Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-09
TARIFF THE ISSUE
IN TAFT CAMPA|G
Agreement Reached Between
President and Members
of Subcommittee.
GRAVITY OF SITUATION
GRAVITY OF SITUATION
WILL BE DWELT ON
Importance of Electing Republican
Executive to Be Noted.
DEMOCRATIC PRoGRAMsIM
Will Charge High Cost of Living to
Customs Duties-Will An
nounce Intention to Make
Revision.

heV1S1On.
The tariff is to be the issue in the COM
ing campaign IL the new chairman Of the
republican national committee acts. as
he will do under the direction of Presi-
dent Taft.
That Is practically the agreement that
has been reached between the President
and the subcommittee of the national
committee that came here to go over the
preliminary work of the campaign with
the standard bearer of the party
MIR. Taft is absolutely confident that on
the tariff issue. with little else allowed
TO interfere, he will again be chosen
President Of the United States. Mem
bers of the republican national commit
tee are inclined TO agree with the Presi-
dent in this view and are optimistic.
1t is we'll recognized that Rooseveltism,
which means appeals to prejudice the
arraying of one class against another and
demagoguery in a multitude of forms,
according to the Taft view, Will seek TO
force its nostrums upon the voters anead
of all other issues. This intention, II is
pointed out. is clearly shown in the call
issued a few days ago at Oyster Bay. Col
Roosevelt as usual, will evade the tarifr
If he can do so and will place his gen
eralities. his patent remedies for all
troubles to the forefront. but II he is
compelled to meet the tariff issue he Will
do it'with his new proposition to divide
part of the protection which he upholds
with the laboring man and farmer
President May Lead Off.
President Taft is expected to lead off
the campaign with a speech or letter dis
cussing the seriousness of the tarin stu
alton to the business and labor OF the
country He will make it perfectly clear
that IL the democrats are successful the
country must go through a revision OF
the tariff, far-reachng in its conse-
quences and threatening such a profound
disturbance of business as to bring every
thing to q stop and throw labor out of
employment until employers know where
they stand.
:. His attitude will be that If the republi-
! cans win they will not consent to re-
viAon OF tariff schedules except after full
ana complete Investigations by tarin
board or other body showing just how
much reduction can be made and at the
same time give to the American manu-
facturer and laborer the protection that
puts him on a different footing from the
foreign manufacturer and laborer. The
President will stand firmly by his atti-
tude. approved on number OF occa-
sions by Theodore Roosevelt, that q
revising the tariff and that until there is
such a board revision must be delayed.
Argument Of Republicans.
The republican position will be that
even If the democrats should not win,
but there should be majority in both
houses of democrats and RooSevelterS
combined this would unquestionably force
a revision of the tariff without the wise
restrictions that go with the existence OF
q tariff board 1t will be pointed out
that the democrats and progressives al
ready are near enough together to force
tariff bill unless there is a republican
President and republican House. one
both. to check the inevitable action
on the greatest question before the peo-
PIE. Even if a republican House cannot
be elected the business world and all
classes will be told with emphasis that .
republican President Is the one thing that
stands between continued prosperity and
uninterrupted business on one side and
business chaos and uncertainty on the
other.
The appeal will be substantially the
same as Mckinley and Mark Hanna
made to the country in 1885, when Bryan
and his isms threatened to upset things
and carried the people with them up to
within few weeks of election day Led
by the President himself and aided by
tariff will be forced to the front and the
dangers pointed out at every step.
Depends on Roosevelt Managers.
1t In expected that the democratic pro-
gram will he much the same as that of
the republicans and that the two old
parties will be perfectly willing to make
the customs laws the paramount ques-
tion before every voter. Much will de-
pend on whether the Roosevelt managers
will attempt to divert the peoples minds
10 other questions. The democrats will
charge the high cost of living mainly to
the tariff. Gov Wilson having already
tntimated that this subject will receive
much of his attention before the cam
paign closes.
The democrats declare that Presiden
Taft cannot expect to pick mp all tn.
protective tariff strength OF the countr,
by his attitude on the tariff. They viii
declare that they propose to revise tn.
tariN schedule at time. and thereby
prevent general business depression anC
that they will make their revision IL
such manner as not to cripple business
or harm tie workingman or the farmer
The paramount questions. as the re-
publicans will advance them to the coup
try, are in this order: The tariff. will
revision under such circumstances as will
insure business safety and plenty OF worl
for the workingman: constitutional gov
ing laws; progress in all lines, but Will
moderation and wisdom.
Democratic Issues.
The democrats will try to make the is
sues something like this: Tariff revision
schedule by schedule. with the interest
Of producer and consumer given careful
consideration; steady progress In sucl
laws as will give the people greater lib
critics and privileges In passing on mel
elected TO office and on laws enacted b.
congress and the state legislatures
Roosevelt issues Cure everything b,
orr methods while You wait: the tariff
II Ne have to discuss 1t. make plenty o
noise and burn lots OF red fire.
Republicans do not doubt that thei
position on the tariff will bring substan
tial campaign funds that will enable ther
TO send speakers through the countr
and present their view Of things to tn
psopie. Better equipped financially thai
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