Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-12-12
New York Times
Discusses the
Extra Session

reasons, for summoning congress tc
begin at the earliest moment the re-
vision Of the tariff are concsely stated
by Mr.. Wilson. He thinks that "thC
pledges Of the party ought to be re-
deemed as promptly as possible" and
he knows "it to be In the interest OF
business that all uncertainty as to
what the particular items Of tariff re-
vision are to be should be removed
as soon as possible That is the whole
case. It would be superflous to ad-
duce other reasons when these two are
sufficient. They are, indeed compell-
ing. We observe that our neighbor
The Tribune is of the opinion that the
sooner the uncertainty as to schedules
is ended, the better" since it would
be irksome and injurious and agita-
tion would be sure to continue.
According to Mr.. Wilson's present
intention, congress will be called to-
gether not later than April Is. The
chief business of the session. possibly
the only business, will be the reduc-
tlon Of tariff duties. An approximate
measure of the reductions the Demo-
Gratis will make or attempt to make is
to be found in the bills that have been
passed revising the duties of the wool,
cotton and metals schedules in the
present congress. There has been no
change in industrial, economic or
political conditions to warrant belief
that the new schedules will be mate
rally higher or lower than those re-
ported by Chairman Underwood,
passed by the house, amended by the
senate, and afterwards vetoed by the
president.
The Democratic leaders in the house
will have to reckon with opposition in
their own ranks. That was to be ex-
pected. 1t is amusing to read that six
Of the Democratic congressman elected
in Massachusetts have reached an
agreement to stand pat against the
reduction or removal Of the 10 per cent
duty on boots and shoes. We find it
difficult to believe that the Brockton
manufacturers Of footwear are appre-
honsive that the country would be
Hooded with the foreign product il
hat duty should be taken off. 1t would .
AXE a much more effective nducement
han that to persuade the American
people to wear the boots and shoes
.ade in England, France or Germany.
Rut these Massachusetts Democrats
viii not be alone in their opposition to .
downward revision, It has been said |
D thousand times since 1880, and is !,
cow generally conceded, that General
Hancock was right when he said that
he tariff was a local issue. The Mas
iachusetts men stand up for the boot
md shoe duties; the Louisiana Demo-
'rats will rally around the cane sugar
iuties, those Of Michigan, Nebraska,
Kansas and Colorado will resist tariff
'hanges that would threaten the beet
sugar industry Revision of the cotton
;oods schedule will find opponents
lmong the members of congress from
South Carolina and Georgia. Alabama
will watch with jealous eye the pro-
ess Of revising the steel and iron du-
les. Any tariff prophet of downward
evision who took full account of the
ocal interests in the various states,
nd of the probable action of the de-
enders of those interests in the DEM
cratic house, might reach the con-
fusion that there would be no reyis-
on at all.
But there is a broader and a con-
rolling consideration. The demand
't the country, clearly manifested, and
he pledges Of the party cannot be
overlooked. Democrats who oppose
he revising process will have to ex-
lain to their constituents in great de-
all the motives Of their conduct. Much