The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-14
DEMOCRATS NOT SINCERE IN FIGHT
 ON TARIFF, CHARGE
Protective Tariff Championed for Expediency More Than Principle, Republicans
 Assert
By HUGH ". KoBERrs

the fight for the pending tariff bi.l by the republican protectienists Is in the establishment of substance for their claim that democrats 10 not oppose protection from prinei- pie but from expediency.
 Som etimes, democrats of their own accord give republicans such satis- faction, Senator J. Thomas Heflin ot Alabama, as Is recalled. after having bitterly fought every item in the bill. argued at great length for higher rate on graphite, which is produced In Alabama.
 At other times. tho republicans de- liberately lay . trap for unwarY democrats. Tho emergency tariff bill was point in Instance. Two Items of the agriculture schedule of the pending bill, those involving peanuts and rice. again serve to illustrate the republican strategy.
 Rnise All Hut Two
 On all agricultural products save two peanuts and rico. the Senate increased the rates inn posed by the House. Rates on ric. and peanuts were reduced and pea n;its are grown cNclusiveiy in the south, where the democratic party has full sway.
 The republican committee did not intend that such reductions should ht established by law. They simply wanted to prove that when the demo- cratic bull Is gored, the democrats will rush to his assistance evIr though they might appear political ly inconsistent in so doing.
 As soon as rice and peanuts were reached In the discussion of the bill. Chairman McCumber declared that he thought the Senate reductions should be defeated. There were enough TO- publlcans prepared to defeat the re- auctions They were joined by nine of whom with the ex- ception of the protectionists of Louis lana. bitterly oppose tho republican policy of protection, and all of whoin. with the same exception. will V, to against the bill. despite it's peanut gratuities, when 1t Is up for final passage.
 Contendin9 Sides
 There are two sides to the ques- lion and each side Is supported by able argument. The one contends that 1t is principle rather than aa expedieney; secondly, that agricul- tural products need no protection: and, thirdly. that 1t is unfair to per- init the republicans to hold out promises obviously impossible of realization, to the farmers of the country. This school of democra " contends that tho republicans by in- viting the fly into the spiders par Tor by a peanut bait plan to destiSr him by increasing the price of every thing olse he is required to buy. even to the implements with which he ls expected to till the soil.
 Tho spokesman of the other school of democracy was Senator Robinson of Arkansas. After referring to the peanut politics played by the re- he excused his intention of voting to protect peanuts as fol. lows:
 T am not afraid to meet this Is. sue. If the policy that Is to be writ ton into our tariff laws Is a policy of protection. do not find myself justi- lied as representative of Arkansas Tn voting to discriminate against the products of that state. I wouli prefer to see tariff rates for revenue only, and if the rates Of the JJnder wood law could remain effective az to all products. I would be glad. Will not indifferently see tariff levied for political purposes discrim. inatory against the products of tho section l represent. I do not find myself inconsistent In taking tha. course.
 Embarrsss Senators
 If represented a state whers peanuts are produced. realizing that the action of the committee justi- fled me in concluding that the was reported for the sole purpose of embarrassing sena- tors who do not believe in tn policy of protection. I would not hesitate 10 support the action of the committen now when 1t proposes to withdraw amendment"
 senator Robinson saw the repup- Iican trap but concluded that he was Justified in walking Into it. senator King of Utah, democrat. followed Senator Robinson: "Tha senator from Arkansas calls atten- lion to the fact that the agricultural schedule increased the rates upon practically every agricultural pro. iuct except two--two which were 'roauced In the south. am not go- Ins 10 state the reason which prompted the finance committee 10 over the rates upon rice and pea- nuts. but It does not require unusual 'ersipcacity to determine the req. 'ons that prompted that most ex- raordlnary and phenomenal procc- lure" f
 Phenomenal Increuse
 Senator King then assailed the re. publican policy of giving the farm 1T bit of protection for his products ma then requiring him to pay every. 'ody else phenomenal increase-for arming implements, for salt, even. or shoes and hats and clothes. for very material that enters Into hIs louse. "''
 The unavailability of protection or aBricuitural products was dem nstrated by the senator who had 'esort to the most recent renort ,f ne tariff commission. That commis- Ion. scientific and non-partisan, re- 'orted that the price of peanuts. nder the emergency tariff measure. onceived and enacted by republican | 'oiiucians as panacea for the Ills 1 T agriculture (and which gave the | armer nothing in return for the otes or many democrats who op 'ose protection) had steadily de- | lined.
 He read the prevailing prices for canuts in every month since tn. | mergency tariff ac, was passed lhtii the present, and the decline 'as general. He head from the com | 1ission's report: The price of extra | arse Virginia shelled nuts de- lined from about IT cents per pound ? ls2O to Sh cents for March, 922."
 In the division among democrats n the peanut vote. strong minor " Tell in line with the republicans. nose who stood for a higher rate n peanuts were Ashurst. Harris, lefiin. kendEck. Ransdell. Shep- ard. Swanson and Trammeli.