The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-30
TARIFF IS TOPIC
Of CHAMP CLARK
IN FIRST SPEECH
Takes to Task Taft and Re-
publican Administration
in Congress
STORY OF BROKEN
PROMISES IS TOLD
Chief Work in Hand, Says
Speaker, Is to Deliver
Government From
Present Hands

ROCkLAND, ME. August 20.
Speaker Champ Clark, in his frst
speech of the campaign, delivered
here tonight dealt almost exclusive
~ with the tariff.
The chief work in hand is TO
rescue the government from Repub-
ncan maladministration, nc sail.
Both platforms declare that the pres
ent tariff rates are too high, and
ought to be reduced. but II the tax
payers really want the tariff reduced
they had better remember what hap
pened In very recent times. In 1908,
the Republicans promised TO revise
the tariff downward. On that prom
ise they won. Without that prom Sc
they could not have won But nav
ing won. instead of reducing the tar
IF rates, as they promised to do, thvy
oceeded TO increase them, and be-
cause they Increased them contrary
to their promise. AT the election in
1910. the people elected Demo-
cratic house.
The Democratic house proceeded
with az much expedition g possible
under the circumstances to pass ce.-
tain tariff bills, which would have
reduced the amount Of money ex-
tracted from the peoples pockets
by the tariff laws, by something APP
proSimatine s5oa.0oo.0 0G yearly. and
at the same time would have provided
ample revenue for the govern mcnt,
but Taft retard these bills.
MIR. Clark said: Under the rules
of the Democratic party Governor
Woodrow Wilson. of New Jersey, ana
Gov ftnor Thomas 4. Marshall. OF
Indiana, were at the Baltimore con-
-entlon nominated as our standard
II
Thee are men Of high character. and
Democrats are united in their sup
port. This ia az 1t should be for the
chief work In hand is to rescue the
government from Republican NAL
AS have already said we have
not what the British have--s respon-
e!hie government--the nearest ap-
proach there to which we can nave
nnder the constitution Is to have
house. senate and president all OF
the same political faith. Hence | am
anxious to see the Democrats capture
all three executive branches of the
so that we can try our
theory. Then If it works well, the
people will recognize the fact ana
reward us. II II proves bad in prae-
tiee. the people will throw us out, as
they should do.
We have recently witnessed al
Washington a spectacle of Democra-
tic house passing good hills-biils
which would have greatly reduced the
fxh cost of living and which would
have gone far towards relieving the
people OF the burden of heavy taxes
and of a Repu blicsn president veto
ing these bills as fast as they reached
him, So repes, that We want house,
senate and president all three TO be
Democratic.
Lands Governor Wilson.
so far IN this campaig ign the two
criticisms levelled against
Governor Wilson are;
THAT he has had little exper-
fence in public life
THAT his opinions on certain
subjects have changed in the lapse
of time.
AS TO the latter. while admitting
that consistency is ranked among the
virtues, u is much better to be right
though inconsistent. than to be CON
ststent though wrong. The question
is not what Governor Wilson, or any
other man thought twenty or ffteen.
or ten, or Ave years ago. but what he
thinka now. We are acting in the
liv ng present. for people now in this
country. and for the millions yet to
be, and not cropping In the dead past.
AS to his lack Of experience, as
a public man, may be permitted to
suggest to those mos. concerned that
General Arthur and General Taylor
had very little experience. IL was
conceded that those pres
idents discharged their duties as chief
executive of the nation faithfully and
nefi -