New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-18
IN THE WRONG SPIRIT,

The New York American when Is
actively supporting Governor Wilson
for the Presidency, expresses the nope
that in announcing his programme OF
downward tariff revision he will fol-
low the leadership of Speaker CLARK
and MIR. Underwood and will put aside
the insidious counsels Of Mr.. Bryan
'The American" said yesterday
Governor Wilson will. If he is as able
and sagacious as We hope he Is, make
II clear, both TO the American electo-
rate and to all over-eXpoctant onlook-
prs In foreign lands, that the Demo-
rratic party will go on with the Work
of Intelligent, reasonable tariff reform
In the spirit that has aotuated the
present Democratic House Of Repre-
sentatives, and not in the spirit OF
destruction and fanaticism which
BRYAN vainly tried to impose upon
Speaker Clark and Leader Underwood
They resisted Bryan's counsel OF folly'
and so will Governor Wilson. we hope
and believe.
Speaker Clark and Mr.. Underwood
have both visited Sea Girt within the
last few days, and It will be interest
ing to see whether or not Governor
Wilson is willing to indorse their dark
lantern, hodge-podge juggling with the
tariff schedules as an exhibition OF
1Intelligent, reasonable tariff reform"
THE Tribune has repeatedly made clear
that the Clark-Underwood tariff bills
were framed without recognition or
any guiding principle, were grossly IN
consistent with one another and were
drawn with reckless disregard either
of the wants Of the domestic producer
or the needs Of the Treasury. If Gov
ernor Wilson can indorse them 1t will
Drove that he has no fixed ideas as TO
the uses and functions Of tariff. but
IS. like Messrs. Clark and Underwood,
a reviser for politics only.
Mr.. Bryan advised the Democratic
House leaders to apply as far as pos
sible the Democratic theory Of free
raw materials. That theory has some
definite economic merit, for 1t seeks 10
build up domestic industry by remoY-
ing duties on materials which cannot
he obtained in sufficient quantity at
home. 1t also has the advantage or
relieving the government Of the neces-
slty of levying an additional COmpen-
satOry duty on imported manufactured
articles competing with those into the
domestic production Of which taxed
raw materials have entered. The free
raw materials theory is Ineligible,
and from the low tariff view ecOn0ml-
cally defensibe But Messrs. Clark
and Wilson did not want to follow a
single Ineligible line Of action. They
wanted to face one way or the other
at their own convenience, putting a
duty on one raw material, like wool,
and taking it off another raw material,
like sugar. They wanted to be able to
claim that the Treasury needed the
comparatively moderate revenue 1t
received from wool while denying that
It needed the very much larger sum 1t
was collecting on sugar.
The House tariff bills, If they were
allowed to become laws, would pc
palizs all branches of American indus
try, would check production, halt trade
and bankrupt the Treasury, They
would substitute hard times for good
times and bring IN another period of
suffering like that which distinguished
the second administration Of Grover
Cleveland. If Governor Wilson is with
.Dlessrs. Clark and Underwood In their
eudeavor to recall the mlseries Of 1893
497 the voters will know what to do
to his candidacy. The last thing the
country wants or can afford is re-
vision of the tariff lin the spirit that
"has actuated the present Democratic
"House Of Representatives.