Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-23
The South and Tariff Revision.

| y the President-elect's message to the peo-
pie of the South. bespeaking new spirit
OF united Americanism, holding itself above
sectional and partisan divisions and making
secure the industries OF the whole nation
alike. he refers to the significance Of the
coming tariff congress to be held in At
ianta. The fact that with its projection
leading Southern Democrats are identified
gave an opening to Mr.. Harding TO disclose
what will be the attitude OF the incoming
administration toward tariff revision in its
application to products of the farm, The
people OF the South he says, want precise
" the same things which are found in the
natural ambitions OF the North and West
That statement, under the rejuyenescence
OF sound Democratic thinking, will be ac-
copied as true. Under the leadership into
which the fortunes of the Democratic party
have fallen since President Wilson entered
the White House, the true Democratic at
titude toward the tariff has been abandoned
This abandonment written into law
with the adoption of the Underwood tariff
by Democratic Congress. because this
measure placed all farm and ranch prod
ucts OF the free list. while it kept all manu-
featured products on the dutiabe list No
logic in the world can justify Congress in
applying one rule to the factories OF this
country and another rule to our farms and
ranches. II farms and ranch products are
To be imported free of duty for the benefit
of our cities and industrial centers. their
manufactured products should be imported
free OF duty for the benefit of our farms
and ranches.
The traditional Democratic theory has
been to lay impost duties without discrimi-
nation against any class. section or in
dustry. President Wilson, however, aban-
doned this theory and insisted upon giving
the manufacturers their raw material free
OF duty, and on giving the people OF our
tciies and industrial centers their farm
products free OF duty. at the time, his
power 10 dictate to Congress went so COM
pleieiy unchallenged that the measure re-
ceived the practically united vote OF South
ern Congressman, though many of them
were bound to know that in so doing they
were betraying fundamental party doc
trne In tho meantime. the war came on
creating abnormal conditions and suspend
ing Tor time the normal operation of eco
nome laws, with the result that the coun-
try is just now beginning to feel the effect
of the gross discrimination which was prac-
tlced against our farmers and ranchmen
The big slump OF Democratic votes in the
South to tho Republican party in the recent
election gives some indication of how the
farmer vote rescnts the injustice of this leg
islation.
In the meantime, it remained for a Re-
publican House Of Representatives to set
about correcting the injustice, with the re-
suit that the passage Of the emergency tar
i'll bill has been secured in that body More
over. many Democrats who had helped to
pass the Underwood bill voted with the Re
puolicans for the emergency tariff meas
ure TO correct the mistake which Demo-
cratic Congress had made. This lesson has
taught the rank and file of the party In the
South that ii must resume control OF its
counsels, and the participation of leading
Democrats OF the South who have kept the
party iaith nviolatc in the coming tariff
congress is good sign of an awakening
that is becoming quite general in the South