Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-27
The Divided PROFESSIONALS.

AS the tariff is to figure in the contest
for control of the next Congress. a letter
written by Mr.. Lincoln in October. 1859,
in reply to request for his tariff views.
possesses interest. 1t is brief, and in it
he says:
"I have not thought much upon the
subject recently, but my general i'm
preston Is that the necessity of protec-
tive tariff will, ere long, force its oppo-
nents to take it up: and then its old
friends can join and establish it on a
more firm and durable basis.
we. the old wings. have been entirely
beaten on the tariff question, and we
shall not be able to re-establish the pol
icy until the absence Of it shall have
demonstrated the necessity for 1t, in the
minds of men heretofore opposed to it,"
The protectionists were not entirely
beaten on the tariff question" two years
ago. In fact. they were In the majority.
but lost the issue through division In
their ranks on other matters. Both re-
publicans and bull moosers declared for
protective tariff. In the larger sense,
therefore, the Underwood law is in its
spirit. tendency and logical result a
minority tariff expression. The mandate
that produced it was issued at a polling
which represented a strength Of over one
million two hundred thousand votes in
favor of protection.
. The law is new-probably too new for
an all-around safe expression as to its
real character. But 1t has demonstrated
two things which give its opponents cause
for alta cking 1t now and urging an early
revision. % 1t has not, as promised, re-
duced the cost of living. and (2) 1t is not
producing revenue sufficient for the sup
port of the government
1t Is a fact, too, that business is de-
pressed, when 1t was promised that re-
vision would stimulate business. In some
lines production Is halted. There are
many unemployed men complaining of
their condition. They want work, but it
is not to be had.
And so the protectionists believe that
only a short absence of protection
under a. law which, while incidentally
mildly protective in spots, is rooted in
hostility to protection has demonstrated
the necessity for it, and they are
moving to restore the policy.
But the first thing is union. What will
be the use of talking protection and de-
nouncing the spirit and tendency of
the Underwood law, unless the ad-
vocates of revision on straightout pro-
lection lines work together As the law
was enacted by minority power. it can
be sustained by, minority power In
other words. If the republicans and bull
moosers indulge in another cut-throat
shindy this year they will again be re-
sponsible for democratic success
There are number of states where the
tariff should be most interesting issue
this year. Throughout New England in
New York. New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania; in Illinois. Indiana and Ohio. and
in several Of the northwestern states.
protection is strong. and If properly pre-
scented should be good for many seats in
the next House. But another campaign
like that of 1912, with the friends Of pro-
lection dividing their strength under the
influence of other issues and contentious,
| will result as that campaign did. in dis
aster to protection and to other issues
| which republicans and bull moosers hold
| in common.