Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-01
A Tariff for Revenue,


vitality affected by the developments of
the last few DAYS in Washington. Per-
maps the words of Oscar w. Under
wood, chairman of the ways and
means committee of the House. to the
boot and shoe men is more ilumina-
tive than any utterance heretofore
from the reported conflicting Demo-
cratic leaders. 1t is plain from Mr..
UnderWood's brief statement that the
cably pledged to revenue tariff The
old line of Cleavage between the two
great parties is as sharply defined as
ever, in spite of the knowledge that
strong brigades of Democracy in GER
tain sections are converted to protec-
ton.
Mr.. Underwood made it plain to the
boot and shoe men, Wednesday. that
they must not expect the Democratic
party to continue protection on their
products. Mr. Underwood listened pa
tiently all day to the arguments of
Messrs. Rand, Craddoek and NIGEL
vain and told the speakers frankly
that they had made out a good case.
He warmly Congratulated the shoe
manufacturers on the character of
their brief, but he informed them, in
just so many words, that they were
up against the verdict of the Amer
lean people The committee is desir-
Gus of making every rate reasonably
competitive, if possible" said Chair
man Underwood; "if you can find a
rate between ten per cent and moth
ing that will afford you protection and
the Government revenue, we shall be
very glad. But you can't expect us
to write a protective rate, even if it
is only two cents. You have put up a
clean, straight case and | congratu-
late you on your brief
1t is the obvious understanding of
Democratic leaders that the people, by
their vote for Wilson, ordered the car
rying out of platform pledges to re-
wise the tariff according to traditional
principle These leaders, it would
seem, interpret their election as an en-
dorsement of Democratic denunciation
of protection. This proposed revision
to a revenue basis devoid OF protec-
ton, is to be made without the i'm
formation obtained from a n-parti-
san tariff board, but in accord with
the policy which once in memory of
the middle-aged, has brought the
country to disaster
Maine is interested in the boot and
shoe business Maine Is also fighting
to save the life of her starch factories
and, through them, source of reve-
nue. to Aroostook farmers. Maine is to
feel deeply in other ways the slashing
of unfriendly and unskilled hands at
the balance wheel of trade and indus
try
1t has been plain from the opening
of the campaign early last year, that
Southern Democrats are out to do
New England. We have repeatedly
called attention to that manifest fact
1t has been boldly and boastfully de-
clared that New England factories
We're to be moved into the South. 1t
has been plain, even before the frank
sta tement of Mr. Underwood. that
hearings will produce little or no ef-
feet.
Democracy made it's campaign on
the high cost of living and the declar-
alton that tariff doctoring of the Dem
ocratic school was the last desperate
remedy. 1t is coming, and can we
deny that the people ordered it, as
Mr.. Underwood declares? If the peo-
pie wished their memories refreshed as
to Democratic trade and industry reg
ulators, at the expense of idle mills
and factories, abject poverty and
bread lines for the sake of giving
prosperity to foreign people beyond the
seas, why, then, the people have a
right to their gamble.