Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-05-11

the custom houses, hence 1t is safe |
proposition to drag it into any old
political discussion.
II Congressman Fordney is correct
ly reported in the World, he attri-
butes the depression in this country
to the present tariff law--enacted by
a democratic congress at the demand
of the country after the republican
party failed to fulfill its pledge to
do likewise-but, like all standpat
speakers, talking for effect upon un-
thinking minds, he fails to itemize
the schedules that make for the de-
preston. We are finding no fault
with Mr.. Fordney. but we do object
seriously to his doctrine being accept
ed simply because he utters it.
The congressman has simply refus-
ed to keep step with the clock Of
progress. His mind works today along
the lines Of twenty or thirty years
ago, and he honestly believes that a
resurrection Of the era Of Mark Han.
ma and Joe Cannon would mean pros
perity. He believes in the now exz
ploded doctrine. that by governmental
privilege to the few the masses will
benefit by what percolates to those
beneath. while the democratic party
believes in permitting the individual
to retain what he. honestly earns and
be enlightened - to just. what his
equitable proportion Of the cost Of
government IL. .e
It 10 comforting to the Herald in
an article like this to be. able to
quote an authority that viii bar Mr..
Fordney and his 1ollowers from cry.
ling Democratic Ffee Trade" and
Party: Bias" In this connection, we
qucts AAs following extract from an
address, mad9 INST month BY j. -
Hin before the American Newspaper
Publisher Association Mr.. Hill said
IN part: a ~tiN "
Experience has shown that every
I general reconstruction Of, the tariff
whether for better or for worse.
means at least two years Of doubt,
hesitation, bad business. The eter.
nal see-saw Of tariff ups and downs
costs the country much more than 1t
would to live quietly even under q
bad tariff system. Some day, per.
haps, the idea Of taking the tariff
out Of politics, and confining its reg
ulation to q commission Of experts;
will be realized. In the meantime,
while there may be some mistakes to
rectify and some items to be re-writ-
ten in the light Of stupendous trade
changes that have occurred, agitation
for any wholesale tariff overturning
must be bad for everybody, and for
labor worst of all. The reason for
expressing these views here is that,
If the newspapers of the country
make it plain that they will disap-
prove of such movement which can
have only a political motive and only
unfortunate industrial consequences,
the attempt will not be made. 1t
seems to me that here lies an oppor-
tunity for you to perform a great pub
lie service, and to rise still further
dUOV0 LILO Jug VI OAAAu ouOoCA VAOuCO
to party which has been the bane of
the press of every country and of
every age"
We would also respectfully direct
the attention Of Congressman Ford.
ney to the following editorial com.
ment upon the address Of Mr.. Hill, in
the Portland Oregonian, Of April q:
This agitation is not now aimed
at a general revision of the tariff as
soon as Republican Administration
gains Office. The Republican party
realizes that the earliest time at
which it would be possible to begin
revision would be the Spring Of 1917.
Unless the expected revulsion Of pub.
lie opinion should be great enough
to transfer control of the Senate to
the Republicans in that year, revis.
ion. may not become possible until
1919. Thus we shall be obliged against
our will to make the best Of the pres
ent tariff for two years and possibly
a.. -