Presi-
dent thuswise:
Harmon, First, Last and all
the Time. but Good VIII Toward
Others
The Journal may be able to stand