The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-24
Writes an Open Letter to the
Democrat Candidate
ASKS DEFINITE STATEMENT
As to Where He Stands on the
Tariff Question.
People Have a Right to Know
What to Expect.
New york. October "A. 1872.

new 1 1OIks OELOutA - AaA--
Charles d. Hilles. chairman of the
Republican national committee has ad-
dressed .-- following open letter to
woodrow Wilson:
Hon. ', oodrow Wilson, Trenton, New
Jersey.
Sir:-The platform of your party on
the tariff this year is extremely des-
tructive and disturbing This IS What
the Democratic party now says 10 the
people on this question:
I'VE declare it to be a fundamental
principle of the Democratic party that
federal government undo the consti-
tuition has no right or power to impose
or collect tariff duties, except for the
n11rDose of revenue. Snd we demand
that the collection of such taxes
shall be limited to the necessities or
government honestly and economically
administered"
This is a declaration that protective
tariff duties are unconstitutional II tne
Democrats believe TIN they must, IT
successful proceed without delay TO
sweep them away. This means TO put
our industries and occupations on a
free trade basis ruthlessly and without
regard TO business or economic cOnsid-
era+ions This platform declaration by
vour party unquestionably means that.
having been baffied in their many at
tempts to convince the American people
that protective duties were not good TOT
them on eCOuOIlAC SAbAAN|s SN~+
now abandons t-e ppeal to economies
and drags in the Constitution IN thelr
assault on protection. This position IS
revolutionary Tor a hun lred years
protective tariff duties have been ac-
ceDted as constitutional. To have them
declared unconstitutional now would be
to suddenly stop nd dismantle the
wheels of progr .ss in our country. and
leave only uncertainty and weakness
where there has been confidence. enter
-N7 n he n
plora BILE economic revolution and retro
gression
Yet you and your candidacy stand
upon this platform declaration You
apparent accept and endorse II. You
must do so unless you clearly reject H.
Do you repudiate it? If you do not you
must be rec-oned with as a free trader
seeking to have all protective tarim
duties outlawed. This is a position
which seriously threatens the security
and prosperity of the country.
Democratic Tariff Bills.
Your personal position in this matter
and the declarations of your party are
more than ever threatening because the
record of your party in actually handl-
ing tariff matters is so unfortunate and
so recklessly unfair. You and your fol-
lowers seek to assure the people that
they should be trusted with the difficult
and delicate work of ia riff revision Yet
they have just shown by their official
acts that they Ill not De tdlr and JUST
in this matter. The Democratic party
controls the present House of Represen-
tatives bv a substantial majority and
has with a free hand framed and pass
ed number of tariff bills since the as
sembling of the present congress.
The actions of the Democratic party.
rather than words. show us what we
have to expect from them. The platform
of this party in 1908 promised a gradual
revision Of duties if the party should be
of 1910 they were entrusted with power
in the house of representatf tfves. which
originates tariff bills. The party hasten
ed to use it's power. Did they attempt a
gradual or systematic revision Of the
TARIFF BY no means. They forced
through a series of tariff bills constftut-
ing a hasty, piecemeal revisfon-reaIlv
not a revision, but a crude. slap-dash
and reckless slashing of duties involv-
ing many heavy reductions and the
at one bound and against every dictate
of reason and justice.
AS the leader Of your party you
must have knowledge of these extra
ordinary tariff bills, which. by a prac-
tically unanimous Democratic vote,
were passed through the house Of rep
resentatives. These bills cut down and
wiped out duties without their authors
knowing what they were doing. Tne
sweeping reductions would have torn
and carefully built up during many
years. Finished articles, recurring
highly skilled labor. were hastily pu.
on the free list. and this, in many
cases, even when the necessary MA
terials for making them were left
dutiable.
For example, in the Democratic bill
revising the metal schedule, machine
tools were placed on the free lis.
while the steel from which such toois
are made was left dutiable. Type
writer's and cash registers were placed
on the free list. Printing presses. sew
ing machines, and other finished ar
ticles, were made free Of duty at a
blow. Cotton ties. spikes. nuts. wash
ers, cut tacks horse shoes. various
kinds of nails, many kinds Of wire. and
other similar articles were slammed on
the free list. But the steel and other
from which such articles
must be made, were left subject to
duty. Could anything be more unfair
and disastrous to the industries and
workers all over the country engaged
in making the articles thus suddenly
deprived of all protection2 Thousands
of small industries were thus forced
without warning right up to the very
brink of free trade. It would have
been, in fact even harder and more
unfair than general free trade would
be.
Danger of All Workers.
What can the workers in these in
1ustries think of these unfair attacks
On them? What must the workers in
any industry or occupation think? II
hey know the facts they must be-
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