New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-18
FEAR TARIFF PLATFORM
Governor Wilson Warned Not
to Commit Himself.
TAFT WELCOMES THE ISSUE
Democrats Tell Their Candidate
1t Is Time to Again Shift His
Views Against Protection.
From The Tribune Bureau

Washington. July l1.-That the tariff
will be the all-important issue Of the
approaching campaign is becoming more
and more obvious. and that fact is af-
fording the utmost encouragement TO all
loyal Republicans. On the issue of pro-
| lection for American industries and
workingmen, the rates to be adjusted TO
eQual-but not to eXCeed-the needs Of
American workingmen and producers. as
determined by the Investigations of a
bipartisan and scientific tariff board, the
! President is prepared To make his stand.
That Governor Wilson is anything but
prepared TO take his stand on the decla-
ration Of his party that the government
| has no l.ght 10 impose duties for pur-
! poses Of protection and the further dec
| laration that wages ARE established by
| competitive conditions and not by the
tariff" is becoming daily more obvious.
and IT is certain that when the great army
| of American workmen come TO a reali2a-
ton of the Democratic declaration they
will have none Of IT,
! The dissatisfaction Of the Democratic
nominee and his supporters with the tar
| if plank Of the platform is clearly de-
| monstrated by the attempt to place on
| the shoulders of william J. Bryan all
responsibility for that plank, and the
practical population Of the association
with the statement that the Democratic
platform does not represent universal
! Democratic sentiment in the United
| States"
| OF course. the effort 10 she!ve RESPONSE
! IL nj I.,r IN
| Mr.. Bryan was its sole author is pure
| casuistry. That Mr.. Bryan did prepare
and submit 20 the committee on resolu-
tons the draft OF platform which repre-
sented his ideas is true. but it Is equally
true that for days the committee on reso-
lutions mulled over this draft, revising,
| pairing. adding TO II, and that. indeed. 81
would DE difficult TO find an instance
where national platform received longer
or more deliberate consideration than was
accorded the platform adopted at Balti-
more.
1t is pointed out by Republicans that
the tariff plank in the Democratic plat
form comes much nearer representing
Governor Wilson's views than it does Mr.
Bryan's-that is, Governor Wilson's views
before the prospects OF a Presidential
nomination led him so far TO abandon all
the views he had previously held that no
man knows where he stands to-day. The
declaration that the federal government,
has no right TO impose duties for purposes
OF protection Is in exact accord with the
Views expressed by Governor Wilson.
There are. Of course, few men in Wash
., t.
bership of the House. who can defend
the Democratic declaration from the
standpoint Of logic. and there are many
who are coming 10 a realization OF the
danger Of trying to. That is why they
are warning their candidate that II II
time 10 shift again. But there is every
reason 10 believe that the voters Of Tho
country, and especially those working
men whose interests are at stake, vii
accept as final Dr. Wilson'S expressions
Of his convictions before he was stung By
the Presidential bee. 1t must be ad
mitted that. however illogical, the Demo.
cratic tariff plank is wholly consistent
with the treatment which that parry la!
always accorded to the tariff whenever
II was in a position Of power.
President Taft and his advisers are
satisfied with the course which the Demo
cratic division is taking Incidentally, th'
President has remarked TO his friends
that II the Democrats are already begin
ming to repudiate their platform befor'
even the Candidates speech OF acceptance
has been delivered. there is little reason
! for the voter 10 expect that they vii! b'
prepared 10 stand by anything IN tina
| solemn declaration by next November
that if the tariff plank may be repu
dated and cast into the discard on tn
ground that II was penned by Mr.. Bryan
| the same argument may he advanced al
ample excuse for repudiating every othe
!. pledge the platform contains and tina
thus "our friends the enemy are already
| paving the way for their customary att
tude that platform is but bid 70
| votes.