The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-06-18
Political Thoughts.
Editor The Manning Times:

Editor The Manning Times:
In my last article consumed most of
my space in commenting on public men
apd did not get down to any particular
subject. In fact I said that in the artl-
cles 1 shall write for you I do not ex-
pect to nail down any special subjects.
but to write in free and easy manner,
as the spirit prompts me. But left on
with mentioning the name OF Oscar w.
Underwood, Congressman from the Bir-
mingham district, of Alabama, in the
National House of Representatives,
leader of the democrats in that branch
of Congress, and chairman OF the COM
mittee on ways and means. Under the
constitution of our national govern
ment all bills providing for revenue
must originate with the committee on
WAYS and means. In fact this is well
settled principle of government, and
the same rule prevails under our con-
stitution in South Carolina, that all
bills for revenue must originate with
the committee on ways and means IN
the lower house, or the house of repre-
sentatives. My impression is that the
constitutions of all the states have this
provision, but as 10 the exact correct
ness OF this am noe certain. But any,
how, to get back to Congress, and our
man Underwood. he is. in my opinion,
the biggest and most practical states
maR on the stage of public and politi-
cal life in our country to-day. He was
my man for president, before the Bal
timore convention, on account OF his
great grasp of practical government
questions, aud particularly for hi S
knowledge of commercial and domestic
conditions. but since the democrats
nominated and elected for president
one who seems to be gcCt man any
how, Underwood falls IN line and is
working for the government and the
people just as hard, and with more ard
uous labor than If he had been elected
president. Upon his shoulders, as chair
man of the ways and means committee,
falls the burden OF preparing and engi-
neeriug through the house, a bill for
revising this great tariff question, to
which the democratic party was pledg-
ed, 10 response 10 the demands of the
masses of the country, and which pledge
insured success OF the party at the polls.
When it comes to revising the tariff,
or import duty, or import tax, on every
article which is shipped into this great
country OF ours, to be used by seventy
millions of people, then even those OF
US who do not think much ought to get
some little idea OF the proportions OF
the job. This country has always had
a tariff or import tax on articles
brought in from foreign countries. The
countries OF Europe also have tariff du-
ties on imports, or customs taxes. Tariff
duties or customs imports are necessary
to raise money with which to pay the
expenses of the government. Other
wise we would all have TO pay taxes on
our property or heads, levied direct
from Washington. But the trouble has
been that under the administration o.!
the great Republican party even since
the administration of James Buchan-
nan. Just before the war, with the only
execution of the two terms OF Grover
Cleveland, and then the democrats were
never in entire control, the tendency
has been to run these tariff duties high
er and higher. There are more million
aires. monied mep, manufacturers and
corporate Interests in the Republican
party than in the democratic party, and
these people, following the impulse of
selfish nature, as a rule align them.
selves with the part. which, while in
control of the government affairs, will
give the mcSt protection to their mon
led interests and their business. So far
as the theoretical meaning of the terms
democratic" and republican, are
concerned. they are practically the
same, but the tendency has been, and
the practical result now is, that the re-
publican party represents mostly the
protected interests OF til e country,
while the democrat is the fellow who
produces the crude products of the
land, TO be bought by the republican
interests, and then manuf lctured into
all kinds of articles and sold back 10 the
democratic consumer again.
Five years ago when president TAFT
was elected and went into Office his
party was pledged to an honest rev!s-
ion of this tariff question, and he hon
estly tried to carry out the pledges of
his party, but congress was composed
too much of. and Influenced too much
by the manufacturing interests. and the
consequence was that the revision
schedules which they enacted. known
as the Payne. .Aldrich bill, was more OF
a revision upward for further protec-
ton. OF the manufacturing interests,
than scaling down of the duties on
innorts for the benefit of the cOnSum-