The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-02
WILSON'S HONESTY ON THE TARIFF.


authorized statement tending outllna his
position on the tariff raise tremendous
yaup To the effect that the man nominated as
a progress at baltimore is trimming his
sails to catch the "resctionary" vote as can
didste for President.
Mr.. Roosevelt who has never yet been
caught advocating any sort Of tariff reform
since he was converted from his young Free
Trade ideas, will probably seize on the VIII
son statement for the purpose Of finding an
excuse for charges which he has far been
a. sea in attempting TO bring to port.
Really reactonary papers Of the protection
stamp may be expected TO become satircal.
and famboyantly progressive speakers aud
journals will doubtless proclaim madness IN
this sanity.
But, on the whole. the trend and tenor OF
the statement should be satisfactory to the
mass OF voters who believe that the tariff is
the foundation Of the abuses which have
arisen in the country; who. SO believing, think
that hope for the future lies IN its radical
revision to the ultimate basis where its impo-
s,tioa will rest solely upon a question OF reve-
rue; but who are yet able to look at condi
tons as they areas they have been con
structed by years on years OF Republican pro-
tection rule--snd who. examining condi-
tops. realize that drastic medicine cannot be
administered in one dose
what Governor Wilson has permitted to be
come public AS 20 his tariff ideas is. We
understand it, follows
/. lie fayors a tarir for revenue. not for
protection.
2 He realizes that the tariff has resulted
IN aecumuations OF property and invested
capital which represent the stock-in~trade Of
business and that TO destroy at one stroke
the basis OF calculation on which these accu-
mutations were made aud plans laid would
b. 10 bring about disorder dsproportionate
70 the benefit
& He proposes as a method OF putting prin-
ctple into practice while at the same time
sewing conditions whose destruction would
spell disaster d tariff reduction 20 revenue
asls that viii be definite and fixed in deciara-
.icn and al the same time gradual In opera
ton
As illustration, let as say that cou-
'uodity enjoys. as many Of them do tariff
Protection OF 30 per cent All the dealers in
such d commodity have based their purchases
have contracted to sell, have laid their plans
with that advantage in mind 1t is let us say
an advantage wrong toto. so far as princ
pie is concerned Instead of having 30 pei
cent protection, it should be admitted free
Yet 70 admit it free would be to destroy mil
f4cus OF property invested on the faith OF tht
Government. What. in such case. is The
practical statesmanship? Action that. seek
ing to establish right in a moment agains
p wrong Of years standing, would necessarily
destroy or demoralze a great business; Of
action that declaring the governmental intent
wonld put all interested parties on reasonable
notice.
In this suggested case, Governor Wilson
IDEA is that the tariff bill should declare tn,
commodity in question 70 be entitled to fre'
trade That would be the principle stated II
the law but the operation OF the law woulC
be SO fixed as become conclusive in thret
years for instance instead Of when the Law
fiee,f was signed Faced with 10 per cen
reduction az once and with the knowledge
that there would be further reductions Of II
per cent for two more years, the businesses
dependent upon ua3ustihed protection woulc
be saved harmless while the public, bene
flied Immediately would wait FOR complete
relief
We are aware that this programme look
~ be extremely conservative TO those to whom
',progressyism" spells the chaos OF eyergthini
from the Constitution to the courts But W
are also aware that the worst thing that coult
happen 10 the progressive ideal would be tn
reaction which would follow the moment tn
attempt at it's reckless expression found result
In the popular suffering that always attend
panic or severe business decentralization. TIT
rlau which also includes treatment Of th
trustg by making the Sherman law thing Il
tu definitely understood, rather than 10 b.
p4ayed with as Il fascinating danger 10 b
courfed is not compromise, but sense. Tina
h should have been voiced by the Democrats
candidate shows not that Wilson is attempt
we TO learn od-line politics but that he
bringing to bear his training aud study OF
practical statesmanship.
TAsrs vss,s time when the word conserve
q Fk sii