The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-04
The Tariff Bill and Oratory

The Tariff Bill and Oratory
1t is difficult to find anything akin
to poetry or romance in statistics.
Most people consider statistics ex-
tremely dry, and while all thoughtful
persons appreciate the value of fig
ures" when intelligently and honest
ly presented, most men, evenfhose in
public life, are usually glad to escape
direct contact with statistical work.
The tariff problem having an i'm
portant statistical side, borders on
dryness when it comes to details, and
yet for political purposes it has ever
been a theme of impassioned oratory.
Able stump speakers like Roger
Quarles Mills, William L. Wilson
and William Jennings Bryan on the
democratic side, and Benjamin Har-
rison,~ Nelson Dingley and William
Mckinley on the republican side made
tariff statistics singularly eloquent.
One of the greatest democratic au-
thorities on the tariff in other years
was Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia,
who rose to be chairman of the ways
and means committee of the House of
Representative Those men who take
interest in public affairs and who are
old enough to recall the campaign of
1888 were fascinated by Mr.. Wilson's
discussions of the tariff. Thousands
heard the music of his voice and many
more thousands read his speeches. He
had mastered the tariff subject and
therefore spoke just as our own Mr.
Underwood speaks today, with au-
thority. Wilson was a master of
elocution and no histrionic artist could
play better upon the heart strings
than he. He had humor, too, and he
had his audience laughing and weep
ing by turns; and all over the tariff.
The subject was never dry with him.
In the Sixty-third Congress there
are many wits and not few real ora
tors. The discussion in the House last
week over the Underwood tariff bill
brought out some fine eloquence, and,
when a republican or a democrat
would get off joke at the expense of
the "other fellow" there had been
some laughter. Leader Underwood en-
joys fun as much as any man and he
doubtless enjoys spell binding oratory
now and then, but time is precious
and when congressman become too
oratorical or too much given to fun
making our Alabama statesman is
there to apply the brakes. The tariff
measure should be discussed, of
course, but no time should be wasted
on it. 1t will soon get to the Senate
and it is hoped that senators will not
try to talk it to death. The country
is awaiting the revised tariff law with
eagerness. Even most of the high pro-
tectionists would rather see the bill
that must pass be adopted without
unnecessary delay.
1t is safe to assume that 90 per
cent of the people of the United States
are in favor of the Underwood bill as
whole. Many republicans who voted
the straight ticket last fall, in order
to be regular" and many who voted
for Colonel Roosevelt because of the
colonel's attractive personality are at
heart in favor of the pending bill.
Alarmists have told us that the bust
ness of the country would be ruined
if the democrats succeeded in passing
the tariff measure, but no sensible
man believes for a minute that bust
ness conditions are so unsound as high
tariff beneficiaries try to make it ap-
pear. There is lull in trade at this
time but it is only temporary. The
tariff has nothing to do with dullness
except in a few cases. Good crop news
will bring a great revival of prosperi-
ty and prospects for busy summer
could not we'll be brighter.