Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-07

OF every kind and quality, constitute
somehow an organic and noble whole,
a single people. and that they have in
terests which no man can privately
determine without their knowledge
and counsel. That is the meaning of
government itself.
You may think that l am wandering
or into a general disQuisition that has
little to do with the business in hand.
but am not. This is business-busi-
ness Of the deepest sort. II will solve
our difficulties if you will but take it
as business.
POLITICS AND TARIFF.
See how 1T makes business out Of the
tariff question. The tariff question as
dealt with in our time at any rate has
not been business. 1t has been politics.
Tariff schedules have been made up
for the purpose OF keeping as large a
number as possible Of the rich and in
fuential manufacturers of the country
IN a good humor with the Republican
party, which desired their constant
financial support. The tariff has be-
come a system OF favors, which the
phraseology of the schedule was often
deliberately contrived to conceal. II
becomes a matter of business, Of legiti-
mate business, only when the partner
ship and understanding it represents
are between the leaders OF congress and
the whole people Of the United States
instead Of between the leaders Of con-
gress and small groups of manufac-
turers demanding special recognition
and consideration. That is why the
general idea Of representative govern
ment becomes a necessary part Of the
tariff question. Who when you come
down TO the hard facts Of the matter
have been represented in recent years
when our tariff schedules were being
discussed and determined not on the
floor OF congress, for that is not where
they have been determined, but in the
committee rooms and conferences?
That is the heart of the whole affair.
Will you. can you, bring the whole
people into the partnership or not?
No one is disconnected with representa-
tive government. 1t falls under ques-
ton only when 1t ceases 10 be repre-
sentative. II is at bottom a question OF
good faith and morals.
How does tie present tariff look in
the light OF it? say nothing for the
moment about the policy or protection
conceived and carried out as a diSin-
tereSted statesman might conceive il.
Our own clear conviction as Demo-
Gratis is that in the last analysis the
only safe and legitimate object of tariff
duties, as of taxes of every other kind,
is to raise revenue for the support Of
the government But that is not my
present point. We denounce the Payne
Aldrich tariff act as the most conspicu-
Gus example ever afforded the country
Of the special favors and mOnOpOlistic
advantages which the leaders of the
Republican party have so often shown
themselves willing TO extend to those
to whom they looked for campaign CON
tributiOns. Tariff duties, as they have
employed them, have not been a means
of setting NJ an equitable system of
protection. They have been, on the
contrary, Il method OF fostering special
privilege. They have made it easy 10
NoAsAbllHI mum f'biN III our uOBltSl4'-
markets. Trusts have owed their ori-
gin and their secure power to them.
We do not ignore the fact that the
business of a country like ours is ex-
Ceedingly sensitive TO changes in legis-
lation Of this kind. 1t has been built
up. however i'll advisedly, upon tariff
schedules written in the way | have
IN foundation
not be too radically or too suddenly
disturbed. When we act we should act
with caution and prudence, like men
who know what they are about and
not Ike those IN love with a theory.
Ii is obvious that the changes we
make should be made only at such a
rate and in such a way as Will least
interfere with the normal and health
/, full course of commerce and manufac-
ture But we shall not on that &C
count act with timidity, as If we did
not know our own minds. for we are
certain Of our ground and Of our OBJ
teCt There should be an immediate
revision. and it should be downward,
unhesiratingly and steadily downward.
II SDOuiu th'tlh Will lLt S'htuulVS
which have been most obviously used
/ &c kill competition and to raise prices
IN the United States, arbitrarily and
without regard TO the prices pertain
ing elsewhere in the markets Of the
world. and it should, before It is fin
ished OF intermitted, be extended 10
every item in every schedule which
affords any opportunity for monopoly
for special advantage TO limited
groups OF beneficiaries or for subsidiZ-
ed control Of any kind in the markets
or the enterprises Of the country until
! special fsvors Of every sort shall have
been absolutely withdrawn and every
| part Of our laws of taxation shall have
/ been transformed from a system of
governmental patronage into a system
I OF Just and reasonable charges which
/ shall fall where they will create the
/ least burden.
TARIFF DEMoRALIZES POLITICS.
There has been no more demoraliZ-
ing influence in our politics in ouI
time than the influence OF tariff Iegis
lation, the influence of the idea that
the government was the grand dis
penser Of favors, the maker and IN
! maker of fortunes, and OF Opportupi
/ ties such as certain men have sought
I IN order to control the movement OF
I trade and industry throughout tbs