The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-19
WHAT KILLED COCK ROBIN.

WHAT KILLED COCK ROBIN.
In the first of series of articles written by
President woodrow Wilson and which will ap-
pear in The rircinion on succeeding Sundays,
a light is thrown on the tariff views of William
Mckinley which shows that the "martyred'
president was out of sympathy with the high
protectionists of his party and was beginning
tc see that the policy upon which the standpat
leaders Of that party had embarked was one
bound to prove detrimental to the nation.
It is very probable that Mckinley foresaw
also the inevitable defeat OF his party should that
policy be pursued. At any rate, the last month
OF his life was given to tariff speeches which
showed clearly that he not standpat pro-
tectionists and his speech at Buffalo made short
ly before he was shot, in advocacy of
more liberal policy. Whether Mr.. Mckinley saw
II not, Ii was the protection policy formulated
by the Dingleys of 1896 which laid the founda
ton for the reconstructed Democratic party and
at the same time marked the spot for the wedge
which was eventually to be driven into the
Republican party, splitting 1t wide. From the
day the Dingley act was passed the fate of the
Republican party sealed. Theodore Roose-
Welt was the doctor which kept 1t in good health
for while. but. though he had not left it.,
the deep damnation of the Payne act. high
protection measure. passed In the face of sworn
pledges to reduce the schedules Of the Dingley
act would have been the blow to make fatal
the disease with which the party innocu.
lated by the Dingley act, But for Roosevelt that
death might have come in 1904; but for him
+ would almost certainly have come In 1905
r,tt for him and the imbecility OF the Demo
cratic party of that day.
1t has come AS Mr. Wilson says Nc
Kinley showed symptoms of adjustments to the
new age" Neither Mr.. Taft even Mr.. Roose-
Welt could so adjust themselves. The weak
" allowed the Payne-AIdrich bill to become
law; the other never could or refuse; to see
the iniquity of tariff which VIGOROUSLY
designed TO fatten the poekebooks of a few
Mt the expense of the many and which did just
that
The consequence was the overwhelming de-
feat and death Of the Republican party as
formerly constituted party called "Repubi-
can" may some day gain sufficient strength to
control presidential election and 1t may be
called by something else, but by whatever name
IT may be known it will not be the Republican
party of Dingley and Payne and Dalzell AL
arich, Smoot and Gailinger
Loud claims may be made that the division
In the Republican ranks caused the defeat of
the G. o. F. Statistics may be drawn up in
formidable array to prove 1t, The results of
tho recent presidential election may be sub
;ected to the scrutiny of expert analyssts. their
powers made keener by desire to demonstrate
the fact Anything may be done and anything
may be said, but all know that the tariff is at
the bottom Of it all The restricted policy of
the old standpat element the betrayal of faith,
RE increasing cost of living due, in measure,
to that policy, and that party treason. and the
growing impatence Of the people who paid the
riper--all these things killed the Republican
party.