New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-10
WHERE DOES HE sTAND2

Any Sidellght on Governor Nlisoh
tariff views is welcome, and therefore
"The Evening Post" an ardent support
er of the Democratic candidate, puts
the public in its debt when 1t gives the
weight of its authority to the theory
that Mr.. Wilson is least himself when
he talks tariff in the manner Of Champ
Clark and most himself when he talks
st in the manner Of "Jim" Smith. Re
plying to criticisms of the Governor In
his tariff-smashing, Chamber OF HOT
rors vein THE Post said yesterday:
We might even remind the excited
philanthropists Of THE Press ana
The Tribune that the Democratic plat
form. after denouncing. like the Two
other platforms. the present protective
tariff. added that I'VE recognize that
'our system of tariff taxation is mt
~matelv connected with the business
~of the country" and that the legisla-
tion enacted to correct existing in)us-
tIces should be Legislation that VIII
"not injure or destroy legitimate in
"dustry"-a declaration supplemented
by Governor Wilson'S remark. In his
sneech of acceptance, that In tariff re-
vision 1--WE should act with caution and
prudence, like men who know what
they are about and not like men IN
"love with theory"
That attitude Of caution and 0ppor-
tunism in tariff revision exactly fits
the views expressed by ex-senator
Smith in the statement which he made
on entering the New Jersey primary as
a candidate for his old place in the
Senate. Governor Wilson may have
sympathized inwardly with Mr.. Smiths
policy Of moderation, but the exigencies
Of his personal fight against the Smith
machine compelled him outwardly TO
denounce the ex-senator as a disguisei
protectionist and recreant to the true
Democratic faith. In Buffalo. at one
or more points in this city and In Hart
ford he blew as cold as Mr.. Smith did
on the idea that Democrats would deal
harshly with the protective system, to
which American production is now adj
tusted. But at the Chamber Of Hor-
rors here and at many points out West
he has laid down the principle that
protection is a drag on the country and
a positive injury even to the manufact-
urer and the labor in protected indus
tries. But if the manufacturer and the
workman in the protected field would
be better off without protection, what
excuse is there for. maintaining pro-
tective duties? Why not get rid of
system which can benefit nobody?
1t is all very puzzling, and II The
Evening Post is able TO put an author
itative stamp on those Wilsonian proc
esses of reasoning which really count
and segregate them from the processes
which do not count it will take high
rank as a spreader of light in dark
places. The Democratic nominee has
kept the rest Of the world guessing.
Over in London the free trade and
protectionist newspapers have been en-
gagged in a dispute as to Mr.. Wilson's
tariff attitude, each side claiming him
as an ally and each producing ample
ouotati from his speeches to sub
staptfate its claim. 1.-The Posts" ar
bstrament might help to settle a con-
froversy both here and abroad were 1t
not for the fact that Mr. Wilson will
be on the stump three weeks longer and
the possibility that in that time he may
pledge himself. If elected, both to let
the present tariff rates stand absolutely
unaltered and to sweep them one and
all overheard in order TO usher In an
era of complete free trade