The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-15
viii the Democrats Abandon Their
Ancient Faith?

Ancient Faith:
The historic position of the Demo-
cratic party on the tariff was well
stated in the Baltimore platform Of
1912 in these sentences.
" declare Il to be a fundamental
principle OF the Democratic party that
the FEDERAL Government, under the Con-
stitution. has no right or power to Inn
puse or collect tariff duties except for
the purpose Of revenue, and we demand
that the collection Of such "a xes shall be
LIMITED to the necessities Of government
honestly and economically administered"
The principle had been asserted
time and again: Protection IL a rob
berry Of the many TO enrich the few"
the Democrats said in 1904. In 1903
they welcomed the Republican prom
isc 10 revise the rates Tin tardy rec
ignition Of the righteousness Of the
Democratic position on this ques-
ton: In 1850 their cry was for "a
tariff for revenu only: In 1879 they
demanded that "all custom house tax.
alton shall he only for revenue: IN
1884 they called for Federal taxation
that should he Exclusively for public
purposes" and should mot exceed the
needs Of the Government. economi-
eally administered; In 1892 1t was "a
fundamental principle Of the Demo-
cratic party that the Federal Govern
ment has no constitutional power to
impose and collect tariff duties except
for the purpose Of revenue only" But
In the declaration on this subject pro-
posed for insertion in the Democratic
platform Of 1915 purportlne 10 have
President WILSON'S approval a new
philosophy Ia apparent, md although
the hated word protection" IL avoid
ed. the phrase fair competition
10 used in a which leaves no
room for doubt that the erection Of a
tariff barrier against foreign products
II contemplated hy its author. The
draft Of this plank is as follows:
W. reafirm our belief IN the doctrine
u . tariff for revenue only n unre-
ssrvedly indorse the Underwood thrift
law a. truly exemphtying that doctrine
All competitive tariff rates are neceasa-
rffy subject to change, TO meet chaneins
conditions IN the worlds production and
trade. Such changes should be made
onl, after investigation 81 the conditions
At home and abroad by A non-pa rtisar
tarif commission. whose findings should
be presented TO Congress for appropriate
action. and h normal conditions Of fsi,
competition between American and for.
sfgn producers should be maintained b.
IN antt-dumping law. which would keey
the tariff rates on a fairly competitive
baes in times Of surplus productio,
aorpah."
The anti-dumping law by which tht
Industries of this country are TO III
protected against Surplus production
abroad would he designed 70 "kper
the tariff rates on a fairly competitive
basis: that Is, the tariff rates worlf
he adjusted to maintain normal con
ditions Of fair competition betwccr
American and foreign producers.
This. however, Is to use the tariff
schedules for protection Of American
employers and workingmen ngains
foreign competition, and not for "rev
enue only; II is precisely what th'
Republicans have done In the past nm,
hope to do In the future. II assume
that the Federal Government has con
stitutional power to impose and col
lect tariff duties for objects othe
than revenue only, The fnct that III
rates were adjusted through the on
Grafton Of a statute called an ant
dumping law and not "an net 10 reduc
tariff duties and to provide rcvcnu,
for the Government, and for oihe
purposes" would not affect the situa
tion In the least.
The tariff plank submitted by I'resi
dent WILSON to the platform maker
In st, Louis greets fundamentn
principle Of the Democratic party YER,
cordially, and very firmly and sin
cerely consigns II 10 the dust pile q
abandoned theories.