The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-17

his criticism Of the Presidents action IN
delivering his message to Congress in
person, and charaeterizes 1t as federal
istic fetioh " In this, however, there
can be no doubt but what Mr.. Hearst
did not win much sympathy. There
may be a few who sti1l resent the Pres
ident's course in the matter of address
sing Congress, but on the whole there
is no shadow of doubt but what he made
a most favorable impression not only
on the general public but on Congress
as well.
On the occasion Immediately following
his address to both branches of Con-
sless, Of his visit to the Presidents Of
flee at the Capitol to discuss with the
ccmocfatic members of the finance COM
mittee of the Senate the. tariff bill,
the President again demonstrated his
ability TO take care of himself In deli
cate position and won the senators with
whom he came into contact on that visit,
over TO his way of thinking.
Support in Certain Circles
From those democrats who are prompt
ed by protected interests in their dis
tricts1 to oppose certain schedules of
the tariff bill Mr.. Hearst may win some
support in his contention that the Presi-
dent is an English free trader" and is
opposed to ',the fundamental principle of
protectfon.' Indeed the Hearst letter
may encourage, and it is regretfully' be-
leved by some members that it will,
those democrats who are SO valantly
lighting for a reduction of the tariff
on every dutiable article manufactured
or grown in the United States, except
those of their own state, or district,
which, of course, because of peculiar
reasons not applicable to any other ar
ticle, ought to be protected.
Most democrats believe Mr.. Hearst's
article an able defense of the princi-
pies of protection on American-made
goods from the republican point of view,
but from a democrat who pretended to
be in accord with the Baltimore plat
form that IT is indefensibe. It fol-
lows in form and substance, it was
pointed out by a prominent democratic
member, the speech of President McKin-
ley delivered at Buffalo just before he
was assassinated on reciprocity and the
gradual reduction of tariff duties through
reciprocal treaties with other nations.
Not in Tune With Party
''In his statement that in our tariff we
have a weapon with which We can with
stand the tariff weapons of other ma
tions, but we must not abandon our
weapons until other nations are ready
to abandon theirs Mr.. Hearst is not in
lieves in tariff for revenue only" de-
clared a member of the New York dele
cation in discussing the Hearst story to-
day. IF we wait until other nations
come to agree with us on reciprocal dn-
ties the protected interests of this coun-
try will continue to fatten as they have
in the past and monopolies will be the
gamers at the expense of the people.
Reduction of our tarin rates through
reciprocity is merely another excuse Cor
delaying any reduction whatsoever, and
is only one of the catchy phrases OF
those who seek to retain the high pro-
tective rates so long fastened the
people of the United States, by the re-
publican party
If He Runs for Senate
If Mr.. Hearst intends.t to become can
didate for the United States Senate to
succeed Senator Root, as has been in
timated 1t Is believed by politicians here
that he made an unwise move to go on
record with such caustic criticism of
the President and his tariff programme.
which has been most favorably received
throughout the country and especially IN
New York. In the President he may
arouse powerful antagonist to his ann
btions and one who will not hesitate to
oppose him If he thought his election
would not be best for the country. Dy
his announcement that he proposes to
take a hand in the state fight in New
Jersey, the President has laid a prece-
dent for applying the same rule to other
states, should he deem it expedient to
do so.
1t is not on the whole believed that Mr..
Hearst's attitude toward the tariff Leg
islation now pending will cause any ma
terial detection In democratic ranks. it
will give some encouragement to those
who are seeking to amend the bill ana
retain the protection on certain sched-
ules, but 1t is not believed that they are
powerful enough to accomplish a great
deal toward that end even in the Senate
where there is far greater doubt of pas
sing the bill unscathed than there is in
the House.