Evening journal., 1912-07-08
MONDAY, JULY 8. 1912
A WELCOME ISSUE.

~ oopRcW WILSON. the Democratic candidate for
w President announces that the paramount issue
in the campaign this year will be the tarih NO an
nouncement could have brought greater pleasure 70
those who viii conduct the Republican campaign the
Democrats have declared in their platform for what
is tantamount to Free Trade The Republicans have
declared for downward revision OF the tariff but
Cor the preservation Of its protective features II
viii be the old hsht over again, and on the tariff
issue the Republicans almost invariably have been
victorious
with the Democratic party standing for tariff for
revenue only men engaged industrial pursuits men
aced by such policy win stand shoulder TO shoulder
against the Bryan candidate for President With
them also viii stand their employees who never VIII
assist the Democrats in placing them on plane with
the pauper labor Of Europe They fought that ques-
ton out years ago with such signal that the
Republican policy Of protection for American indus
tries and the men who rely upon them for hveli-
hood had come accepted practically as estab-
iished thing Now that Governor Wilson asserts that
the upsetng Of great American principle Is 70 be
the chief Of himself and the Democratic party It
places President Taft in especially strong position
before the people
There IS no question that the tariff schedules need
readustnent along certain lines but the suggestion
that the protective feature OF the tariff should be
withdrawn from American industry and labor is re-
puenant 10 great majority of American voters, and
the fact will be established by the election returns in
November. Ihat question mas Deen passed uhun Nmt
and again by the American people and thousands Of
Democrats experience disappointment that Governor
Wilson could find no stronger issue upon which to
base his campaign.
With the tarin issue declaration made by the Dem
ooratio candidate public interest naturally shifts to
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt II is announced that he
will hold his National Progressive Party convention in
Chicago early next month and that he VIII have him
self nominated as an independent candidate. His aim
viii be 70 accomplish the defeat President Taft To
the Presidents political friends and supporters It is
comforting 10 note that many Of the who played
conspicuous part the colonels behalf in the re-
cent Chicago Convention have refused positively fol-
low him in the third party movement Hadey
Dineen cummins and scores Of others decline 10 be
drawn from their party allegiance TO assist Colonel
Roosevelt wreak vengeance on President Taft and the
Republican party II IS true that the Colonel still
has following and that # he Independent
he will poll a substantial vote Doubt is expressed
however that with his most powerful heutenants ir
his hght for the Republican nomination now com
itted 70 give 20 President Tafe their hearty support
Re viii made anything ike showing h'
thinks he will u be that, when he realizes tha
en- independent candidacy will give TO the American
voters an opportunity 70 show what they think o
him in his assault against party that has given e
h,r so many honors. he may decide that st will b
uAVise for him to carry his plan TO put thir'
ticket in the field.