The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-05-22
A PRINCE OF
STANDPATTERR.

dSCCpL NtlAl plClllASSS IA biAN AAAtSA w 8
Of new tariff law In the complex
tiles OF tariff making, craftsmanship has
always found it polite to concede de-
tails which do not impair the vitality Of
the general principle. In dealing with
many industries, affected by many vary
ing conditions and environment, and all
Of them 10 be dealt with in their re-
lation to the subject oipublic revenue,
some readiustments have almost always
been found necessary. Changes are
sometimes forced by financial neces
sites. Again they may grow oui Of
political necessities which compel a
yielding at some points as means Of
getting the votes necessary TO enact
measure. Sir Robert Peel compro-
missed with the opposition more than
once before he reached an uncomprc-
missed position, which ne did not take
until he had mandate fiom the country.
Had Mr.. Wilson such a mandate?
None such is written in the full returns
Of the November election, yet we find
Mr.. Wilson more uncompromising to-
wards the advhcates OF projection than
the British prime minister was until he
had the warrant Of a dominant public
opinion. Mr.. Wilson finds himself
elected 10 Office on platform declaring
tariff for a protection to be unconsti-
tutionat. He finds, too, a Democratic
majority in both houses olthe congress
elected on the same declaration. The
Democrats can not be fairly charged
with any concealment OF their purpose.
Nor are we disposed to be captious in
criticism Of Mr.. Wilson's present un
compromising attitude. Talking with
several score Washington correspond
ents on Thursday, while the senate was
in the prcliminaries OF taking up the
House tariff bill, he said: Il am not
the kind that considers compromises
vhen have once taken my position.
I have taken my stand with the House
leaders for the present bill. Enough
said. I am not looking for or accepting
compromises"
The bold utterance could not have
been addressed to the republican mi
nority in the senate. The republicans
have never entertained hope that any
concession would be made as a result
OF their opposition. In the senate, as
in the house, they will oppose the en-
actment Of the bill into law only as a
reassertion oil their party principle,
which, as asserted last year in two plat.
forms made by republicans, resolved
very great majority in the popular vote.
The record Of opposition they arc
making in congress, however, is not
being made with any hope Of changing
the plans Of the democratic administra-
ton, nor do they find fault with the
president for insisting that all the dem
ocrats elected with him on the Balti-
more platform shall stand with him in
enforcing it. Their position grows out
Of the assurance they find in the official
returns that the country is very far from
rejecting their party doctrine, and out
Of the political necessity Of making a
record id opposition. The presidents
announcement Of mo compromise"
can have been addressed to none other
than small group Of democrats in the
senate who are known to be asking for
notifications Of the Underwood bill,
and who have carefully created an i'm
preston that they will, il all compro-
mises are rejected, vote with the re-
publicans in forcing some material
amendments. What the president has
Just said is or now seems to be, a chal-
lenge to them to do their worst. He
will concede nothing. He is stand
ing pat" on immediate free wool and
early free sugar. 1t grew fashionable,
year or Two ago, TO dub republicans
standing for the protection demanded
by popular majority Of million and
a quarter in 1908 as star dpatters. J."
With that popular protection majority
in no way reduced, Mr.. Wilson is
standing pat" for free trade, in I'm.