The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-14
DEMOCRATS d ATHER
 TO PAY. TRIB UTE TO
 THOMAS JEF FERSON
CONTINUED FROM P. AGE n


 ~---~~---~--~~~1---~~ | ,I, appropriate that the organizati oh snouln emphasize the issue of tariff l N,1, o the anniversary of the birth of iInollas Jefferson. Your history" he co '''ueu goes back to the days of that ,i;1a Slea' democratic reformer Samuel J. ", the neighbor and associate and dis Nipie p of Martin Van Buren, who perhaps Il e than any other statesman of his day s.', influenced by personal intercourse w. N Jefferson and affected and controlled his philosophy of government"
 The governor then pointed out that dem ocratic governors of New York had been leaders in tariff reform, calling attention to the adherence also of Tilden, Cleveland and Hill to the principles of Jefferson as interpreted by NanBuren.
 "As we enter upon the presidential con- test of 19l2," said Governor Dix, 'it is evident that the paramount issue is to be the reform of the tariff and the wise reg ulation of business on sane, business lines.
 Ideas to Be Defined
 Tn the coming campaign the underlying ideas of the two great political parties will be definitely and clearly revealed. It will be seen and understood that republi- canism stands for a system of extreme protection that is destructive and demoral- izing to every right and interest of the American people, while democracy stands unequivocally for programme of tariff reform and reduction which is essential to the prosperity and happiness of the people and to the growth and expansion of American commerce and industry.
 "To charge that democratic tariff re- form will be detrimental to American wealth producers and wage earners whether on the farm ser in the factory, Is to talk cant and hypocrisy Democratic leaders who have unfalteringly fought the heresy that tariff tax levied not for rev- enue but to increase prices and augment profits, ever was or ever can be beneficial to the people who must pay the tax.
 Causes economic, as well as causes po- litioal are operating to make the tariff the paramount issue in the pending cam paign For years past the consuming masses have been increasingly and justly fesentful of the high cost of living. Va rious proposed remedies have proven ut terly without efficacy, because they failed i to address themselves to the great central cause, which is monopoly begotten and fostered under the protecting wing of ex- tortionate tariff rates.
 Pledges Broken
 ! -Four years ago MT. Taft, then a cand- date and now President of the United States. interpreted the evasive language of the republican platform to mean revision 1 downward. The people accepted Mr. 1 Tafts pledge as tantamount to the plat form of his party, and upon his pledge ] they elected him President and gave him a majority in both Houses of Congress. What followed is history A most iniqui- 1 tous tariff law was enacted. It's effect 1 was not revision downward but the main tenance if not the actual increase, of ex- isting intolerable burdens upon the l masses.
 T speak as a manufacturer and busi- ness man. declare with all the emphasis 1 l can command that there is no occasion | whatsoever for manufacturers for bus mess men. for employers or employees, to entertain the slightest fear that they will he disadvantaseously affected by the com | ing democratic revision of the tariff l "Oa the contrary. the manufactures. the man of business, the employer of