The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-08-11
POINDEXTFR'S TARIFF VOTE
IN LINE WITH PLATFORM
The Payne-AIdrich Bill Was Responsible
For Party Split in 1912.

Mr.. Stephen b. Packard, Al Maiden
Ave-, Seattle. Dear Mr.. Packard: l
have yours Of 18th instant, just receiv-
ed today, and appreciate very much
indeed your friendly frankness in writ
ing me your views.
agree with you in everything you
say, including the tariff, except that,
when you say you are an extreme
tariff kind OF republican" if you
mean that there ought not to be any
limit to the heighth to which tariffs
should be raised and that there cannot
be too high a rate, I do not agree with
you and I do not think the republican
party takes that attitude. Certainly it
never has in any of its platforms, be-
cause in 1908, the year I was elected
to congress, as we'll as in various other
years, it fixed more or less specific
measure Of rates. In 1908, the meas
ure was the difference in the cost OF
production in this country and in for
eign countries.
In some platforms, it has been stated
in somewhat different form to be the
difference in wages paid in this country
and in foreign countries, The great
republican campaign OF 1908 was
fought very largely on the proposal Of
the party in its national platform to re-
wise he tariff and to make it conform
to the rule indicated. The leaders
repudiated the party promises and
pledges when it came to the making OF
the Payne-Aldrich bill, and 1 voted
against the latter bill not because l do
not believe in protection, which do
believe in firmly. but because the bill
was extortionate and furthermore, was
a reputation Of the republican party
principles and pledges. My vote
against that bill was perhaps the prin-
cipal issue in the campaign OF 1910,
which you speak Of, for my reelection
to congress. / certainly appreciate
the fact that I received your vote at
that time.
In so far as the tariff bill is an issue
in the pending primary campaign at
which I will be a candidate for reelec-
ton, very largely the same identical
issues will be involved.
At various times after my election to
the senate upon efforts made there TO
pass new tariff bill to take the place
Of the Payne-Aldrich bill. I voted
against the democratic proposals and
for progressive republican substitutes.
When finally, through the recklessness
and repudistion Of pledges of the organ
ization then in charge Of the republi-
can party, they brought about the in
evitable result of putting the democrats
in power, and the democrats proceeded
to frame a tariff bill, voted not once,
but dozens of times. against its various
features where they failed to conform
to the republican doctrine of reason
able and we'll considered measure Of
protection. In the Spokane Chronicle
OF July 4th, which you will find in your
library, and of which l would send you
copy if I had it, you will find an
article giving a partial review of my
votes on the various features Of this
bill. I voted against placing cattle on
the free list; against placing horses and
mules on the free list; against placing
sheep on the free list; against placing
wool on the free list; for duty on lead
ores; for tariff on butter; introduced
an amendment raising the tariff on hay,
proposed by the democratic bill, from
two dollars to three dollars; voted for
duty on potatoes; for duty OF forty
cents thousand on shingles; for
another amendment proposed by Sen
ator Jones placing a duty of twenty-five
cents a thousand on shingles; intro
duced myself an amendment placing
a duty on shingles exported from any
country which places an export duty
upon logs and shingle bolts. This
would have covered Canada and pro-
tected US from the only source from
which we have any competition in
shingles. l urged this strongly and
urged it at some length, being sup
ported in it by Senator Lodge. The