New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-15
DEMooRACY's OPPORTUNITY.
Now Let It Make Its Campaign Tariff
Pledges Good.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In the campaign just closed, In
which Democracy scored a victory, two
directly opposite arguments were used,
as follows:
The Democrats charged the higher cost
of living" to the workings OF the Repubn-
can protective tariff, which they also said
fattened the trusts" at the expense OF
the common people, and said that II
President Taft had signed the tariff bills
sent TO him, instead OF vetoing them, i'm
measurable relief would have been given
to the people. The Democrats also as
serted that the tarIff bills. as they came
from the House OF Representatives, where
Democracy had ample majority and did
not have to make any concessions, as they
did to Republicans I'm the Senate, were
far better than the actual bills sent to the
President. In fact. they said they were
ideal tariff measures.
The Republicans. following the lead OF
President Taft, said that these tariff bills
were hodge podge makeshifts, showing no
fixed policy, were gotten up on no trust
worthy information and were not meant
to become laws. but we're simply framed
because something had to be done, and
the Democrats knew full we'll that Presi-
dent Taft would not sign them.
Thus each side accused the other OF
playing polItics-the Democrats In franz
ing the bills and the Republican President
by his failure 10 sign them, and giving
the reasons he gave.
Now It would appear the Democrats
have a most excellent way OF demon
stratlng the truth OF tho matter. II the
Democrats we're right in their contention.
let them meet In extra session next
March, pass the tariff measures identcaHy
AS they left the House OF Representatives
at the last session and put them into
effect.
II they were right then. they must be
right now II they would have given the
needed relief then, they will do so now
A Democratic Congress should not be
afraid 10 ask a Democratic President TO
sign bills that they put up TO Repuoll-
can President and then condemned him
when he would not sign them.
II seems that never before has any
party had so prompt an opportunity 70
ylndicste Itself as has the Democratic
party by meeting next March. passing the
same tariff measures that were passed BY
tho last Democratic House before any
concessions had been given to the Progress
sive Republicans), and let the country
have a practical test OF Democratic tariff
bills. which they said in the campaign
would have relieved the situation. There
is no use in Congress wasting months,
and thousands of dollars IA well. in figur-
ing out new tariff laws. II they had the
correct remedy, as they said they had.
when these recent tariff measures went
from the lower house to the Senate.
Could a fairer or more complete prac-
teal test be had than for Congress to
follow this suggestion
Would not any other method be con-
elusive proof OF whit President Taft has
said-that tho bills would not work well.
were not gotten Up TO be passed and
were merely a catch-as-catch-can tariff
measures thrown together for political
effect? ID. 5. LEWls' Jr'
Harrisonburg, Va, Nov. 10. ISL.