The Washington herald., 1912-03-10

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contesting delegations-some of them
as the one from Kansas City. taking
issue with the popular will, and Others
denouncing the methods by which the
Taft delegates have been chosen in the
South. Over these delegations, it can
now be predicted almost to certainty,
the administration steam roller will
move with Juggernaut justice. In the
convention itself the rift will be
widened.
In thus dealing with the unfortunate
division in the Republican party, there
is no occasion to indulge in either
speculation or prophecy. The facts are
written so large that he who runs,
though a fool, may read. 1t is a sitGa-
ton which the Republicans themselves
recognize, but which, apparently, they
are powerless to remedy.
But if they cannot prevent display
of factional strife, they should not sup
ply their opponents with deadly ammu-
nition- This they have done in the
speech which Secretary Stimson deliv-
cred at Chicago and to which The
Washington Herald, on account of the
remarkable character of the utterance,
has already reverted. Mr.. Stimson, in
his carefully prepared address, declared
that during the past thirty-four years
there has been steady increase Of
unnecessary protection every time that
the Republican party has touched the
tariff. He said even more than this, for
he admitted that privileged interests"
had fatteneda upon the tariff as upon a
bounty, and that the benefciaries of the
protective system have become stronger
and stronger within the party and the
nation.
Mr. Stimson had logical and proper
purpose in view. He desired to show
that President Taft has labored to
change these conditions through the
creation of tariff board which would
deal with the schedules impartially and
from a scientific instead of a political
standpoint Mr. Stimson has, however,
a very poor regard for public intelli-
gence, and less appreciation of Demo-
cratic political sense, if he fails to
realize that the admission which he has
made absolutely confirms the Demo
cratic opposition to Republican admin
istration.
1t is not necessary to give the Demo
cratic party any suggestions as to the
utilization Of this episode Already its
managers have arranged to give wide
publicity to Mr. Stimson'S admission,
coupling with it the fact that the tariff
bill of 1909, which measure is included
in the upward-revision legislation of
Mr. Stimson's declaration, was passed
by Republican Congress and approved,
both in signature and verbal utterance,
by Republican President They are
prepared to show by the record of the
present Congress that whenever reci-
procity or tariff reform was at issue
the Republican party in almost solid
phalanx has voted TO perpetuate the
conditions which Mr.. Stimson so
frankly and, from a Republican point
of view, so ill-advisedly portrays.
The tariff will be a principal issue in
the campaign. 1t is the only issue upon
which the Democrats have been able to
elect President since the war. For
tunately for them, their main conten-
tion receives Republican confirmation.
They have simply to quote a Cabinet
officers own words to prove that the
schedules of the tariff bill have been
devised to offer unnecessary protection
to manufacturers already enjoying ex-
cessive profits, and that, as a logical Sc
quence, the consumer has suffered
They can appeal to the people to de-
eide whether the party responsible for
this disregard of public welfare de-
serves to be continued in power.