New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-16
RIVALS THANKED
FOR HUGHES AID
WillCOxCallS UnderWOOd'S
Opposition to Tariff Board
consistent"

William r. Wilcox, chairman Of the
Republican National Committee, be-
lieves in fair play. He went out OF his
way Yesterday to commend the "con-
si5tency" Of Oscar w. Underwood, Sen
ator from Alabama and author of the
Democratic tariff bill, who, according
to reports from Washington, will OPP
pose the creation of a tariff commission
which President Wilson has advocated.
Mr.. Wilcox also paid tribute to the
consistency and logic of Senator Tag
CART. Senator Newlands, Secretary Nc
Adoo and Secretary Redfeld as helpful
to the Hughes cause.
According to the Washington corre-
spondents-and | have observed that
they are generally accurate" said
Chairman Wilcox, Senator Underwood
will vigorously oppose the creation OF
n tariff commission. 1t is pleasing to
observe a logical Democrat. The pur-
pose of a tariff commission mas Deeh
EXPLAINED over and over again by Re
publicans. But Mr.. Underwood does
not believe in a protective tariff. He
was elected to the Senate on the same
platform on which Woodrow wilson
was elected to the Presidency.
Have Wilson'S Words.
"Some of our Democratic friends
have chided us with undue severity
wnen we charged President Wilson with
advocating a tariff commission merely
as a matter of political expediency,
with simply seeking TO steal Repup-
lican issue. But we have his own
words. publicly uttered not so long ago,
To the effect that a tariff commission
would be a superfuity. Discussing
tariff commission at Indianapolis on
January 8, 1915, Mr.. Wilson announced
that there was no necessity for one, De-
cause the trade commission was COM
petent to do all the work that might
properly be confided to a tarlf COM
mission"
Having been assured by so good an
authority as "the great Democratic
teacher himself" that there was no ne
cessity for a tariff commission, Mr..
Wilcox said, how could any one reach
any other conclusion that President
Wilson urged it solely as a piece OF po-
litical expediency. 81,
"If Mr.. Wilson is not extraordinarily
vacillating," continued Chairman Will
cox, "his stand on this question alone
shows he is perfectly willing to sacrhce
convictions for political expediency.
"And il affords me pleasure to pay
tribute to the logic, consistency and
SINCERITY of Senator Underwood, and
would like to thank him for so effec-
lively confirming the Republican con-
tention: and | would like TO thank Sen
ator Taggart for his prompt confirma-
ton of Mr.. Hughes's charges OF gross
extrayagance; and Senator Newlands
for his confirmation of our charges
against the gross Observation-Disclosures OF
the Treasury Department; and Secre-
tarv McAdoo for his Characterization
Of Mr.. Hughes's speeches IS pettifog-
oing and Secretary Rediield for his de-
NAL of Mr.. Hughes's charges in the
Dnrand Casa denial which was SC
nromptly refuted and turned TO the dis
romfture of Mr.. Redheld. I'm in a
Grateful mood. Our Democratic friends
are doing everything possible for oui
Chairman Wilcox was not willing
Yesterday 10 make definite predictions
regarding the approaching Maine cleo
ton. but he said all the reports re-
ceived by the national committee were
encouraging. He declared that the sec
tionalism OF the Wilson Administration
did not set we'll in Maine and that the
MEXICAN and foreign policies Of the
president were regarded with little re-
snect The chairman said he had been
informed that the Progressive and Re-
publican vote had been practically