The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-26

Mr.. James J. Hill, a very close observer OF
industrial conditions, has some firm views on the
subject OF the tariff some Of which he revealed
to the American Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton. when he spoke at the twenty-ninth annual
dinner OF that organization in New York last
week. Mr.. Hills speech lett much to inference
and conjecture His audience would undoubtedly
lrave been profoundly interested in more COM
pete setting forth of his view. and would have
prohtcd thereby. He said:
No accustomed to read the signs OF the
times fail to that determined effort will
be made to give the tariff the leading place in the
next national campaign. | refer, of course, not
to any readJustment OF any particular items which
experience may have shown to be out OF proper
ton to the rest unsuted to existing business,
but effort to secure another general revision
on ascending scale OF rates. Upon the attitude
OF the newspapers, which being felt out,
will depend its fate Is it not the province of you
gentlemen TO consider this matter dispassionatelv
before you follow the dictum of any leader?
What share, if any. OF the business difficulties
cannot be determined. We know, on the other
hand that unfavorablc effects have been produced
by Legislative attempts to hamper business and by
the economic and financial revolution due to war
abroad. That the country can live and thrive
under the existing tariff is clear to all
Many OF Mr.. Hills hearers must have re-
bcllcd inwardy at least, against his assertion
that it is clear to all that the country live
and thrive under the existing tariff. Mr. Hill
surely has come in contact often enough in the
past year and a half with the manufacturers OF
the East to have learned how the tariff far
it has been given test affected their interests
and hence the welfare of the wage-earners and
the country generally. Before the European war
began. resulting IN its practical nullihcaion. the
new tariff law had demonstrated its failure 1t
produced an influx of foreign manufactures to
the serious detriment of industries. but
failed utterly to produce the necessary
for the support of the government, even with the
income tax amendment. Its effect distinctly
bad. When the end OF the war comes and finally
normal conditions restored, what process of
reasoning gives the right to expect that the
tariff law will operate less harmfully than in those
disastrous months before the great conflict began?
The Treasury deficit began to accumulate about as
soon the duties went into effect and while
the administration claim with some show of
reason that the present huge shortage is the re-
suit of wars havoc with our customhouses, there
is sound reason for believing that when peace
docs come the tariff law will demonstrate its
adequacy a revenue producer. 1t failed in the
carly months of 1914; it only be concluded
that it will fail again.
No one 81 dispute the accuracy of Mr.. Hills
| reading in the signs of the times that de
termined effort will be made to give the tariff the
leading place in the next national canipaign;" I'M
less indeed the Democrats themselves read the
| signs Of the times and proceed at the next ses-
sion OF Congress to revise their own schedules
Unless this is done the tariff must inevitably be
| the vital Issue in 1916. in spite of Mr.. Hills sug-
gestion that the newspapers prevent it. II
| may be that they can, but not many Of then out
side OF those that are strongly partisan, will en-
gage in the attempt. The party in power alone
can rob the Republicans of the tariff as the great
issue upon which they viii 60 before The people.