The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-03-05
WOOL MAY DECIDE
THE PRESIDENCY
(By Winfield Jones.O
70 The Chieftain.

tue cltduei Oh republican prOtectlOn,
will be discussed on the stump more
than any other issue during the ma
tional campaign, and affairs are so
shaping themselves that the presi-
denoy may be decided ON the one word
wool"
The woolen schedule is admittedly
the most iniQuitouS in the Payne-Ald-
rich tariff law President Taft in his
Winona speech admitted as much, and
the report of the tariff board declares
tnat most of the rates in this schedule
are excessive and that others are pro-
hibitory.
This schedule will be revised by the
democrats Of the house and even the
republican members of the ways and
means committee have become con-
vinoed that revision is imperative.
The tariff as a whole is to be the
dominant note of the campaign of
1912, but the wool schedule in partic-
ular will be the bone of contention
over which candidates, orators, and
platform makers will wrangle. The
woolen schedule affects practically
every citizen of the United States, for
it covers what he puts upon his back.
Democrats of the houpse plan to
soon bring in bill revising this sche-
dule 1t is understood that it will
closely follow the lines Of the bill
which passed the house last session,
and which passed the senate in amend
ed form. This bill was vetoed by the
president and it matters not whether
President Taft eventually signs a wool
bill, he will be confronted with the
charge that he delayed revision for
several months and the relief to which
the public was entitled was unneces.
sarily postponed
The bill last session made cut of
about AZ per cent, on the average in
the existing rates of Schedule x. 1t
is probable that the democratic mem.
bers Of the ways and means commit
tee will put through bin at this ses.
sion that reduces the rates in about
the same proportion. Then the bill
will go over to the senate, where the
democratic-insurgen coalition may
again put through the measure. This
was done last session and the presi-
dent vetoed the creation of the demo
cratic majority in the house and the
coalition of democrats and insurgents
in the senate.
1t is not assured that the president
will not veto the next wool bill pre-
sented to him. He has consulted Rep.
resenative Payne author of the pres.
ent tariff law, and it has been decided
that they shall frame substitute for
the proposed democratic bill This
substitute is to be drawn lin accord
ance with the republican principle of
protection"
The democrats of the house and
the insurgents of the house and SEN
ate-will not stand for a bill that car
ries excess protection. If the Payne
substitute does not make material
cuts in Schedule K. it will be unable
TO get the support of progressive re-
pubicans in either branch of con
gress
Then the president would have to
veto or sign the democratic bill In
the event of the former course Presi-
dent Taft win have to go to the coun-
try 0 nthe issue that it did not con-
tain sufficient protection and the fu-
ture of the republican party and its
candidates would depend upon wheth-
er the country is willing to forego inn
mediate revision in order to maintain
the protective principle
Democratic members of the ways
and means committee will frame a
bill on tariff for revenue basis" :"
The lines are sharply drawn between
the two factions in this respect. The
republican insurgents of the house
have no representation in the ways
and means committee, so the two bills
that are considered in that committee
will be a protective bill and revenue
bill.
The democrats, intent upon tariff re-
vision and honest in their SUPPOSE,
will be able to convince the country
that the republican party is still "stand
pat@ regardless of the exhaustive re
port of the tariff board. which justifies
democratic claims that the rates of
Schedule X are outrageously high.
Republican insurgents, nearly all Of
whom are not friendly to the presi-
dent, will not hesitate to vote with
the democrats in order to embarrass
Taft, in the event it is shown that the
administration does not propose to