Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-06-20
TARIFF TINKERING.

TARlEf TlNhEhlNG.
For the general good Of the coun-
try, and the prosperity Of the peo-
pie generally, it is hoped that the
present Democratic efforts at tariff
tinkering will soon be over and the
end sought accomplished. There is
no Disgusting the fact that President
Wilson is proving disappointment
to a very large number Of people who
voted for him under the impression
that he was a nOn-partlsan, who
stood for a sort Of happy medium be-
tween a protective policy and tar
iff for revenue, and who would com
NIT the country to no radical change
in present conditions, and whatever
reform we were to have would come
gradually and in such a manner that
no industry would be embarrassed.
Such were his prediction utterances,
anyway, and while many realized
that his ideas of government were
mostly theoretical, they still believed
that he would attempt no great and
widespread innovation. But, 1t
seems, that the country has been
fooled-buncOed, as it were. During
the present tariff discussion, the more
conservative members Of the dOmin-
ant party, realizing the chaos that
might ensue by the passage Of any
measure which might cripple any
portion Of the great industries or
products Of the country, have en-
deavored to pursue a liberal, give
and take policy, and have advocated
a gradual revision downward in
schedules. But President Wilson
has, on every occasion that such an
attempt has been made, insisted on
q complete and radical change which
should bring the country to an abb
solute free trade basis as quickly as
possible.
Every attempt by the Democratic
party at tariff tinkering in the past
has been followed by widespread in
dustrial depression, which has only
disappeared with the triumph Of a
protective policy at the polls. 1t was
hoped that the result would be 9TH
erwise, following the election last
November. 1t was thought that
Democracy had learned its lesson
from the disastrous conditions which
followed its attempts along this
line, but it seems that the same ar
guments which have always proved
the mainstay of our Bourbon friends |
are still paramount, and the result |
that can already be seen in the dis
tance is anything but reassuring. We
do not believe in howling calamity, |
nor in doing aught to hasten "A con
dition that we all hope will never
come, but the plain, blunt fact re-
mains, that business is not advancing
with the assurance that we all have
looked for, and that capital, always
timid, and easily discouraged, is not
being invested with the freedom that
the country needs. While we may
endeavor to encourage ourselves with
the expressed belief that the condi-
tons are but temporary, and that re-
lief will come with the settlement of
the tariff question, deep in our own
thoughts, however, we are compelled
to look the situation squarely in the
face and TO tremble for the future
Had the conservative members of
Congress-those wise old heads who
have passed through former battles,
and who understand the effect upon
the nation Of the radical policies adj
vocated by the President and certain
other Out-and-Out free traders, been
able TO stem the tide of radicalism.
and had their precautionary plans
been adopted, it is entirely possible
hat no lasting or far-reaching dila-
LOrious effect would have followed
he tariff agitation. But the point is,
hey have not been able to con-
rol their fire-eating friends. and the
'ountry awaits, with many misgiv-
ngs, the final result.
When We consider that the present
and the dominant menace /
b prosperity which we are now fac I;
ng has not been the result Of the !
will OF the majority Of the \
'eople Of the country. but rather /,
he outcome Of a condition which
ermiihed a minority party with its
ree trade isms to benefit by faction {,
] differences in the ranks Of their o
pponents, the condition Is an the e
lore deplorable. The fact is. that h
IllsOn was elected president BY
.uch smaller vote than Bryan. his
nsucceSSful Democratic predecess- .
II, for presidential honors received. ="
IA that the free trade policies Of e
.e party were opposed by two polit-
Il parties making their campaigns
projection platforms The result n
rther shows that q great majority 4,
the people favored the latter pol
J and endorsed IL unequivoeally.