Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-05
VIII They Do Il?

The Democratic party seems To be
astr.de the ridge-pole on the tariff
question. If it goes ahead and per-
formes as its leaders have advertised
in national convention and campaign,
il is likely to create such industrial
conditions throughout the country as
will effectually unseat and dishonor it,
as did the Wilson tarin bill of a gener-
ation ago. If it fails to radically re-
wise the tariff. seriously and thorough
ly. the party becomes IN object of uni
vers.tl inoekery and the people Will
Overwhelmingly refuse to have any
thing To 90 with 1t in the campaign -
1916.
1t seems to be q ease Of do or die, .
and of die If you do.
Tile plan of Chairman Underwood of
the ways and means committee, to hold
up. in his capacity of leadership, the
appointment of House committees. ex-
cept the committee on ways and means
until n tariff has been passed is meet
ing with somewhat formidable opposl-
ton. Many of the members regard ii
as a scheme to hold them in line for
whatever tariff bill the leaders choose
to bring forward with the proba biiitY
that those who hang back will fare
badly when the committees arc organ
ized. The running mate Of this scheme
seems to be President Wilson's plan
To withhold patronage toslieep senator s
unGer discipline until the special ses-
sion has adjourned.
A New York exchange, usually
shreBdly analytical and prophetic. de-
clares that nothing violently radical in
the line of tariff changes will be at
policy be followed, the people of the
country will well understand that the
Democratic party's claims and denun-
Citations of the Republican policy of
protection have been mere pretense;
that the Democratic party of old, with
its radical notions of free trade, has
been converted to protection in spite
OF its protests and asseverations.
., If. however, the explicit statements of
President Wilson are accepted and his
moulding influence be felt in the maxi
ing of Democratic tariff legislation. the
entire tariff hill is to be reconstructed
along radical lines. The President
would have 1t understood at This time
that liz. would not be content with
passing upon the measure after it has
been through the hands of Congress.
but that he intends to mix in the max
ing, and 10 see to it that his own idea
of Il tariff bill is produced by the Con-
gress.
Tine protected interests of the country
when have been viewing with appre-
nension the heavy reductions proposed
in the Underwood bill will want To
know what really Democratic bill
must be in order to meet with the ideas
Of the President. While a candidate
Mr.. Wilson put over some reassuring
phrases about mot disturbing bust
ness too suddenly or radically" but he
added: I'VE shall not on that account
act with tiinidity as if we did not know
orr own mind. There should be imme-
diate revision and 1t should be down
wards, unhesitatingly and steadily
DOWN. ards
Next week begins the process of car
rying out that which the Democratic
party has promised ana that which it's
leaders are still claiming they are go
ing 80 accomplish. When the extraor-
binary session has adjourned we shall,
lsnow whether or not the heads Of the
Democratic party has had the courage
to do the things i; has so long and vo-
ciferousy declared viii be the caun-
trys salvation