Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-12
Politics at Large
By C. Could Lincoln.

the pOlLlcal Ilelo, american nQuSLryS
problems have flashed into the lime
light.
There was a lot said about the tariff
revision undertaken by Congress when
the bill was before the House, but that
isn't a circumstance TO what is being
saitl now, with the measure still before
the Senate committee. Democratic
hands are held up in holy horror at
the iniquities of the House bill. and
when it is suggested that the Senate
committee Is likely to reduce some OF
the rates when 1t reports the bill to
the Senate, only snorts Of scorn are
heard from the opposition. Whoever
heard of Republican tariff bill that
was not a stencil In the nostrilS OF
the Democrats-or OF a Democratic
tariff bill which the Republicans did
not condemn with equal severity?
That's part Of the game, the great
game of politics. 1t was only little
more than a year and half ago, how
ever. that the Democratic high COM
mand in charge of the candidacy of
former Gov. Alfred E. Smith for the
presidency was insisting that American
industry need have nothing to fear, that
1t would be afforded ample protection
If the Democrats were put in control
of the Government. True, this line
of argument did not appeal to some
Of the old, low-tarin Democrats, who
had fought, bled and died in other
campaigns when the protective tariff
was an issue, but at least they did not
emit any loud howls of rage. 1t was
quite possible that they had in the
back OF their heads an idea that neither
Mr.. Smith nor any other Democrat
who might be elected President could
prevail upon Democratic Congress to
take that view of the tariff problem.
Senator Simmons of North Carolina.
ranking Democrat of the Senate finance
committee and co-author with the late
Oscar w. Underwood of the Under
wood Simmons tariff act, the last
Democratic tariff measure to become
law, did declare himself firmly against
the ideas advanced by Mr.. Smith and
by some Of his supporters in regard to
the tariff. But then Senator Simmons
went the whole hog" and opposed the
election of Mr.. Smith anyway. In
1928 It was Democratic strategy to pre-
vail upon American business men and
manufacturers to support the national
ticket with the promise not TO tinker
with the tariff, or not so very much.
But in 1929 the Democrats are APP
pealing TO theSconsumers in this coun-
try with a declaration that the Re
publican protective tariff is designed
merely to keep up prices Of essentials
which the consumers must buy. But
although this is the Official Democratic
attitude. it does not change or alter
the fact that the tariff is a local
issue" and many Of the Democrats
would be much disturbed If they
thought that some OF the protective
tariff schedules on certain articles were
to be reduced or eliminated. They
n
keep those duties up. They even vote
for those duties when the bill Is up for
amendment in Senate and House. al
though in some instances they later
vote against the entire bill for the sake
of party regularity.
However, when the Hawley bill. with
all its increases. came before the House
for a final vote not so long ago, quite
a number Of Democratic members OF
the House voted for its passage, an
other indication of the fact that the
tariff, after all, is "a local issue" and
that even Democrats are sensible OF
that fact There has grown up in this
country In recent years a great i'm
porting business. 1t is big business
There is the international banking
interests, too.
Democratic demands that these pro-
tests be given consideration are heard
almost daily. though it does depend a
little against which duties these pro-
tests are leveled. 1t is doubtful whether
this Is good politics. American pro-
ducers will be apt to look aSkance at
any politicians who would give foreign
manufacturers and producers the bet
ter of the tariff argument.
President Hoover. in his message to
Congress, urged limited revision" OF
the tariff, with increases to be made
for agriculture and for certain indus
tries which have been suffering because
of large importations of goods from
foreign nations with which the Amerf-
cans could not compete in the matter
of price. It is exceedingly probable
that If the House had stuck to a
limited revision" of the tariff there
would have been protests from many of
these foreign nations. Some of the
protests. the most vigorous Of the lot,
have come because of increases granted
on farm products. Well either the
American farmer is to be given greater
protection through the tariff or he Is
not It would be bold politician.
either Democrat or Republican, who at
this stage of the game declared him
self opposed to increases granted the
farmers in the matter of tariff protec-
tion.- Senator Borah of Idaho insists.
for example. that the real farm relief
lies in giving the farmer a better
break" in the matter of protective tariff
duties. There has been nothing to
indicate that President Hoover does not
still cling to his recommendation for
limited revision" of the tariff.
Indeed. there has been number of
indications. he believes. that the House
has gone 100 far in increasing certain
duties and in removing some articles
| from the free list and making them Cu-
table The very fact that the Senate
committee Republicans are talking
about a reduction of duties in the bill IS
indicative. No one expects the new Re
publican President to urge reduction
of rates. generally. speaking. In the pres
revision of the Republican tariff act
/ would lead to increase in rates. But
there is a limit, as Mr.. Hoover has
pointed out. The protective tariff can
be run into the ground and make Tor
| political defeat as well as for political
victory. Twenty years ago Republican
| tariff revision was undertaken with dis
| astrous results to the @. Q. p, Winning
up with the Bull Moose split and eight
! years of Democratic rule in Washing
| ton Mr.. Hoover probably does not H.
tend to get himself caught in any such
jam, but be that as it may, Mr.. Hoover
is not going to advocate discard OF
| the protective tariff system.
OF the four States of the Democratic
"solid South" which went for Mr.. Hoo
yer in the presidential race last year,
three, Texas, North Carolina and Viz
ginia. elect Senators next year. In
| Texas Senator Morris Sheppard and in
| Virginia Senator Carter Glass, both of
whom come up for reelection, support
ed AL Smith for President. In North
| Carolina Senator Simmons strongly op-
posed Smith and his detection from the
cause had a powerful influence on the
result in his State. All three Senators
will face nnnositinn hacallsn of their