Morgan County republican., 1912-12-12
Southern yisw OF Tariff Rel
IT go vision. rt


indorsing the platform upon which he
stood. To the South. as to the rest
OF the county, one Of the most i'm.
portant planks in that platform has to
do with tariff revision. 1t is only
proper to say that southern Democrats,
like other Democrats, are far more
conservative when in power than when
in opposition. The opportunity Of
making a sweeping revision of the
tariff now presents itself to the Demo,
cracy. 1t will soon have the presi-
dency, the House and the Senate in
its hands. 1t will soon be in virtual
possession of the economic as well as
the political machinery of the nation
1t can cut and slash the schedules,
or it can pare and trim. 1t is inter-
esting to note what consecutive south
ern opinion, as represented by con-
servative southern newspaper, would
have the Democratic party do.
The New Orleans Picayune is Dem
ocratically orthodox enough to say:
"Up to the civil war the tariff on TOR
eign goods furnished the whole OF the
revenue for the support of the govern
ment. OF course, the national gov
eminent at that time was not eXtrava-
giant. for the country was under the
doctrine of the party at that time was
tariff for revenue only - This fixes
the Picayune's political basic faith
with sufficient clearness. In a long
and thoughtful editorial 1t goes over
the situation as it stands at present,
and finds, among other things, that
the tariff is only an incident in cur
rent affairs and is by no means re-
sponslble for the high cost of living.
Prices have been going up all the
world over. in free trade as well as in
protection countries. There is mani
fest prosperity in the United States
and the burden Of the high living cost
Is not, therefore, felt here as it is else
where. 1t is pointed out that the
manufacturing industries OF the Unit
ed States rcprescn, total investment
OF 10000, 600, 900, that they en-.
ploy 5000, 900 persons, and they dis
tribute S3,500.OOO, 900 in wages
annually. Thcs: industries, the
PlCayunc says, would have been i'm.
possible but for the tariff. And it adds
"Ihesc 100000 work people have
had employment and been able to llv,
in a certain degree of comfort. if no
COntentmcnt, through this employ
mcnt, and it would be frightfu
calamity to turn them all out of EN-
ployment by AIRY sudden blow to tn
industries IN which they are employ
ed"
| The South has her industries. The
are growing in number and in strengt
1t is no longer New England, O
the middle West that is affected b
tariff changes, or threats of tar
changes. The South is Just as sensi
tive to tariff revision or tariff tinker
ing as any other pSrt OF the Union
, But the Picayunc makes no appeal o
sectional grounds. 1t say simpl
that radicl revision would be ruinou
to the industries and business of tn
nation, and it concludes with this aC
monllion: Then let our wise me
a study and understand the situatio
II before they plunge the people of tn
Il great county and their means of exi
e tence into sudden and irreparab
K ruin. " President-elect Wilson ha
), promised to do his part to pre- vel
a any such disastrous outcome, and th
Is part he can play will be great on
- He will need however, ), and he doub
less will have, the support OF ,he COZ
seryasive South. What is needed a