The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-15
THE MIXED POLITICS.


tics of this country are in mixed con-
dition just now, far beyond anything
heretofore, as concerns the political par
ties of the country. 1t is often difficult
to guess whether a public man will be
found in the Republican party, the Demo
cratic party. or in the Progressive party
This latter party appears to be occupy
ing precisely the same relation to the Re-
publican party that the Populist party
did towards the Democratic party
number Of years ago. I'm
doubtedly the Progressive party
will chasten the Republican party
and Will retire from political ac-
tivity the old stand-pat gang, which in
1909. by it's refusal to keep party faith
ut the extra session Of Congress that
year with respect to the revision Of the
tariff, as called for by the National Re
publican platform of 1908, construed in
his campaign speeches OF that year by
Mr.. Taft, who was the Republican can-
didate for President, wrecked the
party's prospect of victory The
warning went out to the stand
pat Republicans at the time,
from many quarters and divers
sources, that they were endangering the
party outlook and the prosperity of
the country by their persistent refusal
to do what the party and it's candidate
had agreed to do; but many Of them
were of the top-lofty opinion, as shown
by Apostle Smoot, that nothing could
defeat the Republican party. His de-
fiant retort to the carded wool men
when they warned him that the country
might go Democratic if fair measures
were not passed, when he said: ''What
the hell do care if the country does
go Democratic7' is historic It was a
shocking position indeed for man who
aspired to be a great party leader to
take. The chances are, however, that he
cares very much by this time. But were
the same conditions to present them
selves doubtless he would act in the
same old obstinate way; and so there is
nothing left but TO yield to the Pro
gressiye demand that that kind of
statesmen - shall be retired to private
life, precisely as the Populists iuflu.
euced the Democratic party and aroused
it from its Bourbonism.
Tho attitude Of Governor Foss of
Massachusetts is fair example of the
uncertainty of political ties at the pres
ent time. Governor Toss has been elect
ed Governor of Massachusetts, three
times by the Democrats. He was an
aspirapt last year for the Democratic
Presidential nomination. Last winter
when there was so much talk about
Democratic free trade, Governor Foss
sent message TO the Massachusetts ley
islature which was distinctively pro
tective, and an earnest protest against
the lowering Of duties below tho pro-
tectIve point. Governor Foss up to a
short time before his election by the
Democrats as Governor of Massachu-
sctts, had been q Republican member Of
Congress from that State The word
is now that he intends to seek the Re
publican nomination for Governor OF
Massachusetts at the September pri
maries. His platform undoubtedly will
the proceedings of the present admin
istration and the Democratic Congress
in lowering duties so as TO bring them
beneath the point of protection, and
so his act may be fairly considered a
premopition of revolt aaginst the Demo-
cratic tariff programme. The Demo.
Gratis propose to abolish The duty on
wool at once, in spite OF the cautious
protests Of the wiser men Of their party
that they ought to preserve fair and
proportionate duty on wool. They pro-
pose TO put sugar upon the free list
three years nence, in spite of the re-
volt Of the Senators from Louisiana and
in spite Of the protest of the beet sugar
growers in all parts of the country. In
both of these propositions, the Demo
cratic programme is undoubtedly rash
and will react against the party. In
another proposed evil reduction in put
ting lead upon the free list, or making
the duties so low as not to be protec-
tive, the Democrats will also inflict
great injury upon the country and Will
at the same time damage their party.
Against all this Governor Foss will
undoubtedly protest. In so far as his
Democracy has ever gone, he has been
undoubtedly what is known as "pro-
tection' Democrat. There are good
many such, and they are just as much
opposed to the drastic tariff legislation
which the administration and the Demo
cratic leaders in charge contemplate as
the protective republicans. On the
other hand there are Republicans who
are not euamored of protection. espe.
cially in the way that protection has
been applied. sectional and favoring