The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-07-21

candidate for the Democratic nom-
nation for President, assuming
there is any compromise candidate.
This is a strange bit of politics.
Tt is an entirely new twist on the
political history of the United States.
For the fact stands out that it has
been held, up until now, an I'M
breakable political law that who
ever monkeys with the tariff struc-
ture courts trouble.
One does not have to 60 way back
for examples. Most of Herbert
Hoover's troubles dated from the
Hawley -Smoot tariff bill, rushed
through as the second big piece of
legislation in his administration. AS
so often happens to President, he
was "shown up in the fight around
that bill. He had announced from
Miami Beach, just before his in
auguration, that he would permit
only certain small revisions, to
cover changes, in the then tariff
law. Actually congress rode over
him, passing a bill which was
sharply up all the way down the
line.
Democratic Spokesman made
much of this. They played hard the
argument that because of this bill,
with its high rates, various foreign
countries shut out American prod
.,rfr II foot +t,,,a apI aunsp Dayo
ocratic spokesman have insisted
that the world depression that be-
gan in 1929 grew out of the Smoot-
Hawley tariff bill.
The last tariff bill before that
was the cCumber bill. It
was passed in the early days of the
Harding administration. 1t brought
nothing but grief to all who had to
do with it. Senator Porter ] Me-
Cumber was beaten in the next
election, and Representative Joseph
w. Fordney never figured again.
War Saved Wilson
The one before that was the IN
derWood- Simmons bill, at the outset
Of Woodrow Wilson'S administra-
ton. It is generally admitted by
observers that this blu would have
defeated Wilson for reelection had
it not been for the outbreak of war
in Europe so speedily after its pas
sage, resulting in such demand for
American goods, especially food
and war supplies, that no tariff law
would have made any difference.
Examination of business conditions
during the months after the passage
of the act and before the outbreak
of the war, however, shows very
clearly that this tariff changing
would have spelled disaster, first
economically and then politically,
had not the war changed the picture.
Yet Cordell Hull has been tinker
ing with the tariff for five years
now, and he is the one man whose
name can be mentioned in any
gathering of Democrats without pro-
voking violent denunciations. He is
loved and admired by every one OF
the conservative southern senator's,
most of whom, if not all, Roosevelt
would like to see retired to private
dife.
He has thrown man after man out
OF public office, starting off with
Ray Moley and including George
Peek. He has been ruthless when
opposed, yet there is no important
opposition to him. Constantly his
policies are peppered by represen-
tatives or senators whose districts
and states are hurt by his tariff
changes, effected through his re-
ciprocal trade treaties.
Hulps Strength
The extraordinary strength of
Cordell Hull among such widely
opposed and bitterly hating groups
OF the Democratic party is difficult
to explain. His successful tinkering
with the tariff without disaster to
his political standing is already q
matter of wonder among observers
and historians. No one ever did il
before.
Perhaps the real explanation lies
In the old friendship between Hull
and the President. Hull was an out
standing tariff expert, so bitter
against high schedules that he was
regarded as free trading fanatic
In the eight years that Roosevelt
spent in Washington as assistant
secretary of the navy during the
Wilson administration. The Presi.
dent is noted for his loyalty to ole
friends. Despite what critics may
say of him, he changes very little
II he disliked man 10 years age
that man is still in disfavor. II he
liked man 10 years ago, and es
pecially 20 years ago, that mar
would have to do something reall,
dreadful, in the Roosevelt eyes. IL
get relegated to outer darkness
today.
Witness his secretariat! Marvin
Mcintyre and Steve Early became
his fast friends in the years be
tween 1913 and 1917, when they were
newspaper men covering the nav,
department.
Cordell Hull captured Roosevelt.
imagination back in those same
wears Roosevelt watched bic sic,