Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-12

by both parties which has been boomerang for each
whenever the party made the mistake of acting the sup
position that political revolution had given it both license
and permanent power.
Every time the Democratic party smashed protective
tariff it went far in that direction, is natural while
every time the republicans went in of reaction
they granted that the people cured of oppos
ton the republican program and accepted their found
feedom to deal with the tariff for license to protect infant
trusts with boards we'll deserving industries. AS
matter of fact both parties have acted like lot of girls on
opposite sides of netting playing handbal.
AS result of this tendency to go to extremes
revision of the tariff by either democrats republicans has
been followed in the succeeding congressional elections by
revuson in public sentiment and by political overtun be-
of industrial paralysis for certain period until bust
could adjust itself to conditions and the voters
have been led to believe that it the principle involved
that caused the conditions whereas business interruption is
due in small degree to the uncertainty attending any
change in the tariff in any direction.
merchant cannot tell what he sell goods for until
he knows what they going to cost him and when
tariff law undergoing change business man of sense
will run low on his stock until he knows what his stock is
to him holds true especially if he feels
that goods going down under the effects of tariff changes
Let suppose that democratic friends when
they gained power in the political revolution Of 1912 had
treated the tariff much they treated the banking and
currency problem Suppose they had said Now will put
this matter of tariff revision thoroughly nonpartsan
plane and whatever changes be made to be in
suted nonsectiona well scientific basis and
changes that to be made shall not go into effect until
after ample notice that the great business interests of
the whole country know precisely where they stand
Suppose the republicans in 1908 after making
paign the promise the tariff downward had adopt
ed this of accomplishing that enda non-par
san tariff board working scientific economic basis
CARELESS of the camors Of this section that trust but hew
ing straight to the line.
Each party would have saved itself from the disaster
which followed inevitably shown by the history of tariff
revision by different parties since that problem
made party issue early in the last century IT the
Adrich tariff that broke the republican elephants back
of weakness for the democrats in 1914.
If the democrats in addition to giving the country much
needed revision of banking and currency system which
the republicans made the mistake of failing provide them
selves when in power and in addition to President Wilson's
nssence upon with the world had put o. revision
promptly nonparsan basis, and assured business
would have ample notice of whatever changes finally
made in order prepare therefor tariff revision would not
have interrupted business seriously has and million
German siege guns could not dsodge them from power
The democrats would have gained lasting credit not only
for responding to the nationwide demand for ample
banking and currency facilities and better credit system
the rural regions and for the maintenance of peace in the
face of obstacles but they would have shown their
ability to respond to the growing feeling everywhere that he
his party best who his country best and they
would have gained tremendous political victory by robbng
the republicans Of the chief if not the only hope of
peal for change and would have reaped the eternal credit
of putting the country stable business basis subject
not to party whim, but to economic needs and conditions
Every party in the United States stands for de
gree Of protection for American industries though the dem
ocats incline to reer trade than do and they have
additional handicap from revising the tariff falling
market whereas business is always soundly active
rising market. But with most people believing in
degree of protection for American labor neither party
object non-patisan tariff basis So long the tar
if is made football for handbal for girls long
inevitably have these periodical years Of business
interruption and industrial stagnation.
(Which party shall gain the credit for this move" is the
partisan cry, which would have republicans oppose
it at this time because they would have to vote with demo-
How hasten the dawn of this stable business
condition.? is the slogan of patriotism, which while clingng
to party rises above craftsmanship Will the democrats
pass such law this late day? If the democrats fall
will the republicans be patriotic enough to adopt this method
Of tariff revision if they win?
Unless the rank and file Of party masters of it
rather than servants to clique controlling the party
chnery for selfish purposes opposition to such popular de-
mands there way to needed reforms except
insist upon which will enable the rank and file to
at the very beginning in the primaries and work and
through until make voices heard the very seats Of
the mighty in political power.
These of the fundamental principles for which
Free Press tariff a