Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-20

The hardihood of the Democratic House in pass
ing the wool bill over the Presidents veto is
cheering omen for the cause of tariff reform. Wheth-
or not enough votes can be mustered in the Sen
ate to press the bill to complete success there has
been a moral victory thai will tell, and tell
strongly, in the national campaign.
This is said to be the first time in a generation
that the House Democrats have been able to over
ride Republican presidents veto on tariff meas
ure. What they were able to do in this instance,
and also in the case of the steel bill, evidences
widening sentiment for a downward revision of the
tariff. The final vote on the wool bill was one hun
dred and seventy-four to eighty. With the Demo
Gratis stood nineteen socaed insurgent Republicans,
men whose constituents, though nominally of the
Presidents party, realize the evils of the present
protective tariff and demand that they be remedied.
The truth is the time has come when the tariff is
vastly more than party issue; it is issue be-
tween the people as a whole and group OF special
interests that thriving government patronage.
Were this not the fact 1t is doubtful that the Pres
ident's veto could have been battered down in the
House.
1t is the mission of the Democratic party to carry
out the peoples will on this supreme issue. 1t is
to Democracy alone that the nation look for
relief. Mr.. Taft has twice declined to let the wool
bill become a law. The leader of the new Third
Party has the attitude toward the tariff the
party from which he; has rebelled. The Democrats,
on the other hand, have proved true to their prom
ises. The House has passed the wool bill three
times and it has also passed other and timely
of tariff reduction. The fact that this leg
islation is not operative today, reducing the cost
of living and enriching the country's inter
ests, is due solely President Taft and the Repub
lcan Standpatters in the Senate.
The Democrats have done their duty and have
pressed their opportunity to the utmost They have
proved themselves worthy of the measure of control
thus entrusted them and, therefore, worthy Of
beilg placed in full charge of the government.
There are more than half billion dollars worth
of wooen goods bought by the people of this
try every year. Had Mr.. Taft signed the bill which
Congress passed the consumers would nave been
saved something like ftytwo million dollars within
a single twelvemonth., Thousands of families would
have been better able to make their earnings meet
their expenses; thousands of children would have
gone more warmly clad; the common standard Of
American living would have been advanced
The tariff is far more than economic issue; it
is a farreaching human issue. When Mr.. Rooseven
clamors for human rights and social justice and at
the same time practically ignores, .relegates the
tariff question, his professions become sounding
brass 1t is with the welfare of households. with
striking down of commercial tyrannies and the
opening of freer paths for individual merit that
tariff reform is concerned 1t strikes through to the
heart of the trust evil and to the vicious partner
ship between the government and special groups of
men, 1t aims to set business free and to establish
social rights by removing economic wrongs. That
is the prime issue on which Woodrow Wilson, as the
Democratic leader seeks the Presidency. He is the
only candidate and his is the only party that has
squarely recognized this great issue 1t is only
through his election that the people will into
their