The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-17

Washington, April 16.-Senator
Bryan, Of Florida, was recently urged
by the orange growers Of Florida to
vote for the existing protective duty
on oranges and grape fruit and to
effect the retention of the duty even
If 1t should become necessary for him
to invite an alliance with other states
interested in the retention of existing
schedules. The senator, in reply, comes
out squarely fer the democratic doc
trine of a tariff for revenue only, and
viii AID the ~a7nsinfstrsstion in every
way that he can TO fulfill its ante
election pledges to the country. He
outlines his position as follows:
ct appreciate that the orange grow
ers of Florida have done much toward
developing the state and have passed
through many hardships, but know
they would not have me desert the
democratic party, which 1 would be
doing if voted for a protective duty.
"I observe you say that the present
duty is not a protective duty but is
necessary for the life of the citrus in
terests in Florida. If a duty is neces-
sary for the life Of an industry how
can IL be other than protective? 1t
has always been a cardinal principle
of the democratic party that tariffs
should be levied for revenue only. The
tariff has been and remains the su-
prene test by which men have been
known as members of one party or
the other. Democrats say 1t is wrong
TO use the taxing power to advance the
interests Of any class or section.
WHEN 1T HITS HOME.
"FIorida is democratic and has in
dorsed. among other things, the posi-
ton taken by the democratic party
upon the tariff question. A very SIM
pIe method of ascertaining whether
person believes in a principle is wheth-
er a person believes in principle Is
whether he will shrink from having II
applied to himself. We ought not be
willing to apply principle OF gov
ernment to other industries or sections
and then refuse to be bound by it our
selves. If we do this on the tariff,
wberein do we differ from the republi-
cans in this most vital of all the ques-
tions which control men in their party
allegiance?
some of the vices of the system OF
protective tariff has been that one in
dustry will support another in return
for protection to itself. Under such
svsteu,. those industries which do not
make trades of this character are left
while those which 90
make the trades succeed in securing
nrotection. That this statement is true
il illustrated by your telegram, IN
which YOU state that Louisiana
Cneaning thereby, I assume, some or
gantzation of business men who under
take to speak for that state) has no.
tified you that the senators from that
state will help Florida on the citrus
schedule of the tariff, If Florida SEN
ators Will help Louisiana on sugar
Then you request me to consult with
the senators from both Louisiana and
Mississippi to find out if such an alli-
ance can be made. I cannot do this. I
very much doubt if anyone has been
authorized by the senators from
Louisiana to make such a proposition.
But. suppose the alliance you speak
of could be made: IL II were my duty
to do this would IT not equally be my
duty to make similar alliances with
any other senators and agree to sup
port protective tariff schedules in
which their states would be interest
ed. in return for their support for such
a tariff on citrus fruits as you desire?
Does not such a plan outlined newt
ably lead to a tariff made up of trades?
NO JUSTICE IN PLAN.
sCan anybody expect justice or fair
treatment to the whole country under
such a pIan2 If the protection of the
government were equally distributed,
under such a system, would it be more
than a mere accident? We must have
(Continued on Page Four)