The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-16

dorse It unequivocally, It is disposed to await
the test of practice THE people" IT thinks, /
ARE in the mood to Judge fl fairly and soberly"
and ito consult facts not prendices' in reaching
conclusion. They have genuine tariff revision
downward" says the rd-Hcrod, and the
future of tariff policy viii largely depend on
the working Of the new measure"
The New York Sun, never warmly favorable
to the Wilson administration, some times hos
tile and always theoretically a protectionist,
takes somewhat similar view, and the Philadel
phia Public Ledger, a protectionist journal. has
no fears for suffering by the people Of the ooun-
try as result Of the operation of the new law. |
"Marse Henry" watterson, In the Louisville
CoHt4er-Journat warns the country not to expect
too much Of the law:
or course the new law will not make ten
derloin steak sell the price Of hrisket re-
half loaf, 1t Will not make poor men rich or
rich men poor. It will. IN short, not work mira
oles. The best that may be hoped for and the
best that planned. IS the elimination or
material reduction of special privilege for the
favored few at the expense Of the productive
many II the Democrats remain In power they
will assuredIy profit by experience. and where
the law Seems subject TO Improvement II will be
Improved The work has been done in a bust
nesslilte manner and the law will doubtless
prove In operation workmanlike act Of legis
iation.
The Columbia state Is not inclined to be quite
so conservative as Colonel Watterson In its esti
mate of the effect of the law. Everyone is jus
t titled" It says. Gin entertaining the hope that
sanguine tone will Immediately begin to assert
itself in commercial and Industrial circles. dis.
rellng the inevitable apathy mingled with possi-
country's fiscal policy was indicated by the cleo
lions last year. The passage Of the bill is, of
course. the first achievement OF highest rank to
be credited to the Democratic administration
The first it should have been. Have not the
! Democrats labored for tariff through all the
years@'
Most Of the newspapers commenting upon the
law give the lion share Of the credit for It's pas
sage to President Wilson, and almost without ex
eeption, whether approving It or not, they admit
when they do not frankly AFFIRM that the Demo
cratic party has redeemed It's prediction prom
Uses For instance. the Springfield Republican
declares that the progress OF this first great
/ measure of legislation establishes the adequacy
of President Wilson's leadership" and adds that
what was promised by the outcome of the Bal
timore convention has far been accomplished"
having reference not to verbal promises but to
the silent promise of leadership and power and
patriotic endeavor furnished by Mr., Wilson's per-
sonality and past record scholar. citizen and
governor
The New York Sun thinks President Wilson is
right In congratulating the country, but that he
himself should be congratulated also and con
eress with him. Power was put into the hands
of the Democratic party that 1T might reduce the
tariff taxes" 1t says. ut has honestly and cour-
ageously obeyed its mandate"
The Philadelphia Epenin0 Bulletin calls 1t the
presidents victory" and thinks that the passage
Of the measure goes a long way toward estan
fishing his prestige However, 1t says much else
remains TO be done. and it is too early yet to
j., reach final verdict"
Says the Bulletin:
The Democratic support Of tho tariff bin IN
,be senate Yesterday solid with the exception OF
Q the two sugar senators from Louisiana, whose
places were taken by Senators Poindexter ano
+ La toilette was a notable victory for President
Wilson and an attestation Of the power whicf
The schoolmaster has been maintaining stree
+ discipline and holding his class to the stunt ne
has set for them. However much OF an amateur
In
seem 10 be in methods employed, he has Kept q
9 united party at Washington. despite much gfum.
bling and no little Disappointment on the par
Of the office seekers and from such signs as 'ht
Maine byve}eCtton il is to he inferred ihat th'
party at large is as Loyalty standing hehlnd MIN
The final passage Of the tarih BIZ VIII go
long way toward confirming his prestige, bu'
r. there are stl many difficult tests ahead OF htn
before he submits 10 the general Verdlct OF 'he
s nation in the mid-term congressional elections
. "a notable achievement" Is the description the
g philadelphia Record gives the BILL while the
New York Telegram Is rather non-committal
though pleased, that final action has been taken
n The New York Globe grows facetous at the
), expense OF the calamity howlers and the stand
nat protectionists. AT the beginning OF the lat'
/ administration" II says. mo one foresaw that
t within five years protectonism would be buried
Y and that at the funeral the mourners would be
1 few"
r These extracts give a fairly adequate outline
e ~ the comment OF the country. OF course there
i arc some discordant notes. but the remarkable
a feature ia that so many Republicans and so many
= independents who are yet protectionists should
have words Of praise for the measure and tbs
G most encouraging feature Is that the great body
of the people should accept the passage OF this
= record making legislation with equanimity and