The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-15
LEMONS AND BANANAS.


tariff law. Probably it is not going too
far to say that the Republican reverses
of last fall were due in the main to
the dissatisfaction of the people with
that piece of legislation. At any rate
that was the direct cause of the cleo
ton of a Democratic house of repre-
sentatives two years previously. And
it was responsible for the heaviest OF
the criticism that was directed against
President Taft. 1t was charged that
he had not kept faith with the peo-
pie; that they had been promised
revision of the tariff downward, and
the revision that was given them was
really of the upward variety. Or
course. much of this criticism was I'M
true and. unjust. But it was of
kind that would appeal strongly to the
people. a big mass of whom have been
made to believe by the economists OF
the political expediency variety that
a protective tariff is responsible al
most wholly for the high cost of liv-
ing and about all the other economic
ills with which the people of this
country are afflicted. either actually or
in their imaginations.
1t is true, though, that there were
Aldrich law. For instance, the duty
on lemons was increased. This pro-
duced q cry of rage from those who
are ever on the hunt for material
out of which they can make political
capital. President Taft and the Re
publican leaders were accused of con-
spring to deprive the people OF their
delectable and almost necessary
l.
most prohibitive prices for the same
The pictures that were painted OF the
plain pee-pul going lemonadeless to
bed, and with their tongues dangling
around their knees were pathetic
place US in control of the govern
ment," said the Democrats in effect,
land we will give you the real thing
in the way of a tariff revision down
ward" In fact. such revision was
the announced policy of President
Wilson, and almost as soon as he TOOK
ofs~e he called a special session OF
cone ~ess to bring it about. Mind you'
it was to be downward revision from
a to lizard There were to be no ex-
centions. For more than three
the Democratic statesmen, I'M
der the watchful eye of President
Wilson, have been working on this
revision. And just how sincere were
their promises and pretentions OF
downward revision in all particulars
a downward revision that would be
of advantage to the pockets of all the
neople in general and the poorer in
particular is shown by the fact that
the JJndervood-S bill as it |
now stands provides for a duty on
bananas. Under the Payne-Aldrich |
law bananas are admitted free or
duty. Presumably this duty has been
placed on bananas. with the consent
no doubt of President Wilson, as he is
the master mind in the tariff rev1-
sion, for such revenue as it VIII pro-
duce. In looping off duties in other
schedules and putting many things
on the free list, the Democratic states
men have also made tremendous cuts
in the usual revenues from the tariff
which are needed for the support of
our extensively. conducted govern
nent. They hope to make up a pile
of this deficiency with the income
lax But that won't fill the sack.
Hence such revenue as might be OBJ
aimed from a duty on bananas would
NOT come amiss. No, indeed, conslo-
,rine the bulk of the banana importa-
ions into this country. Not only is
he banana a popular fruit with most
,eonle 1t is also a food for many,
and one that is now within the reach
IF all. even the poorest of the popu-
alton the especial wards of Demo-
rats. the people for whom they were
,oine to do so much in the way of
.ariff revision downward.
It was a mistake for the RepubH-
,ans to nut an increased duty on
lemons. But there was more of a
ra1id reason for it than any which
NAV be conjured up for the Demo-
cratic action in placing duty on ba-
nanas. There is a lemon industry in
his country. 1t is of the infant va
-ietv On the old-fashioned Republi-
,an theory that all infant industries
are entitled to all possible tariff pro-
lection, it wasn't very difficult for the
leaders to argue them
selves into treating the infant lemon
industry in the same way that they
had treated scores of other infant in
lustries in the past. But there Is no
panama industry in this country, that
needs a duty on bananas so that 1t can
wax fat and prosper. There never can
De one. Bananas cannot be grown in
his country to any extent at all. They
'efuse to grow in any cline that is
lot absolutely free from the posi-
1iIities of frost. And no state in the
lnion is free from at least occasional
rosts, not even the much advertised
citrus lands of southern California.
OF course. lemons and bananas are
small matters when compared with
some Of the questions involved in tar
IF revisions. But a party that makes
Ia in reuisiner the tariff